Financial aid is used to pay for the cost of attending college and includes grants and scholarships
La ayuda financiera se utiliza para pagar los gastos de asistencia a la universidad e incluye subvenciones y becas.
(which do not need to be repaid), loans (which need to be repaid), and work study (que no es necesario reembolsar), préstamos (que es necesario reembolsar) y trabajo-estudio.
(which is money earned by a student at certain jobs on campus). Each college has a financial aid department that will review student information in order to create a financial aid award package that details the aid (grants, scholarships, loans, etc.) students are eligible to receive each year. This financial aid package can include funds from federal and state programs as well as institutional aid from the college’s scholarship funds.
(que es dinero ganado por un estudiante en determinados trabajos en el campus). Cada universidad tiene un departamento de ayuda financiera que revisará la información de los estudiantes con el fin de crear un paquete de ayuda financiera que detalle la ayuda (subvenciones, becas, préstamos, etc.) que los estudiantes son elegibles para recibir cada año. Este paquete de ayuda financiera puede incluir fondos de programas federales y estatales, así como ayuda institucional de los fondos de becas de la universidad.
Las familias y los estudiantes deben revisar cuidadosamente todas las ofertas de ayuda financiera antes de aceptarlas. Los estudiantes tienen que solicitar ayuda financiera cada año académico y no se les garantiza el mismo paquete de ayuda financiera cada año. Asegúrate de tomar nota de las diferencias entre becas, subvenciones y préstamos.
Total Cost of Attendance:
- The total cost of attendance (COA) is the estimated cost of attending a college for one year. The COA includes tuition, fees, books and supplies, room (dormitory) and board (meal plan), transportation, and personal expenses. Colleges must calculate the COA for their college and publish it on their website.
- The COA for each college is different.
- Depending on eligibility, a student may receive financial aid up to the total cost of attendance.
Costo total de asistencia:
- El costo total de asistencia (COA por sus siglas en inglés) es el costo estimado de asistir a una universidad durante un año. El COA incluye la matrícula, las tasas, los libros y materiales, el alojamiento (residencia universitaria) y la manutención (plan de comidas), el transporte y los gastos personales. Las universidades deben calcular el COA de su institución y publicarlo en su página web.
- El COA de cada universidad es diferente.
- Dependiendo de su elegibilidad, un estudiante puede recibir ayuda financiera hasta el costo total de asistencia.
Net Price:
- Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year after subtracting scholarships and grants the student will receive from the total cost of attendance. Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.
- A Net Price Calculator is a free online search tool that directs you to a college or university's net price calculator. Net price calculators help students get a personalized estimate of net price. The federal government requires colleges and universities to have a net price calculator on their websites.
Precio neto:
- El precio neto es la cantidad que un estudiante paga por asistir a una institución en un solo año académico después de deducir las becas y subvenciones que recibirá del costo total de la asistencia. Las becas y subvenciones son formas de ayuda financiera que el estudiante no tiene que reembolsar.
- Una calculadora de precio neto es una herramienta de búsqueda en línea gratuita que le dirige a la calculadora de precio neto de una universidad. Las calculadoras de precio neto ayudan a los estudiantes a obtener una estimación personalizada del precio neto. El gobierno federal exige a las universidades que dispongan de una calculadora de precio neto en sus sitios web.
State University of New York (SUNY):
- Average cost of tuition + room/board for New York State residents in 2026-27: $25,690
- More information on SUNY tuition and fees: https://bit.ly/2WiuvbC
Universidad Estatal de Nueva York (SUNY por sus siglas en inglés):
- Costo promedio de matrícula + alojamiento y comida para residentes del estado de Nueva York en 2026-27: $25690.
- Más información sobre la matrícula y las tasas de SUNY: https://bit.ly/2WiuvbC
City University of New York (CUNY):
- Average tuition for New York State residents in 2026-27: $6,930 (Senior College (4yr)) and $4,800 (Community College (2 yr))
- More information on CUNY tuition and fees: https://bit.ly/3kOhRul
Universidad de la Ciudad de Nueva York (CUNY por sus siglas en inglés):
- Matrícula promedio para residentes del estado de Nueva York en 2026-27: $6930 (universidad superior (4 años)) y $4800 (universidad comunitaria (2 años)).
