Eligibility for most federal and NY State aid programs is based on financial need and several other factors. Your eligibility is determined by the information you provide on your FAFSA and TAP applications. In addition you have to maintain satisfactory academic progress while you are attending school.
Eligibility Requirements
The following are general requirements and conditions students must meet to be eligible for federal student aid programs and New York State financial assistance.
General Eligibility Requirements for Federal Assistance
The following are general requirements and conditions students must meet to be eligible for federal student aid programs.
- Demonstrate financial need; this means that your cost of education is greater than your estimated family contribution
- Be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program at an eligible institution
- Register for at least six credit hours of study (except for Pell Grants which can be awarded if you are registered for as little as one credit)
- Have a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma, pass an approved ability to benefit test (ATB), enroll in a school that participates in an approved state process, or complete his or her state’s requirements applicable to home schooling
- Not be simultaneously enrolled in elementary or secondary school
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, or an eligible non-citizen
- Have a valid, correct Social Security Number (SSN)
- Not be in default of a Federal Loan or owe an overpayment on a Federal Grant or Federal Perkins Loan
- Not have borrowed in excess of the annual or aggregate loan limits
- Be in good academic standing and maintaining satisfactory progress towards completing a degree
- Provide documentation to verify the information on the FAFSA if it’s requested
- Students will be limited to a maximum of 12 terms of full-time Pell payments or its equivalent for part-time study
In addition, a student’s eligibility for federal funds may be affected by such factors as:
- Prior degrees earned
- Enrollment status
- Remedial course work
- Correspondence study
- Study by telecommunications
- Incarceration
Study Abroad
Financial aid funding from the federal government may be available for study abroad programs if a consortium agreement between your CUNY school and the visiting school is approved in advance. Questions regarding financial aid availability for study abroad programs may be directed to the financial aid office.
General Eligibility Requirements for New York State Assistance
The following are general requirements and conditions students must meet to be eligible for New York State financial assistance.
- You must meet the program income limits
- You must submit a FAFSA and a TAP application or Senator Jose Peralta NYS DREAM Act Application
- You must be admitted into a degree program
- Be a legal resident of New York State (that is, you must have lived in the State for at least one year prior to the first term for which you are seeking payment) or eligible under the
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen or hold an I-94 visa as a refugee, paroled refugee or conditional entrant or eligible under the
- If you are pursuing an associate’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your second year (31 credits) If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree you must declare a major before the beginning of your third year (61 credits)
- In your first TAP semester at least three credit hours of your full-time enrollment must be college credit bearing course work. For all subsequent semesters, you should check with your financial aid office to obtain the minimum number of degree credits required or you can find the information in the section.
- HESC will verify the income tax information on your TAP application with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
- For a TAP award be enrolled full-time, that is, enrolled for at least 12 credits or equated credits that meet the requirements of your curriculum/major.
- For Part-Time TAP, students must be a New York State resident, be admitted into a degree program, maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 or higher, register for at least 3 credit hours, but less than 12 credits, and maintain good academic standing.
- Remain in good academic standing for New York State financial aid programs by meeting Academic Progress standards and demonstrating Program Pursuit each semester you receive TAP
- Maintain a ‘C’ average after receiving four semesters of TAP payments
- Not be in default of Federal Direct student loans or loans that HESC guaranteed
- You must not have exhausted your TAP eligibility. You are allowed a total of eight full-time semesters of TAP payments (or its equivalent for part-time study) for your entire undergraduate degree. You may receive up to six semesters as an associate degree student. For some special programs you can earn up to 10 semesters.
- Disabled students may be eligible to combine coursework from more than one semester to meet the full-time attendance requirement (see your college for more information)
- Have graduated from high school in the U.S., or earned a GED, or pass a federally approved Ability-to-Benefit test as defined by the Commissioner of the State of Education Department

Student Aid Index
The information you submit on your FAFSA is processed with a formula that has been developed by Congress to determine your Student Aid Index. The SAI is a number which is a measure of your financial strength and used to determine your federal student aid eligibility. Colleges use this number to determine the amount and kind of financial aid package they will offer you.
