Governor Hochul announces FAFSA, TAP and STEM financial aid applications are now open for the 2027-28 academic year

Albany, New York – New York students preparing for college can now apply for several major financial aid programs for the 2027-28 academic year, giving families an early opportunity to explore ways to reduce the cost of higher education.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that applications are open for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program, commonly known as TAP, and the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is also now available to all students for the 2027-28 academic year.

Together, the programs can provide students with thousands of dollars in assistance toward college costs. The opening comes as New York begins its annual College Application Initiative, which runs from October through November and includes periods when participating colleges waive their application fees.

State officials are encouraging students to apply for financial aid even if they are still deciding where they want to attend college.

“Last year, $226 million in college financial aid was left on the table in New York, and that’s money our students and families can’t afford to miss out on,” Governor Hochul said. “Through programs like TAP and the STEM Incentive Program, we’re helping put college within reach for more New Yorkers. I encourage every eligible student to apply for financial aid and take advantage of these opportunities. New York is home to some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities, and we’re focused on making higher education more accessible and attainable while ensuring a world-class education is affordable for every New Yorker.”

One of the central pieces of New York’s financial aid system is TAP, a program that has operated for more than five decades.

Since its creation in 1974, TAP has provided about $31 billion to approximately 6.3 million New Yorkers. During the 2024-25 academic year alone, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation distributed more than $778 million through the program to more than 294,000 students.

Application numbers have also remained high. More than 491,000 TAP applications were submitted for the 2025-26 academic year, while more than 444,000 applications have already been filed for 2026-27.

Recent changes have expanded the number of New Yorkers who can qualify for the program while also increasing the amount of assistance available to some students.

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The maximum TAP award increased by $500 to $5,665 beginning in the 2021-22 academic year. Another major change followed in 2024-25, when the minimum award doubled from $500 to $1,000. State officials said that increase benefited approximately 93,000 students attending public and private colleges.

Income eligibility requirements were also expanded in 2024-25.

For dependent students, the income limit increased from $80,000 to $125,000. For married students without dependents, the threshold doubled from $30,000 to $60,000. Independent single students without dependents saw their income eligibility limit rise from $10,000 to $30,000.

Those changes resulted in another 48,000 students becoming eligible for TAP.

The state has also expanded the program beyond traditional full-time students. Part-Time TAP now covers students attending SUNY and CUNY as well as independent degree-granting institutions and proprietary colleges.

Deadlines depend on the academic year for which a student is seeking assistance. Students applying for TAP for 2026-27 have until June 30, 2027. Those applying for assistance for the newly opened 2027-28 academic year have until June 30, 2028.

Eligible non-citizens may also have options for receiving state financial assistance. They can apply through the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act or through the state’s Alternate Eligibility Pathway.

Another opportunity is available specifically to high-achieving students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

New York’s STEM Incentive Program offers tuition awards to qualifying students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their New York State high school class and pursue an approved STEM degree at SUNY or CUNY.

During the 2024-25 academic year, the state awarded $7.65 million through the program, helping 1,237 students.

High school seniors do not need to have made their final college decision before submitting an application. State officials are encouraging eligible students to apply even if they remain unsure which college they will attend.

For the 2027-28 academic year, the STEM Incentive Program application deadline is Aug. 15, 2027.

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The program comes with requirements beyond academic eligibility. Recipients must attend college full time. After completing their education, they are also required to live in New York and work in an approved STEM occupation for five years.

Along with state programs, students can now complete the FAFSA for 2027-28.

Submitting the FAFSA is an important part of the financial aid process because the application determines access to several forms of federal assistance. These include Pell Grants, federal work-study opportunities and student loans. FAFSA information may also be used to determine eligibility for certain state and college-based financial aid.

New York officials say a substantial amount of available federal aid went unused because students did not submit the application.

During the 2024-25 academic year, New York students left more than $226 million in federal financial aid unclaimed by failing to complete the FAFSA.

The state has since seen an increase in participation.

More than 1.4 million FAFSA applications were submitted by New York students for the 2025-26 academic year. That represented an increase of 10.25 percent compared with 2024-25.

