New York State Programs

Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.

More Information about Excelsior Scholarship

If the cost of full-time tuition is met with a combination of your New York State TAP grant and your Federal Pell grant plus other funding (excluding loans), then you would not be eligible for the award. You will only be eligible for an award if there is a shortfall between your total grants and the cost of full-time tuition.

The award is managed through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. Please visit HESC’s website for Questions and Answers regarding the funds.

New York State TAP

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant is available to New York State residents enrolled in full-time degree or certificate programs. The amount of the TAP award is based upon the tuition charge and the documented net taxable income. Information provided on the FAFSA, along with income tax information, is used to calculate the award. After the State calculation is made, MVCC must verify the following:

  • Students seeking full-time TAP awards must be full-time status from the start of the semester.  Students seeking part-time TAP awards must be part-time status from the start of the semester.
  • Matriculation into an approved program.
  • The State Standards of Progress are being met.

After you have filed your online FAFSA, you will be linked to HESC's website. Proceed onward, then complete the TAP application. If you are not linked to the TAP application directly from the FAFSA, you will have to wait until your FAFSA is processed by the Department of Education before completing the TAP application.  You will know if your FAFSA was processed via email from the Department of Education. 

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has phased out the paper version of the TAP application, therefore, one will not be mailed to you. You will instead check your email (the address you provided on your FAFSA) for notification about the status of your application and what additional action is required of you.

With the information you provide on your FAFSA, HESC will attempt to complete your electronic TAP application. In some instances, the application is skeletal (insufficient data). When this is the case, you will need to provide the required information. Once the application is finalized and an award determined, both you and the school will be alerted.

Full-time TAP awards are limited to eight semesters of study (48 TAP points). Six of these semesters (36 TAP points) can be used at a two-year college such as MVCC. If you intend to continue your education at a four-year institution, you should plan carefully so you will not exhaust your future TAP eligibility. MVCC's Financial Aid Office will be able to provide you with additional information regarding your specific instance.

ADA Part-Time TAP

An ADA part-time TAP award may be available if you have a documented disability. The Financial Aid Office, as well as the Office of Accessibility Resources, can provide additional information.

Repeated Courses

If a course is repeated, in which the grade is acceptable to the degree or certificate program, it may affect your TAP award. Please check with the Financial Aid Office if you have further questions.

Academic departments reserve the right to determine if a course content is no longer current, thereby making it necessary for the student to repeat the course so it will be relevant to your degree or certificate program. You must have eligibility for the award.

Aid for Part-Time Study

This award is available to you if you are taking fewer than 12 credit hours, but at least 6 credit hours in a semester at MVCC. You must be a resident of New York State, be matriculated in an approved program, have tuition of at least $100 per year, and be in good academic standing.

Applications are available online or in the Financial Aid Office, and must be submitted prior to the first day of classes. A copy of the NYS Tax Return preceding the academic year for which you wish to apply must accompany the application. Tuition cannot be deferred against this award. MVCC must determine your eligibility based on midterm grades, and must take into account the total amount of funding allocated to MVCC and the number of eligible recipients.

Other NYS programs

Additional grants are offered through NYS, they include:

  • Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • NYS Volunteer Recruitment Scholarship
  • Vietnam Veterans Tuition Awards (VVTA)
  • Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award (PGVTA)
  • Regents Awards for children of deceased, or disabled veterans
  • Regents Awards for children of deceased police officers, and firefighters, SUNY World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship
  • State Aid to Native Americans, and others

For additional information, please contact NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) at 888-697-4372 or visit www.hesc.ny.gov.
 
Funding is also available through Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR). For more information, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at MVCC.