How to pay for college: government aid and free programs

Help with college costs comes as grants and scholarships, which you don't pay back, and loans, which you do. The NYS DREAM Act (Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act) is a New York State law that lets non-citizens receive State aid.

Statuses are named as in CUNY's non-citizen eligibility chart. “Yes, by status” means your status itself is no obstacle; income, course load, academic progress and other conditions are checked separately. “No” means Not Eligible (N/E) in CUNY's chart. For federal aid, the list of eligible noncitizens in the 2026-2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook is included. CUNY and HESC differ on TAP for asylum seekers.

CUNY and HESC describe this route differently for people asking for asylum. CUNY and the City College of New York (CCNY) financial aid office say students with a pending asylum application (CCNY lists it as Asylum Pending) may get TAP through the NYS DREAM Act if they graduated from a New York State high school or got a New York State GED. HESC's list doesn't include asylum applicants; it names the U visa (for victims of serious crimes), the T visa (for trafficking victims), TPS and people without lawful status, including DACA recipients. So first ask your college's financial aid office. On August 10, 2026 the U.S. Department of Justice sued New York State over resident rates and aid for students without lawful status; as of November 2026 no ruling had been reported. More: “What college costs at your immigration status”.

1. Ask the college's financial aid office which application to file

   Find the college's Financial Aid Office on its website and write, for example: “I am asking for asylum, I have an EAD (work permit) with the code (c)(8), and I have lived in New York State for 12 months. Which TAP application should I file, the FAFSA or the NYS DREAM Act?” Get the answer in writing and keep it.

2. Check the conditions of the NYS DREAM Act

   If your permanent home is in New York State, HESC names these statuses: U visa, T visa, Temporary Protected Status, or no lawful status, including DACA; asylum applicants are not on the list. You also need one of the education conditions: you attended a New York State high school for at least two years, graduated, and enroll in a New York State college within five years of the diploma (ten for graduate study); or you got a New York State HSE diploma and enroll within five years (ten for graduate study); or a CUNY or SUNY college charges you the resident rate for a reason other than residency (for example under the New York State high school or GED rule). Without a U.S. high school diploma or equivalent, you also need to pass an Ability to Benefit (ATB) test for your first State aid.

3. Create an account on the NYS DREAM Act portal

   Go to nysdream.applyists.net, create an account with a personal email and apply for NYS DREAM Act eligibility. The portal belongs to International Scholarship & Tuition Services (ISTS), which HESC works with. Applicants without lawful status are not asked for a home address or financial records.

4. After approval, apply for TAP

   Once your eligibility is approved, apply for an award such as TAP on the same portal. TAP needs a new application every year: June 30, 2027 for 2026-2027 and June 30, 2028 for 2027-2028.

5. Monitor your application

   HESC says it is your job to monitor the status and make sure the application is complete. On the portal you can upload missing documents and check the status. You get an email when each award is decided.

6. Read the conditions before you accept an award

   For some awards you sign a contract to live or work in New York State for a set number of years after graduation. If you don't want an award with that condition, mark it on the contract.

7. If something gets stuck

   NYS DREAM Act support: NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com or chat in your HESC ISTS account. CUNY helps too: the intake form of its Office of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs covers NYS DREAM Act help if you haven't received funds, need help applying, or can't reach HESC.

Conditions from HESC's TAP page. For students who are not legal New York State residents, including students without status, HESC says to apply for NYS DREAM Act eligibility first.

If you ask for State aid, including TAP, for the first time and have no U.S. high school diploma or recognized equivalent, you must pass an Ability to Benefit (ATB) test approved by the Board of Regents (the body that oversees education in New York State). What counts as an equivalent: “The High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma: how to earn it in New York State”; ask the college's financial aid office too. The college picks and gives a test from the approved list. CELSA (Combined English Language Skills Assessment) is taken in addition by students whose native language isn't English, who aren't fluent, and whose program includes ESL.