New York has also introduced a statewide initiative designed to increase FAFSA participation among graduating high school students.

Governor Hochul’s Universal FAFSA Completion initiative first applied to the graduating Class of 2025. Under the initiative, graduating seniors are required to complete the FAFSA, apply for financial assistance through the New York State DREAM Act or formally opt out by submitting a waiver.

More than 70 percent of students in the Class of 2026 completed the FAFSA.

For students planning ahead, both the FAFSA and TAP deadlines for the 2027-28 academic year are June 30, 2028. Students still seeking FAFSA or TAP assistance for the 2026-27 academic year have until June 30, 2027.

The opening of the financial aid applications is also timed with New York’s College Application Initiative, another effort aimed at making the transition from high school to higher education easier and less expensive.

The initiative runs from October through November. During designated periods, SUNY, CUNY and participating private colleges and universities across the state waive college application fees.

The program particularly focuses on helping first-generation students and young people from underserved communities. One of its goals is to help each participating high school senior complete at least one college application.

The initiative goes beyond eliminating application fees. Students can also receive resources and hands-on assistance as they work through college and financial aid applications, including TAP and FAFSA.

New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said financial assistance can help remove barriers that otherwise prevent students from pursuing higher education.

“Education is often referred to as the great equalizer, yet systemic barriers limit access to educational opportunities. I encourage all eligible students to take the important step of applying for the federal and state aid available to them. These critical resources have allowed countless students to pursue their dreams of attending higher education institutions and eased the financial burden on their families.”

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Acting President Doris B. González also urged students not to overlook the financial assistance available to them.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York continues to invest in making college more affordable and ensuring cost doesn’t stand in the way of opportunity. For that investment to reach the students who need it, they must take the first step and apply for financial aid. I urge every eligible New Yorker to complete the FAFSA and TAP applications and explore the more than two dozen financial aid programs offered through HESC, including specialized opportunities like the STEM Incentive Program. These are opportunities that can change the course of a student’s life.”

Officials from both SUNY and CUNY said the combination of financial aid and waived application fees can make college more accessible to students across New York.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said the College Application Initiative can help prospective students begin the process without having to worry about application costs.

“There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and free college applications help prospective students take the first step in accessing the affordable, excellent education of their dreams. SUNY is proud to promote the College Application Initiative with Governor Hochul and we applaud her commitment to making higher education more accessible for all New Yorkers.”

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez pointed to the role state and federal assistance already plays in reducing college costs for CUNY students.

“CUNY’s commitment to affordability hinges on the robust state and federal financial aid that enables 72 percent of our in-state undergraduates to attend tuition-free and 77 percent to graduate with zero debt. With applications now open for FAFSA, TAP, and the STEM Incentive Program, we strongly encourage all students to apply early to secure these vital resources. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in expanding TAP eligibility and ensuring public higher education remains a powerful driver of opportunity for all New Yorkers.”

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said the process of figuring out how to pay for college can be difficult for families, particularly as they work through financial aid paperwork and college applications.

“Every fall, families sit down at the kitchen table and ask the same question: how will we pay for college? The paperwork can feel overwhelming. It does not have to be. TAP, the STEM Incentive Program and the FAFSA are there to help, and so are counselors and colleges across our state. I encourage every high school senior, and every adult thinking about going back to school, to apply this fall. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to college affordability.”

The opening of the three applications gives students several routes to seek assistance at the same time they are considering colleges and submitting applications.

For some students, FAFSA could open the door to federal grants or work-study opportunities. Others may qualify for TAP to reduce tuition costs, while high-performing students pursuing eligible science and technology degrees at SUNY or CUNY could receive additional support through the STEM Incentive Program.

Meanwhile, the College Application Initiative is designed to reduce another upfront expense by eliminating application fees at participating institutions during designated periods this fall.

State officials are urging families not to assume they will be ineligible for assistance, particularly following the expansion of TAP’s income limits and other eligibility changes. They are also encouraging students to complete applications early rather than leaving available assistance unclaimed.

With FAFSA, TAP and STEM applications now open, New York’s focus for the 2027-28 academic year is on connecting more students with the financial help already available to them and reducing cost as a barrier to attending college.