Veterans Tuition Awards

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated in an approved program at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State (NYS).

  • Veterans Tuition Awards
  • DREAM Act VTA Applicants

Eligibility

An applicant must:

  • be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
  • have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a General Educational Development Test (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
  • be matriculated full or part- time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State or in an approved vocational training program in New York State;
  • meet good academic standing requirements;
  • be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
  • have applied for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for all undergraduate or graduate study;
  • be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any state award;
  • be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a state award;
  • be discharged under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces and:
    • a Vietnam Veteran who served in Indochina between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975; or
    • a Persian Gulf Veteran who served in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990; or
    • an Afghanistan Veteran who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001, or
    • a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces who served in hostilities that occurred after February 28, 1961, as evidenced by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal or a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

Award Amounts

For full-time study, a recipient receives an award of up to undergraduate tuition for NYS residents at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or 24 or more hours per week in a vocational training program.

For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time study is defined as at least three but fewer than 12 credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or six to 23 hours per week in a vocational training program.

NOTE: Tuition payments received by a veteran under the Chapter 33 Program and Yellow Ribbon component will be considered duplicative of any VTA award a student may have received. However, payments received under the Montgomery GI bill do not duplicate the VTA award.

Combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the actual tuition. Students attending high tuition schools may be eligible to receive the federal and State benefits. Additionally, students whose “Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable” under the Chapter 33 Program is less than 100% of tuition may also receive both federal and State benefits.

Duration

Full-time Study

  • Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
  • Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to six semesters (three years) of graduate study.
  • Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of four semesters (two years) of study in an approved vocational training program. Below is the current list of participating vocational schools.
NAME
ALBANY-SCOHARIE-SCHENECTADY-SARATOGA BOCES
ALLIANCE COMPUTING SOLUTIONS
APEX TECHNICAL SCHOOL
CAMBRIDGE BUSINESS INSTITUTE
CHARLES STUART SCHOOL
COMPU21 
CUNY HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DIGITAL FILM ACADEMY
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL CULINARY CENTER
LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
MADISON ONEIDA BOCES
NEW YORK AUTOMOTIVE & DIESEL INSTITUTE
ONONDAGA CORTLAND MADISON BOCES
ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OSWEGO COUNTY BOCES
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES
WASHINGTON-SARATOGA-WARREN-HAMILTON-ESSEX BOCES
WESTERN SUFFOLK BOCES
 

Please have your school’s financial aid office contact HESC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if they are not listed above.

Part-time Study

  • Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 16 semesters (eight years) of part-time undergraduate study in a four-year program. Awards can be made available for up to the equivalent of twenty semesters (10 years) of part-time study for enrollment in an approved five-year undergraduate program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
  • Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs – A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 12 semesters (six years) of part-time graduate study.
  • Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of eight semesters (four years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.
  • Approved programs are defined as: undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or non-credit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the NYS Education Department Office of College and University Evaluation. Contact your Financial Aid Office to determine if your program is approved for this award.

NOTE: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. Students attending a vocational school do not have to file the FAFSA or TAP on the Web application.

How to Apply

For Undergraduate and Graduate Full-time & Part-time Study

For Vocational Training Program

  • Confirm your school is in the list of participating schools contained in the Duration section above. Please have your school’s financial aid office contact HESC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if they are not listed.
  • Complete and submit the Veterans Tuition Award Application.
    • Be sure to print the Application Confirmation, sign and submit it, along with the required documentation, according to the instructions.

All applications must be completed by June 30 of the academic year for which an award is sought.

Payment

A recipient is not required to submit another Veterans Tuition Award Application once awarded this scholarship, but must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the TAP on the Web application each year to receive payment.

Questions?

Please contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions about this Program.

To learn more about programs and benefits for veterans visit the New York State Department of Veterans' Services.

Eligibility

  1. Your permanent home is in NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U-Visa
    2. T-Visa
    3. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    4. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    5. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. 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
      2. 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
      3. 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.
  2. Your permanent home is outside of NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U.S. citizen
    2. Permanent lawful resident
    3. 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.
    4. U-Visa
    5. T-Visa
    6. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    7. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    8. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. 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 five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma,and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      3. 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.

Note: A student seeking New York State financial aid, including TAP, for the first time, must pass a federally approved ATB test identified by the Board of Regents if the student does not possess a U.S. high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.



Award Amounts

For full-time study, a recipient receives an award of up to undergraduate tuition for NYS residents at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or 24 or more hours per week in a vocational training program.

For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time study is defined as at least three but fewer than 12 credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or six to 23 hours per week in a vocational training program.

NOTE: Tuition payments received by a veteran under the Chapter 33 Program and Yellow Ribbon component will be considered duplicative of any VTA award a student may have received. However, payments received under the Montgomery GI bill do not duplicate the VTA award.

Combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the actual tuition. Students attending high tuition schools may be eligible to receive the federal and State benefits. Additionally, students whose “Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable” under the Chapter 33 Program is less than 100% of tuition may also receive both federal and State benefits.

Duration

Full-time Study

  • Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
  • Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to six semesters (three years) of graduate study.
  • Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of four semesters (two years) of study in an approved vocational training program.

Part-time Study

  • Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 16 semesters (eight years) of part-time undergraduate study in a four-year program. Awards can be made available for up to the equivalent of twenty semesters (10 years) of part-time study for enrollment in an approved five-year undergraduate program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
  • Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs – A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 12 semesters (six years) of part-time graduate study.
  • Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of eight semesters (four years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.
  • Approved programs are defined as: undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or non-credit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the NYS Education Department Office of College and University Evaluation. Contact your Financial Aid Office to determine if your program is approved for this award.

NOTE: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. Students attending a vocational school do not have to file the FAFSA or TAP on the Web application.

How to Apply

Students newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for the Veterans Tuition Awards program. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to log into your account and add a new application to apply for the Veterans Tuition Awards.

If you are newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act, you must apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for Enhanced Tuition Awards. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to add a new application to apply for Enhanced Tuition Awards. 

Monitoring the Status of Your Application

Once you have submitted an application, it is your responsibility to monitor the status of your application and to make sure your application is complete. You will be able to monitor the status of your application online after submitting your application and uploading any required documentation.

Award Notification and Acceptance

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!

Payment

To receive award payments after the initial application year, a VTA recipient who qualifies under the DREAM Act must annually complete a payment application. Recipients under the DREAM Act who are eligible for federal student aid must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

 

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