The formula calculates the SAI by taking into account:
- Your total family income and benefits
- Tax-filing status
- The number of family members in college
- The number of people in your family
- Some of your family’s assets
- The formula recognizes that only a portion of your and your family’s income and assets may be considered available for educationally related expenses
One factor used in calculating an appropriate SAI is your dependency status. Certain questions on your financial aid application(s) will help determine whether you are a dependent student and must report your parents’ income and resources along with your own, or an independent student who reports only your own (and your spouse’s) income and resources.
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.
A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements. Learn .
Your SAI is not
- a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
- what your family is expected to provide, or
- your final financial aid offer.
Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
During your aid process, you will see the following:
- an estimated SAI on the confirmation page of your FAFSA form
- an official SAI within your FAFSA Submission Summary (after your FAFSA form is processed)
Follow these steps to find your SAI:
- using your account username and password.
- Select your processed FAFSA submission.
- Select “View FAFSA Submission Summary.”
- Select the “Eligibility Overview” tab.
Dependent or Independent Student
Based on your dependency status for the 2025-2026 academic year, you will need to know whose financial information to report on the FAFSA – if you are an independent student you report yours (and, if married, your spouse’s) and if you’re a dependent student you report yours and your parents’ income.
To be considered independent a student must meet one of the following conditions below, if none of them apply to you, you’re a dependent student.
Age 24
You were born before January 1, 2002 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
A student is automatically considered to be independent of his/her parents if he/she has reached the age of 24 on or before December 31 of the award year (i.e. December 31, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year).
Orphan/Ward of the Court
When you were age 13 or older, both your parents were deceased or you were in foster care or a dependent ward of the court.
Emancipated Minor
As of the day you apply for aid, you are an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence.
Legal Guardianship
As of the day you apply for aid, you are in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence.
Veterans and U.S. Armed Forces
You are considered a veteran if you have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. Armed Forces, or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other state or training purposes, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and were released under a condition other than dishonorable.
Graduate Student
The student is enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program (i.e. law, medicine) at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year.
Married
The student is married as of the day the FAFSA is completed (even if you are separated and not divorced).
Children/Legal Dependents
The student has children who will receive more than half their support from you between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 or;
You have legal dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you now and through June 30, 2026.
Homeless
At any time after July 1, 2021, you were determined to be unaccompanied youth who was homeless, determined by your high school, district homeless liaison or director of an emergency shelter program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
After July 1, 2024, the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
Unusual Circumstances
If the student does not meet one of the previous conditions but has an extenuating circumstance a financial aid administrator may adjust the student’s status to independent. The unusual situation must be documented to the satisfaction of the financial aid administrator.
- Must report on the FAFSA their parents’ income and assets as well as their own.
- Programs are based on the concept that a dependent student’s parents have the primary responsibility for the student’s education.
- Your parents’ information will be used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI).
- Report only their own income and assets and those of a spouse if married.
- Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on the tax form does not determine dependency status.
Age: Under 22 as of June 30, 2024
The student must meet the basic criterion for independent status plus one of the following special conditions:
- The student’s parents are deceased or are totally and permanently disabled or have been declared incompetent by judicial action.
- The student is a ward of the court. This does not include incarcerated students.
- The student is receiving public assistance under his/her own name. This does not include food stamps or unemployment insurance.
- The student has been rendered financially independent due to the involuntary dissolution of his/her family resulting in the relinquishment of his/her parents responsibility and control.
If the student answers all the independent questions on the TAP application “no”, and is under the age of 22 he/she must document that one of these special conditions has been met. HESC will send the student a Financial Independence Supplement when they receive and process the student’s TAP application. This form is sent automatically.
Waiver of Special Conditions
The student does not have to meet the special conditions if he/she:
- Was married on or before December 31, 2025
- Is enrolled as a graduate student in the 2025-2026 academic year.
- Received TAP as an independent student in the prior award year (2024-2025).
Age: 22 to 34
Students are not automatically considered to be independent for the purposes of the TAP program until they are 35 years old. In the meantime, they must meet all of the following conditions to be considered independent.