- Más información sobre la matrícula y las tasas de la CUNY: https://bit.ly/3kOhRul
Financial Aid Applications
Students must apply for financial aid in addition to applying for admission to colleges. In NYS, students typically need to complete multiple financial aid forms, including:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
- The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for all federal financial aid programs. Many colleges also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for campus scholarships.
- This year, the US Department of Education is expected to open the application on October 1, 2026 for the 7/1/27 – 6/30/28 academic calendar year cycle. For information about changes or delays, visit: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines.
- ALL students who are US citizens or permanent residents can apply for the FAFSA, regardless of their parent’s legal status. For more information: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info
- Must use prior-prior year tax information for any contributor listed on the application (student, biological or adoptive parent, or parent’s spouse). (e.g. If applying for the 2027-2028 school year, you will use 2025 tax info)
- Students who are U.S. citizens, or eligible non-citizens, and prefer not to complete the FAFSA can use the alternate eligibility pathway to apply for New York State financial aid. Note: Student must have at least one family member who is a required FAFSA contributor and not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Students who are undocumented or have DACA status are not eligible to apply for federal aid and should speak to their college advisor about state financial aid options, like the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act for NYS residents.
- Los estudiantes que sean ciudadanos estadounidenses o extranjeros con derecho a ello y prefieran no rellenar la FAFSA pueden utilizar la vía alternativa de elegibilidad para solicitar ayuda financiera del estado de Nueva York. Nota: El estudiante debe tener al menos un familiar que sea contribuyente obligatorio de la FAFSA y que no sea ciudadano estadounidense ni residente permanente.
- Los estudiantes indocumentados o con estatus DACA no pueden solicitar ayuda federal y deben hablar con su asesor universitario sobre las opciones de ayuda financiera estatal, como la Ley DREAM del estado de Nueva York del senador José Peralta para residentes del estado de Nueva York.
For more information about state financial aid options:
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP):
- Students must complete the FAFSA and the TAP to be considered for maximum financial aid at New York State (NYS) colleges. Most NYS colleges and universities require students to complete both applications.
- Two (2) years prior NY State tax information for custodial parents is required (IT-201).
- Application can be completed after FAFSA is submitted. There will be a link to complete the TAP application on the FAFSA confirmation page if a student has submitted FAFSA to any college in NY State and is a NY State resident.
- Apply for TAP through the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) site.
- For students that are applying to college part-time due to a disability, please see information about New York State: Aid for Part-time Study.
Excelsior Scholarship:
In combination with other student financial aid programs (Federal Aid and TAP), this scholarship program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. Students must complete a separate Excelsior application. Qualified students must:
- Be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have obtained a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma in the United States, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
- Have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less (2 years prior)
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University
- Be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward their degree program
- Have continuous study with no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented
- If attended college prior to the 2026-27 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward the student's degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship
- Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students with disabilities can take longer to complete their degrees and retain their Excelsior Scholarship if their disability requires them to attend less than full-time (30 credits per year). Students must be registered with their college's office for students with disabilities.
- Be in 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
- Agree to reside in NYS for the time the award is received and if employed during such time, be employed in NYS
- If enrolled in an Opportunity Program, students are allowed five years to complete a bachelor’s degree and are required to complete 24 credits each academic year
If students do not meet the requirements for enrollment and graduation requirements, the Excelsior Scholarship will be converted to a loan. More information on the Excelsior Scholarship: https://on.ny.gov/2o6ZOzL
CSS Profile: Institutional Aid from Private Colleges/Universities:
- The CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile is used to determine eligibility for institutional aid (from the college’s own funds) provided by colleges. The CSS Profile is NOT required by CUNY or SUNY colleges.
- Application opens October 1 for the next academic calendar year.
- Required by many private colleges so that they can calculate the amount of grant and scholarship funding they may award a student. This is separate from federal or state aid (FAFSA and TAP).
- Institutional aid is most commonly based on financial need (family income).
- List of schools that require CSS Profile can be found on collegeboard.org.
- Students must provide three years worth of their family’s financial information. Begin collecting all documents early (at least 3 months before completing application) and ask questions to be sure of what information is needed or what to report.
- The CSS Profile can be completed through the student’s College Board account.