• Excelsior Scholarship (HESC)

  Any status

  A New York State "last dollar" scholarship: all grants (Pell, TAP and other scholarships not limited to non-tuition costs) go to tuition first, and Excelsior covers the rest, so you attend a State-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. HESC's conditions: you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and have lived legally in New York State for 12 continuous months; you graduated from a U.S. high school, earned a GED or passed a federally approved Ability to Benefit test; household adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less; a SUNY or CUNY degree program; full-time study and at least 30 credits a year; and afterward you live and work in New York State for as many years as you got the scholarship. Apply every year with the FAFSA and TAP application or with the NYS DREAM Act application. If you are not a legal resident, including if you are undocumented, apply through the NYS DREAM Act. Ask HESC or the college's financial aid office whether an asylum applicant with a work permit counts as an eligible noncitizen. 2026-2027 is closed.

  hesc.ny.gov

• CUNY Reconnect (NYS Opportunity Promise Scholarship)

  Any statusFree

  A CUNY program for students 24 or older starting college or returning. Financial help may include Completion Grants (one-time help with small tuition balances), Forgiveness Grants (help settling earlier balances that block re-enrollment) and Retention Grants (for unexpected hardships). The NYS Opportunity Promise Scholarship covers tuition, fees and books in more than 220 high-demand associate degree programs. Conditions: age 25 to 55 on January 1 of the semester you apply; no prior degree (from spring 2027 a prior degree is fine too, and it is allowed for nursing programs); a New York State resident or eligible for in-state tuition; an approved high-demand associate program; at least 6 credits a semester and 12 a year; and the FAFSA plus TAP or the NYS DREAM Act if you are eligible. To start, apply online or book a virtual consultation on the program's website. Each student gets a Navigator (advisor) to help choose a program and understand costs. CUNY has 17 Early Childcare Centers for students' children.

  cuny.edu

• SUNY Reconnect

  Any statusFree

  A SUNY program: from January 2027, free associate degrees in high-demand fields for all New Yorkers aged 25 to 55, including those who already have a degree. It covers tuition, fees, books and supplies after other aid such as TAP. Conditions: a New York State resident, aged 25 to 55, in an eligible program full- or part-time. Fields: aviation management and air traffic control, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, emergency management, engineering, fire protection, green and renewable energy, nursing and health professions, pathways to teaching, supply chain and logistics, and technology. Ask the SUNY college whether it fits your immigration status.

  suny.edu

1. Split the bill into installments

   CUNY lets you split a semester's bill into monthly payments with no interest: “What college costs at your immigration status”.

2. Check private scholarships

   Privately funded CUNY scholarships are open regardless of immigration status, and many foundations don't ask about citizenship. A list with dates: “Scholarships and grants: what is open to you and when to apply”.

3. Apply to CUNY's support programs

   Mark CD or SEEK on your application and attach income documents. For students without lawful status, CUNY says to apply for the NYS DREAM Act to determine eligibility for State aid, including CD and SEEK.

4. Study part-time if you cannot otherwise

   With fewer than 12 credits CUNY charges per credit, so the bill is smaller. CUNY also describes a Part-Time TAP: you must be a New York State resident, be admitted to a degree program, keep a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0, and register for at least 3 but fewer than 12 credits.

• Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

  Any statusFree

  The New York State agency that administers State grants and scholarships for college, including TAP, and takes NYS DREAM Act applications. It answers questions about applications and payments.

  (888) 697-4372 (say "Russian" and an interpreter joins)hesc.ny.gov99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255Mon–Fri 8:30 am–4:30 pm, except holidays

• NYS DREAM Act support (International Scholarship & Tuition Services)

  Any statusFree

  Support for NYS DREAM Act applicants and recipients: email NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com or chat after logging in to your HESC ISTS account. The application portal is nysdream.applyists.net.

  hesc.ny.gov

• CUNY Office of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs

  Any statusFree

  The intake form on the office's page also covers help with the NYS DREAM Act application. Expect a reply within two weeks; if none comes, email ImmigrantStudents@cuny.edu with “Delayed Intake” in the subject.

  cuny.edu