The Student:
- Did not and will not live in the parents home or a building owned or leased by the parents even if he/she paid rent.
- Is not or will not be listed as a dependent of the parent on the federal or NY State tax returns.
- Did not and will not receive more than $750 in financial assistance (loans, gifts, etc.) from either or both parents.
If the student answers yes to any of the questions on the TAP application, and is under the age of 35, he/she must provide parent financial information to be considered for TAP.
Age: 35 +
Student is automatically independent.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Undergraduate students must make satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of your degree in order to remain eligible for state and federal financial aid.
- Minimum GPA – To be in good academic standing you must earn a minimum GPA based on attempted credits as follows: for 0.5-12 credits a minimum GPA of 1.5, for 13-24 credits a minimum GPA of 1.75 and over 24 credits at least a GPA of 2.0.
- Minimum GPA for 4 Year Programs – If enrolled in a program of more than two academic years, a student must have a GPA of at least “C” or the equivalent at the end of the second academic year. This means that a student must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA after being at the school for 4 semesters or 6 quarters without regard to enrollment status.
- Maximum Time Frame– The credits a student has attempted is no more than 150% of the credits normally required for the degree For example: if the credits needed for the degree is 120, you can attempt no more than 180 credits.
- Pace of Progression – You must successfully complete a certain percentage of the total number of credits that you attempt according to the following:
Baccalaureate Degree Programs
| Attempted Credits |
Earned Credits |
|---|---|
| 15 | 0 |
| 30 | 5 |
| 45 | 16 |
| 60 | 27 |
| 75 | 42 |
| 90 | 50 |
| 105 | 63 |
| 120 | 72 |
| 135 | 84 |
| 150 | 95 |
| 165 | 110 |
| 180 | 120 |
Associate Degree Programs
| Attempted Credits |
Earned Credits |
|---|---|
| 12 | 0 |
| 18 | 2 |
| 24 | 4 |
| 30 | 6 |
| 36 | 13 |
| 42 | 19 |
| 48 | 23 |
| 54 | 27 |
| 60 | 33 |
| 66 | 39 |
| 72 | 44 |
| 78 | 49 |
| 84 | 55 |
| 90 | 61 |
* Attempted credits are courses you registered for and did not drop before the last official withdrawal date
-
- Attain a minimum GPA as specified in the chart below for each payment requested.
- You are allowed a total of 48 TAP points for your entire undergraduate degree. You use 6 points for every full-time TAP payment. You may receive up to 6 semesters as an associate degree student. For some special program you can earn up to 10 semesters and 60 allowed a total of 60 points.
- You must be enrolled full-time, that is, enrolled for at least 12 credits or equated credits that meet the requirements of your curriculum/major.
- In your first TAP semester, you must be taking at least 3 degree credits as part of your full-time course load. You must take a minimum of 6 degree credits every semester after your first TAP payment.
- If you repeat a course that you previously passed, you may not count the repeated course towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes. If you repeat a course that you previously failed, you may include that course towards full-time enrollment for TAP purposes.
- Remedial courses may be counted toward either full-time or part-time enrollment for TAP purposes. However, to qualify for TAP, you must always be registered for a certain number of degree credit courses.
- To receive TAP payments you must make academic progress towards a degree. The minimum academic requirements are indicated in the charts below.
