Extending the Eligibility Timeline for New York’s Tuition Assistance Program

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is New York’s primary aid program, accounting for 80 percent of state student financial aid awards. TAP is to students attending two-year or four-year undergraduate degree-granting programs as well as students attending approved non-degree workforce credential programs full-time or part-time.

Students completing a bachelor’s degree are eligible for TAP for four years of study. However, the average time it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree from SUNY or CUNY is more than five years. This fact sheet illustrates why extending TAP eligibility from four to six years is a more effective use of state funds and a vital support for students.