Alternate Eligibility Path FAQs

There are three pathways to access NYS financial aid available to students: through the FAFSA, the NYS DREAM Act, or the alternate eligibility pathway. Use the HESC prescreening tool to help you and your family determine the best path for your situation. This tool will guide you through a series of questions to identify the most appropriate option for applying for New York State financial aid.

This is not a financial aid program but offers an alternate path for eligible students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who do not want to complete a FAFSA due to concerns related to the privacy of their information, but want to apply for New York State financial aid. This is separate from the NYS DREAM Act.

Students may submit the application year-round. Once eligibility is determined, students must apply for specific grant or scholarship programs they are interested in. Each program has its own deadlines and criteria. Visit the HESC Grants & Scholarships page for more information.

Students using this path may be eligible for many New York State grant and scholarship programs. However, students are not eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship or Enhanced Tuition Award through this application, due to statutory requirements. Students eligible for federal aid must complete the FAFSA and NYS TAP application to be considered for those programs.

No. Students who apply using this alternate path are not eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship or Enhanced Tuition Award. However, if a student later completes the FAFSA and NYS TAP application and continues to meet the program’s requirements, they may be eligible in future academic years.

Yes. Students who are not eligible for federal financial aid may apply for the Excelsior or Enhanced Tuition Award through the NYS DREAM Act, provided they meet that program’s criteria.

While using this application does not disqualify students from receiving institutional aid, individual colleges may require a FAFSA for consideration. Students should check directly with their institution.

No. Students must apply directly to the loan forgiveness program they are interested in. This application is not used for loan forgiveness programs.

Students should first use the prescreening tool to help them determine the path best for them. This application is intended for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and have at least one required FAFSA contributor who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Students can request changes through the chat box in their HESC portal or by contacting customer support.

While you do not need to resubmit this application each year, you must reapply for each NYS financial aid program (like TAP) annually to continue receiving awards.

No. FAFSA is required to receive federal aid, such as Pell Grants, Work-Study, and federal student loans. This path is for state aid only.

No. Students should only submit one financial aid application pathway: FAFSA, DREAM Act, or this alternate eligibility application. Submitting multiple applications can delay processing. Use the prescreening tool to determine which option is best for you.

No. If you’ve submitted a FAFSA, you should complete the NYS TAP application to apply for state aid.

Data you enter into FAFSA is stored by the U.S. Department of Education. You can delete an unsubmitted FAFSA, but some information may be retained.

No. Once processed, a FAFSA and its associated data cannot be deleted. However, it remains available for use in applying for federal and state aid.

We do not delete applications or data unless requested. Contact us if you would like to withdraw your application.

You may still submit the FAFSA. Please use the following guidance to help determine how to proceed if you've already submitted an alternate eligibility application.

Students who submit ONLY the alternate eligibility application can later change their mind and submit a FAFSA. There is no need to contact HESC.

Students who have submitted a TAP application through the alternate eligibility process should NOT complete a second TAP application. Please Contact Us to inform us of any updates or changes.

Only limited data is stored. Instead of Social Security numbers, a unique Student ID is used. Full mailing addresses are not required—only city, state, and ZIP code.

Yes, dependent students must include parental information, as it’s required for most NYS financial aid programs. New York State protects this information and does not share it without consent. Independent students are not required to include parental information.

No. Federal and state laws protect your information from being shared with immigration enforcement without a court order. New York State is committed to maintaining the privacy and safety of student data.

Yes. FAFSA data is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which restricts the release of personally identifiable information for non-educational purposes without consent. However, federal policies may change, so students should stay informed via the U.S. Department of Education.