This New York state program provides financial assistance to help eligible veterans who are matriculated and studying on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Eligibility criteria:
New York state resident who has been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and:
• a Vietnam veteran who served in Indochina between Dec. 22, 1961, and May 7, 1975, or
• a Persian Gulf veteran who served in the Persian Gulf hostilities between Aug. 2, 1990, and the cessation of hostilities, or
• an Afghanistan veteran who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
Award Amounts
For full-time study, a recipient shall receive an award of up to the full cost of undergraduate tuition for New York state residents at the State University of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester. If a TAP award is also received, the combination of the two awards cannot exceed the tuition charge. The TAP award would be reduced accordingly.
Awards for part-time study are $500 per semester or the actual tuition, whichever is less. Part-time study is defined as 3–11 credits per semester.
No recipient may receive total assistance in excess of $10,000 through this program.
Documentation
The student must first establish eligibility for this award by submitting a Veterans Tuition Award Supplement (available from HESC by request-see the link below) and appropriate documentation proving eligible veteran status (Form DD214). The deadline for establishing eligibility is September 1 of the appropriate academic year (ex. September 1, 2008 for the 2008-2009 academic year).
The student must also be a New York State resident, be enrolled in a degree program (full-time or part-time) at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State, and have applied for financial aid through the NY Tuition Assistance and a Federal Pell Grant programs. Proof of residency may be required.
For complete details, contact NYS Higher Education Services Corp. at 1-888-NYSHESC or www.hesc.com.