New York’s tuition assistance program to include part-time students, Gov. Hochul announces
New York’s college Tuition Assistance Program is growing to include part-time students, expanding the financial support to an estimated 75,000 additional people, Gov. Hochul announced Thursday.
The decades-old tuition assistance program provides financial help to New York residents who attend college in-state, full time, but has never been open to the tens of thousands of part-time scholars who are often balancing work or other responsibilities.
“TAP has always been there as that way to bridge the gap between what you might have in your family... and the cost of your tuition,” Hochul said. “But yet, since its inception, it’s been too limited.”
“Largely, the ones affected and excluded from these opportunities were students of color, immigrant students and female students,” she said, adding that the expansion to cover part-time students is an effort to “right the wrong.”
The proposal, which will cost the state $150 million this year and will reach students taking part-time CUNY and SUNY classes, was first proposed by Hochul during budget negotiations last spring, and adopted as part of the state budget in April. Qualifying students can apply to receive the financial aid starting this fall.
Previously, the program was available only to people earning 12 credits per semester. Last year, 250,000 students across the state got financial support through the program, with an average award of $3,300, according to Hochul.
Students attending public state colleges in the SUNY or CUNY system and those in private, non-profit New York colleges taking as few as six credits are eligible for the assistance.
The expansion comes as CUNY’s system of community colleges, which enroll a higher share of part-time students, have seen significant enrollment declines during the pandemic.
Amy Santana, 34, said the new financial aidwill allow her to pursue the nursing degree she’s long coveted at Borough of Manhattan Community College — without having to quit the job that helps her care for her 5-year-old son.
“This fall, I will finally get the financial aid I need to get the degree I need on a timeline that works for me, without having to quit my job,” she said.
