The College administers financial aid programs from federal, state and local agencies. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid on the Web at www.studentaid.gov to apply for all federal aid including Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. FAFSA School Code is 002698. If you (or your parent) do not yet have an FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically, you can apply here.
You will receive a confirmation page after you submit your FAFSA. New York residents should apply for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) with TAP school code 1417. Completing these forms ensures that you have applied for federal and state financial aid.
A new FAFSA application is available on October 1 of each year. Students should apply for financial aid as soon as they decide to apply for admission or readmission to the College. Continuing students must file a Renewal FAFSA and TAP application every year.
- January 31 - priority deadline for summer/fall semesters
- November 30 - priority deadline if only attending the spring semester
Filing by the applicable priority deadline ensures your financial aid estimates are available before your tuition bill due date.
It all starts with FAFSA!
The first step to apply for any Financial Aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov with FAFSA School Code: 002698. Federal aid includes Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study, TEACH Grants, and Federal Direct Loans. For more information about completing the FAFSA, Click here.
Verification and Submission of Documents
The Department of Education selects a certain number of applications for a process called Verification. If your application is selected, the Office of Student Financial Aid will notify you via email of the documentation that you will need to submit. In some instances, students are not selected for verification but may be required to submit other documentation required by the Department of Education or the college. Students will not be paid federal financial aid until Verification or other required updates are made and completed to your file.
If you are required to submit documentation, you will have a “Verify My FAFSA” task in your CUNYfirst Student Center under Tasks and Holds tile. By clicking the link, you will be directed to the CUNY Student Forms website. If you do not have a Student Forms account, the single sign on will log you into the portal where you will need to confirm your personal identifying information (Name, SSN, & Date of Birth) that matches your FAFSA. Once you have successfully created your account, you will be able to complete the tasks electronically.
For more information about Student Forms, including creating a parent account, click here.
New York State Aid
New York residents should apply for the New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) with TAP school code 1417.
New York residents with a family adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less can also apply for the Excelsior Scholarship after completing a TAP application. Applications are available for a limited time during the fall and spring semesters. Please click here to sign up for notifications from HESC to be notified when the application is available. The eligibility criteria for Excelsior scholarship can be reviewed on the HESC website.
Students who cannot complete the FAFSA because they are undocumented may still apply for state aid by completing the Senator Jose Peralta New York State Dream Act application. More information about eligibility and application process can be found here.
Federal Loans
Federal Direct Loans
If you need additional funds after determining your grant aid eligibility, you may want to consider a Federal Direct Loan. Students with a CSI SLAS account, can apply for Direct Loan here. First-time borrowers must also complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
Direct PLUS Loan – Graduate Students and Parents of Undergraduate Students
Direct PLUS Loans allow graduate students and parents of undergraduate students with good credit ratings to borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus any financial aid the student is receiving. Only Direct Plus loan applications submitted through CSI website will be processed. Parents must complete MPN and Graduate Students need to complete Entrance Counseling and sign MPN.
CUNY Supplement
In addition to filing your FAFSA and TAP applications, you should complete the CUNY Financial Aid Supplement Form. Completing this supplement may qualify you for additional financial aid. The CUNY Supplement Form can be completed through your CUNYfirst account.
Cost of Attendance
Financial Aid is awarded up to the cost of attendance. This may cover direct and indirect cost of your attendance.
- Direct costs is paid directly to the College, which includes tuition and fees; student housing and meal plans for students living on campus.
- Indirect costs include books and supplies, transportation, food, etc., which are not paid directly to the College. Actual costs for individual students will vary.
For more details on the cost of education and student budget details, click here.