Veterans Tuition Award

Deadline & Application Award Eligibility Help & Resources

Tuition Award for veterans with at least four years of active duty service and combat veterans pursuing an undergraduate, graduate degree or vocational training program.

  • Available to students attending SUNY, CUNY and private colleges or participating vocational schools and covers the cost of tuition, but cannot exceed the cost of undergraduate tuition at a state-operated SUNY. 

  • Available to students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or in an approved vocational training program in New York State

  • Available for full-time and part-time study

  • Be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term

Deadline & Application

Deadline

Students in undergraduate and graduate programs:  Be sure to complete your FAFSA and apply for TAP first.

Complete the FAFSAApply for TAP

Once filed, complete the Veterans Tuition Award Application

Students attending a participating vocational school:  Complete the Veterans Tuition Award Application to determine eligibility. If eligible, HESC will email a Student Payment application for you to complete.

 

Award

Award

Award is equal to the average SUNY undergraduate tuition rate of $7,070 or actual tuition, whichever is less.

  • Available to students attending SUNY, CUNY and private colleges or participating vocational schools and covers the cost of tuition, but cannot exceed the cost of undergraduate tuition at a state-operated SUNY. 

  • Veterans receiving a Chapter 33 Program benefit or Yellow Ribbon component will not be eligible for a VTA award if tuition is covered by those programs. 

  • Veterans receiving benefits under the Montgomery GI bill are eligible to receive VTA. 

  • The total of all aid received cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance.

  • For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. 

Frequency

Annual

For degree granting programs:

Must complete the FAFSA and TAP application.

For vocational students:

Must complete a NYS payment application.

Duration

Maximum of 4 years (8 full-time semesters) total for all students including both undergraduate and graduate study.

Dependent on Length of Program

  • Undergraduate Study 
    • Full-time students: 4 years (8 semesters) or 5 years (10 semesters) if enrolled in an approved 5-year program
    • Part-time students:  Duration is prorated based on the number of credits taken each semester. Part-time students cannot exceed the equivalent of 8 semesters of full-time enrollment for 4-year programs or 10 semesters of full-time enrollment for approved 5-year programs.
  • Graduate Degree
    • 3 years (6 semesters) of graduate study for full-time students, or the part-time equivalent of 3 years of full-time
  • For Vocational Training Programs
    • Up to 2 years (4 semesters) of study in an approved vocational training program for full-time students

Any award payments received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Eligibility

Non-New York State residents (including undocumented students): before submitting your Scholarship application, apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act.

There are no income limits for this Scholarship.

Financial Status

To receive the Scholarship, you must:

  • Be in good standing (a non-default status) on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award, AND
  • Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award that you have previously received.

To receive the Scholarship, you must meet the following residency requirements: 

  • You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
  • You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Approved programs are defined as: undergraduate degree, graduate degree (including master's and doctoral level degree programs), 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.

  • Veterans with a minimum of four years of active-duty service or those who served in combat or the combat theaters of Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, or Afghanistan, and must not have been dishonorably discharged. 

  • Members of the National Guard are eligible if the total time they have been deployed on active duty is 4 years or more, or if they have served in combat, as indicated by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

  • Graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test. 

College & Program 

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in NYS or in an approved vocational training program full- or part-time.

    • Full-time study: 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.

    • Part-time study: 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.

  • Be in good academic standing.

  • Charged at least $200 tuition per year.

Have Questions? 

HESC is here to answer your questions or help you with a specific issue. 

Call 1-888-NYSHESC (1-888-697-4372) to speak with our representatives.  

Representatives are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). 

New York State Higher Education

Services Corporation

99 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY 12255

© Higher Education Services Corporation