How To Get Free College in New York

New York made headlines in 2017 when it made college free for qualifying New York residents attending public colleges or universities. This initiative has helped thousands of students get a college education.

The New York Tuition Assistance Program and the Excelsior Scholarship have made this possible. Keep reading to learn more about how to get free college in New York and to understand financial aid options.

Students interested in a non-traditional college experience at a low cost can consider online tuition-free colleges in New York.

Is Community College Free in New York?

Community college is not free to all students in New York; however, the state does provide several financial aid options to help students cover their costs.

The New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Excelsior Scholarship can help New York residents earn free degrees through the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) schools. This includes community colleges and traditional four-year institutions.

Who Qualifies for Free College in New York?

Students must meet a few basic requirements to receive free tuition through the New York TAP or the Excelsior scholarship. To qualify, students must:

• be legal NYS residents for 12 continuous months before enrolling or be qualified under the NYS DREAM Act
• attend a CUNY or SUNY program
• have a family income of $125,000 per year or less

There are some additional requirements for each program, which we'll explain in detail below.

What Is the New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)?

The New York Tuition Assistance Program is a financial aid program offered to New York State residents. It offers financial aid to full-time and part-time students and those in non-degree workforce credential programs.

Students can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $5,665 per academic year to help cover the cost of tuition. The total award depends on several factors, including financial need and the tuition cost of the degree program.

Who Is Eligible?

Many students may be eligible for the program. The requirements for the New York TAP are straightforward. You must be:

• U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (those who are not should apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act)
• legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months
• graduate of a high school in the U.S. with a diploma or equivalent (like a GED)
• currently attending a SUNY or CUNY college or university
• within the set income limits

Income Limits

To qualify for college tuition assistance through the New York TAP, you must fall below the maximum income limits for this program. This amount can vary depending on your finances.

Typically, your limit is $125,000 if you are:

• a dependent undergraduate student within a household earning under the income
• an independent student (married or single) with tax dependents
• a student who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13

If you are a married independent student without tax dependents, your household income limit is $60,000. If you are a single independent student, that limit is $30,000.

How To Apply

You can apply for the New York Tuition Assistance Program when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This online form determines your financial aid eligibility.

If you already filled out your FAFSA but didn't apply for TAP at the time, you can still apply for TAP through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website.

What Is the Excelsior Scholarship?

The Excelsior Scholarship was the first accessible college program in the U.S. It aims to make college tuition-free for low-income and middle-class students.

The Excelsior Scholarship covers the cost of an associate or bachelor's degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university. However, students will need to live and work in New York State for a specific period based on the timeframe of the scholarship.

Who Is Eligible?

The eligibility requirements for the Excelsior Scholarship program are similar, but not the same, as the requirements for the TAP. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (those who are not should apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act)
• legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months
• graduate from a high school in the U.S. with a diploma or equivalent (like a GED)
• currently attending a SUNY or CUNY college or university
• enroll in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits per year
• household combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less

Unlike the New York TAP, there are no lower income limits for independent students who do not have dependents.

How To Apply

The Excelsior Scholarship application process is similar to the New York TAP application process. You apply for these programs when you fill out your FAFSA.

Like the TAP, if you've already filed your FAFSA but haven't applied for the Excelsior Scholarship, you can still apply through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website.

Tips for Making College Affordable

There are a few things that New Yorkers can do to help make college affordable. The first thing students should do is fill out their FAFSA, as this will make them eligible for federal and state grants and scholarships.

Learn more: Federal Grants for College Students

If your family income qualifies you for the Excelsior Scholarship or New York TAP, you can make college affordable by attending a CUNY or SUNY institution. If you're interested instead in a private university, look into grant and scholarship programs available by the university and through private organizations.

Tuition-Free Colleges in New York

The CUNY system currently comprises 25 colleges and universities, while the SUNY system has over 60 colleges and universities. Many of which are some of the cheapest colleges in New York. We've highlighted a few below where students can take advantage of the Excelsior Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Program.

Baruch College

Baruch College, located in New York City, is a public college founded over 100 years ago. The original Manhattan building is still in use by the school today.

Baruch College is part of the CUNY system. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through its Zicklin School of Business, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

Hunter College

Hunter College is another public college in New York City. It was originally founded as a women's college in the 1870s but today admits both male and female students as part of the CUNY.

The university's main campus is located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. It offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees and also runs a high school and elementary school.

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is a public research university on Long Island in Stony Brook, New York. It's one of two flagship universities in the SUNY system.

Stony Brook University is the largest university by area in New York State. Its campus hosts over 200 buildings where students can earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

University at Buffalo

The other flagship university in the SUNY system is the University at Buffalo. Sometimes referred to as SUNY Buffalo, it's a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst.

SUNY Buffalo currently enrolls over 30,000 students, making it the largest public university by enrollment in New York State. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.