New York State Satisfactory Academic Progress Charts
Baccalaureate Program: Students First NYS Award Payment in 2010-11 and After – non-remedial
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With at Least This Grade Point Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 6 | 1.5 |
| 3rd | 15 | 1.8 |
| 4th | 27 | 1.8 |
| 5th | 39 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 51 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 66 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 81 | 2.0 |
| 9th** | 96 | 2.0 |
| 10th** | 111 | 2.0 |
Associate 2 Year Program: Students First NYS Award Payment in 2010-11 and After – Non-remedial
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With at Least This Grade Point Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 6 | 1.3 |
| 3rd | 15 | 1.5 |
| 4th | 27 | 1.8 |
| 5th | 39 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 51 | 2.0 |
Baccalaureate Program: students first receiving aid in 2007-08 through and including 2009-10 and SEEK/CD and Remedial Students first receiving aid in 2007-08 and after
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With at Least This Grade Point Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 1.1 |
| 3rd | 9 | 1.2 |
| 4th | 21 | 1.3 |
| 5th | 33 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 45 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 60 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 75 | 2.0 |
| 9th** | 90 | 2.0 |
| 10th** | 105 | 2.0 |
Associate 2 Year Program: Students first receiving aid in 2007-08 through and including 2009-10 and SEEK/CD and Remedial Students first receiving aid in 2007-08 and after
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With at Least This Grade Point Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 0.5 |
| 3rd | 9 | 0.75 |
| 4th | 18 | 1.3 |
| 5th | 30 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 45 | 2.0 |
Associate 2 Year Program: Students first receiving aid in 2007-08 through and including 2009-10 and SEEK/CD and Remedial Students first receiving aid in 2007-08 and after
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With at Least This Grade Point Average |
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 0.5 |
| 3rd | 9 | 0.75 |
| 4th | 18 | 1.3 |
| 5th | 30 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 45 | 2.0 |
Beginning with the 2015-16 academic year, for ADA students who received their first state award during the 2010-11 academic year and thereafter and who are enrolled less than full-time, good academic standing will be determined using new SAP standards which does not modify the requirements for disabled students, but aligns them to be equivalent with those required of full-time students.
Program: Baccalaureate Program Calendar: Semester 2015-16 and thereafter (ADA Part-time students)
| Before Being Certified for This Payment | A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits | With At Least This Grade Point Average |
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 1.5 |
| 3rd | 9 | 1.8 |
| 4th | 21 | 1.8 |
| 5th | 33 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 45 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 60 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 75 | 2.0 |
| 9th | 90 | 2.0 |
| 10th | 105 | 2.0 |
Program: Associate Program Calendar: Semester 2015-16 and thereafter (ADA Part-time students)
| Before Being Certified for This Payment |
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits |
With at Least This Grade Point Average |
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 1.3 |
| 3rd | 9 | 1.5 |
| 4th | 18 | 1.5 |
| 5th | 30 | 1.8 |
| 6th | 42 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 51 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 60 | 2.0 |
NOTE: This sample standard of satisfactory progress is referred to throughout the preceding guidelines. Generally it would be used to determine continuing eligibility for State support of students who have no “special circumstances.” The progress of students with special circumstances, such as those who have transferred from another institution or have used their waiver, must be monitored on an adjusted schedule.

Non-Citizen Eligibility
The following chart provides the financial aid eligibility status for most classifications of non-citizens. Some students may be required to document eligible immigration status before receiving Pell or other federal student aid. Some may be asked by HESC to document citizenship or immigration status before receiving NY State aid. For more information on visit the Department of Education website.
| Student Status | Federal Pell Direct Loans Campus-Based Federal Aid (FWS, Perkins Loan, FSEOG) |
NYS TAP+ | Special Programs++ (SEEK, CD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent U.S. Resident Form I-151,I-551, or I-551C |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Asylum Status Granted Must be stamped on Form I-94 |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Refugee/Parolee Status Granted Must be stamped on Form I-94 |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Victims of Human Trafficking T-Visa (and their spouses and children) |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Battered Immigrants Qualified Alien |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Permanent Residency Pending | N/E | Eligible | Eligible |
| Asylum Status Pending | N/E | Eligible | Eligible |
| Refugee/Parolee Status Pending | N/E | Eligible | Eligible |
| Conditional Entrant* Temporary Refugee Status Must be stamped on Form I-94 |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Cuban/Haitian Entrant Must be stamped on Form I-94 |
Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| I-688 Holders | N/E | N/E | Eligible |
| I-688A Holders | N/E | N/E | Eligible |
| I-688B Holders | N/E | N/E | Eligible |
| I-797 Family Unity Status | N/E | N/E | Eligible |
| Temporary or Student Visa | N/E | N/E | N/E |
| Undocumented Without Lawful Immigration Status |
N/E | Eligible | Eligible |
N/E = Not Eligible
+ New York State residency is required for TAP. Undocumented students are eligible for NYS TAP program if they meet . Students should apply for the to determine eligibility for state aid.
