HESC offers many tools to help build your college and career plan. Use our planning calendars to guide you through what to do each month of your junior and senior years. Plus find information about graduation requirements, standardized tests, preparing for and attending college fairs, choosing the college that is right for you, campus tour checklists, virtual campus tours, explore careers and much more.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the FAFSA to apply for federal grants and loans. In addition, data from the FAFSA is used for state grant applications, like TAP.
As a New York state resident, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) will help you pay your tuition and other college costs. TAP grants are based on your and your family’s New York State net taxable income, plus any Federal, State or local pension income, if applicable.
Like TAP, scholarships and special awards are available to eligible New York State residents. Since they don’t have to be paid back, they should be your first focus when lining up money for college.
Another program for New York State residents, the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), gives you and your family a low-cost way to make up the difference between the cost of college and available financial aid.
First, you apply for and receive all State, federal (excluding PLUS) and institutional aid you can get. Then consider a NYHELPs loan to help cover your unmet need as certified by your college.
Unlike other private loans that offer variable rates, NYHELPs interest rates are fixed, meaning they will not change over the life of the loan. And NYHELPs interest rates are lower than the rates of other options available in the private loan market.
HESC offers additional services that help students and families pay for college, including:
