New York State Higher Education Services Corporation

If your permanent home is in NYS, and you are or have ONE of the following:

• U-Visa
• T-Visa
• Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
• Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
• AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
  • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
  • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
  • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
  • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
  • You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

If your permanent home is outside of NYS, and you are or have ONE of the following:

• U.S. citizen
• Permanent lawful resident
• Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S.
• U-Visa
• T-Visa
• Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
• Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
• AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
  • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
  • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
  • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
  • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
  • You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

Please go here to find more information about other programs and their eligibility requirements.

Students meeting the NYS Dream Act eligibility criteria can apply for one or more HESC-administered grant and scholarship programs and be directed to the NYS DREAM Act application powered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS).

The application is simple and straightforward, and the information provided will be used ONLY to determine eligibility for and administer awards.

Applicants without lawful immigration status will NOT be asked for their home address and will NOT have to upload financial records.

You will be notified by email when a determination has been made regarding your eligibility for each award for which you have applied. If you are determined to be eligible for an award, your next step will be to accept the award!

For certain awards, you must sign a contract agreeing to live and/or work in New York State for a required number of years after graduation as a condition of receiving the award. If you decide not to accept an award with a post-graduation requirement, please indicate this on the contract.

Once an applicant has been approved under the NYS Dream Act Eligibility form. Navigate to the NYS Dream Act Portal powered by ISTS. Applicants will click the “Continue to Apply for Financial Aid” indicator button on their Home Page. This will allow applicants to choose from a list of available financial aid applications and apply.

$125,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

• If you are a dependent undergraduate student within a household earning under the income limit, or
• If you are an independent student (married or single) with tax dependents, or
• If you are a student who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13.

$60,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

• If you are an independent student (married) without tax dependents.

$30,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

• If you are an independent student (single) without tax dependents.

Award amounts are determined via the following factors:

• Combined income, including family earned income and pensions.
• Number of family members enrolled in college.
• Financial status (dependent or independent).
• Cost of tuition.
• When you started receiving TAP or other NYS awards.

$1,000 to $5,665 for 2024-25 academic year (the minimum award increased to $1,000 effective 2024-25)

The length of award consideration is dependent on the length of your educational program:

• 3 years for students pursuing their associate degree full-time.
• 4 years for students pursuing their bachelor’s degree full-time.
• 5 years for approved five-year degree programs.

Please go to this link to find more information about other programs and their eligibility requirements.