++ New York City residency is required for College Discovery (CD), SEEK and Bi-Lingual program. Undocumented students are eligible for CD/SEEK program if they meet . Students should apply for the to determine eligibility for state aid including CD/SEEK program.
* Dated prior to March 31, 1980
Changing/Losing Financial Aid Eligibility
Under specific circumstances, including because of withdrawal from school or legal offenses, you may lose eligibility for financial aid or may even be required to return your aid. If your family unexpectedly experiences a change to your financial status, you may also ask a financial aid counselor at your college to review your situation so that they may make adjustments to reflect the current circumstances
There are federal regulations pertaining to recipients of financial aid funds who withdraw from school. They require the school, and sometimes the student, to repay some or all of the financial aid that was received. When these regulations require a larger repayment to federal funding sources than the amount specified by the school’s refund policy, the student will be responsible for the difference.
These “return of funds” regulations apply only if you withdraw before completing the entire term. You will be subject to repaying any loans received according to the terms of the promissory note. Generally, you will be expected to start making payments six months after you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.
If you leave school during the semester without officially withdrawing, we will attempt to verify your last day of class attendance. We will then determine how much aid is to be repaid based on the documentation we receive from your instructor(s).
You must repay the required amount during the term in which you withdraw. Students failing to repay the required amount will have a hold placed on their records and will not be eligible to re-enroll at any CUNY college until repayment occurs.
(1) IN GENERAL.—A student who has been convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance shall not be eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under this title during the period beginning on the date of such conviction and ending after the interval specified in the following table: If convicted of an offense involving:
| The possession of a controlled substance | Ineligibility period is |
|---|---|
| First offense | 1 year |
| Second offense | 2 year |
| Third offense | Indefinite |
| The sale of a controlled substance: | Ineligibility period is: |
|---|---|
| First offense | 2 years |
| Second offense | Indefinite |
(2) REHABILITATION.—A student whose eligibility has been suspended under paragraph (1) may resume eligibility before the end of the ineligibility period determined under such paragraph if—
(A) the student satisfactorily completes a drug rehabilitation program that—
(i) complies with such criteria as the Secretary shall prescribe in regulations for purposes of this paragraph; and
(ii) includes two unannounced drug tests;
(B) the student successfully passes two unannounced drug tests conducted by a drug rehabilitation program that complies with such criteria as the Secretary shall prescribe in regulations for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i); or
(C) the conviction is reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered nugatory.
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘controlled substance’’ has the meaning given the term in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6)).
Special Circumstances for FAFSA Professional Judgments
- During the school year, you and your family may experience a financial change. Perhaps there is information about your family situation that was not asked about on your financial aid application. You may think that questions about your parents shouldn’t apply to you. You may have questions about your award amounts. If your financial situation has changed since you filed your FAFSA, or if you believe that you have an unusual circumstance, you may ask a financial aid counselor to review your situation. The financial aid counselor at your CUNY college may be able to make adjustments that more closely reflect your circumstances. It is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of any special or unusual circumstances or changes in your financial status that may affect your ability to pay for college. We encourage you to visit the financial aid office at your college to speak with a financial aid counselor if you have any questions about your financial aid awards.
- If you are asked to provide parent data on your application but cannot because an extreme circumstance has caused a break-up in your family, you may contact your college and request an adjustment to your FAFSA Dependency Status. Please note that your status cannot be changed because your parents refuse to contribute to your education, are unwilling to complete the FAFSA, do not claim you on their taxes, or you are living financially on your own.
- If you or your family has had a loss of income in the time since your financial aid applications were filed, you may contact your college and request an adjustment to your FAFSA based on a change in income. The loss of income may be due to loss of employment, loss of benefits, divorce, death, a natural disaster or some other major change.
- If you or your family have unusual expenses that were not reported on your financial aid applications, you may contact your college and request an adjustment to your FAFSA based on unusual expenses that impact your ability to contribute towards your educational expenses.

