Education Law requires that you have at least a cumulative C average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent) after you have completed two years of study to continue to be eligible for State student financial aid. This requirement means that you must have a C average or better after you have received 4 semester Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) payments or the equivalent to be eligible for further awards. In other words, if you are seeking a fifth TAP award payment, you must have a C average.

All State grant and scholarship programs (except STAP, the Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program for remedial study) are subject to this requirement.

The President of the Higher Education Services Corporation may grant a waiver of the C average requirement. As specified in Education Law, the C average requirement may be waived for undue hardship based on:

  • Death of a relative of the student;
  • Personal injury or illness of the student; or
  • Other extenuating circumstances.

If warranted, a C average waiver may be granted more than once.

Note: The C average waiver may not be used to regain eligibility for a Part-time TAP award, a program that requires the student to have and maintain a C average.