To be eligible for the New York State HESC Tuition Assistance Program, applicants must: be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months; be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen; have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department; plan on attending a college/university in the New York State; be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing with at least a "C" average after the 4th semester payment; be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits); not be in default of any loans; demonstrate financial need; and be charged at least $200 tuition per year.
The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s higher education student financial aid agency. HESC processes more than a half-million grant, scholarship and loan forgiveness applications each year. HESC awards nearly $1 billion in financial aid to more than 330,000 students. HESC helps New Yorkers attain their higher education through the administration of numerous initiatives, including the Tuition Assistance Program.