Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)
Financial Aid for New York State Students

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The New York State Aid for Part-Time STudy (APTS) is a grant that helps eligible New York residents afford tuition at approved colleges and universities across the state,  administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Additional information and application procedures are available on the HESC web site.

Eligible part-time students can receive up to $2,000 per year to help cover tuition costs.  APTS does not have to be repaid, making it one of the most valuable financial aid programs for students attending a university.

In order to determine your potential award a student must complete the FAFSA and TAP application  or DREAM Act application each year for payment.  Students will be notified by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office if eligible after the add/drop date of the semester.

Undergraduate TAP Code: 0875

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Why Apply for TAP?

• Reduces the financial burden of tuition.
• May be combined with other grants and scholarships for maximum support

Deadline and Application

Academic Year	Deadline Date Fall	Deadline Date Spring
Academic Year 2024-25	10/24/2025	3/24/2025
Academic Year 2025-26	TBD	TBD

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Eligibility Requirments

To qualify for APTS, students must meet the following requirements:

• Income & Financial Requirements

  Income

  Eligibility for an award is based on New York State Net taxable income, Federal, State or local pension income and private pension and annuity income, if applicable, from the preceding calendar year.

  • Household net taxable income may not exceed $50,550 for dependent students or independent students with children.
  • Household net taxable income (including spouse’s income) may not exceed $34,250. The spouse’s income must be included if you were married on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.

  Financial Status

  To receive the scholarship, you must:

  • Be in good standing (a non-default status) on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award, and
  • Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award that you have previously received.
• Citizenship & NYS Residency

  You can receive TAP if you meet the following residency requirements: 

  • You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and
  • You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

  Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application. 

• Academic Requirements

  High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

  • Graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved  "Ability to Benefit" test.

  College & Program

  Once in college, you must meet the following requirements: 

  • Attend an approved college in New York State.
  • Enrolled as a matriculated, part-time student taking 3-11 credits per semester
  • In good academic standing
  • Not have exhausted your Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility

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Award Amounts & Limits
Up to $2,000 per year

The amount of APTS funding a student receives depends on:

• Combined income, including family-earned income and pensions
• Number of family members enrolled in college
• Financial status (dependent or independent)
• Cost of tuition
• When you started receiving TAP or other NYS awards
• APTS awards cannot exceed tuition charges.

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How to Apply for APTS

Step 1: Complete the FAFSA

• Before applying for APTS/TAP, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov.
• The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal aid programs.

Step 2: Complete the TAP Application

• After submitting the FAFSA, you will be directed to the HESC TAP Application at hesc.ny.gov.
• If not automatically directed, visit the HESC website and you can complete your application.

Step 3: Submit & Track Your TAP Award

• After submitting the application, you will receive a TAP award notification.
• Check the status of your TAP award by logging into your HESC account.

Step 4: APTS Application

• After the Add/Drop Date of the fall and spring term eligible students will be contacted via their Stony Brook University email to complete the application and submit to the university via the Solar Upload Process.

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Maintaining APTS Eligibility

To continue receiving APTS funding, students must meet academic and enrollment requirments each semester:

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 (varies by program).
• Successfully complete a minimum number of credits each year.
• Remain enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program.
• Avoid withdrawing from courses, as this can impact APTS eligibility.

If a student loses APTS eligibility due to academic performance, they may appeal or take steps to regain eligibility.