Counselor - June 2026

Published June 01, 2026

HESC Financial Aid Updates for June

As summer break begins, we’d like to thank school counselors across New York for helping students take the next step toward college.

College Application Initiative (CAI) helps students apply to college, secure financial aid, and confidently transition from high school to postsecondary education.

Your partnership makes that possible. By joining the 2026 CAI Early Registration, your school can help more students take the next step toward college and future success.

Financial Aid Program Reminders & Deadlines:

• New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have a deadline of June 30, 2026 for the 2025-26 academic year.
   
• 2026-27 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Scholarship: Deadline: August 15, 2026
   
• Excelsior Scholarship Now Open for the 2026-2027 Academic Year: Deadline: August 31, 2026
• Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Now Open for the 2026-27 Academic Year: Deadline: August 31, 2026
   

Important STEM Application Reminders:

1. Students must complete both FAFSA and TAP
2. The verification form must be completed by school counselor as part of the application process.
3. Students are encouraged to upload their STEM documents directly through the HESC portal.
4. Students must be in the top 10% of their NYS high school graduating class and apply in their high school senior year.
5. School counselors may also submit documents on behalf of students by emailing to [email protected].

The STEM document upload deadline for Counselors is August 30, 2026.

👉 View all Grants and Scholarships Opportunities

Upcoming HESC Virtual Events for Parents and Students

• Get Support with your DREAM Act & Alternate Pathway Applications
  • June 1 - 5:00p
  • June 17 - 12:00p
    Learn how students can complete the DREAM Act and Alternate Pathway applications with expert guidance.
• Tuition-Free College with Excelsior!
  • June 2 – 6:00p
    Find out how the Excelsior and Enhanced Tuition Assistance programs work to make higher education more affordable for eligible NYS students.
• Financial Aid Help for Unique Situations
  • June 3 – 6:00p
    Get personalized advice on navigating financial aid for special circumstances.
• Parent Night Out: Complete Your FAFSA/TAP with HESC
  • June 9 – 4:00p
  • June 23 – 4:00p
    Parents are welcome to join HESC for a live virtual event where they will get expert advice on completing or updating financial aid applications.
• Understanding the NYS STEM Incentive Program
  • June 15 – 6:00p
    Let HESC experts walk you through this scholarship geared toward students pursuing emerging careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
  • June 25 – 6:00p
    This informative event will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for students needs and make the most of the resources available to students.

👉 View full list of upcoming HESC events.    

Questions? Call HESC!
You can call HESC directly for financial aid assistance, general questions, or to reset a student's HESC PIN at 1-888-697-4372.

Important: To protect student privacy, students must be present on the call when requesting a PIN reset or assistance with their HESCpin account.

Visit the HESC website for more resources. 

Counselors interested in hosting financial aid events should continue reaching out to HESC at [email protected], as this process remains unchanged.

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