Applying for Financial Aid

If you haven't already done so, create a Federal Student Aid ID at www.studentaid.gov/fsa-id/. You will need this ID to electronically sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as gain access to various information on federal websites.

NOTE: Your parent's information will be required if you do not meet the qualifications of an independent student available on the Federal Student Aid website. If your parent’s information will be required when applying for financial aid, your parent should also register for a Federal Student Aid ID.

To be considered for any type of financial aid (grants, loans or scholarships), all students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year at www.studentaid.gov/.
NOTE: Returning students should file a Renewal FAFSA once they login to studentaid.gov.

The FAFSA is available starting Oct. 1 the year before you plan to enroll. The sooner you apply, the more financial aid you may receive.

Results are emailed to you and Hudson Valley Community College usually within a week from filing if your application is electronically signed.

NOTE: Be sure you have filed your FAFSA before applying for NYS TAP/APTS.

Full-Time Students

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) administers the TAP grant and many scholarship programs. Complete the NYS Student Aid Payment Application to apply for these programs.

Part-Time Students
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you are not sure if you should apply for APTS or Part-Time TAP.

New York State Aid For Part-Time Study Program (APTS)
The APTS is a financial aid grant for part-time students meeting residence, income, academic and other requirements, as established by state law.

Applications are available on the Financial Aid Forms page. Completed APTS applications should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office no later than the second week of classes. Students are notified of their awards by the 10th week of the semester.

Part-Time TAP
Part-time students at approved schools in New York State who were first-time, full-time freshmen in 2006-2007 or after may be eligible for Part-Time TAP to help them pay for college. To apply, complete the NYS Student Aid Payment Application.

After your FAFSA is processed you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you filed electronically and provided an email address you will be sent an email with a link to your SAR. Electronic filers who did not provide an email address and those who completed a paper FAFSA will be sent a paper SAR in the mail.

Once you receive your SAR, you should review it for accuracy. If you need to make corrections to your SAR, follow the directions on the SAR and return it to the federal processor. Corrections to your SAR can also be processed electronically at www.studentaid.gov/ once you log in. Be sure to "Submit" your corrections and make a copy of the SAR for your records. Once the corrections are processed, you will be sent a revised SAR.

After your FAFSA is processed, Hudson Valley Community College will be sent the information electronically. You may be required to submit additional information to the Financial Aid Office. You can verify your FAFSA in the Campus Logic Student Forms system.

Campus Logic Student Forms

Additional information is often required for one or more of the reasons listed below.

Database Mismatch
Your FAFSA data is matched against various federal databases (i.e. Social Security Administration, Selective Service, Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept. of Veteran Affairs) to make sure you meet the basic eligibility requirements for federal financial aid. If it cannot be determined that you meet the basic eligibility requirements, you may be asked to submit any of the following:

• Copy of your Social Security Card.
• Copy of your birth certificate.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Copy of your alien registration card.
• Proof of being a veteran of the armed forces.

Verification
The U.S. Department of Education selects some FAFSA applicants for a process called "verification." Hudson Valley Community College may also select a student for verification. If you are selected for this process, you will be required to submit any or all of the following to the Financial Aid Office:

• Copy of student's federal IRS tax return transcript*
  Request an Official IRS Tax Return Transcript
• Copy of student's W2 form(s)
• Copy of parent's federal IRS tax return transcript* (Dependent students only)
  Request an Official IRS Tax Return Transcript
• Copy of parent's W2 form(s) (Dependent students only)

*If you (or your parents, if you are a dependent) use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when filing the FAFSA, you may not be required to submit copies of the IRS tax return transcripts. You can also make a correction to your FAFSA to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool after the FAFSA has been submitted. Login to www.studentaid.gov/, choose "Make Corrections" and then select the "Financial Information" tab. Be sure to "Submit" your corrections.

Federal regulations require that independent students/student's parents/student's spouses who did not file taxes must submit proof that they didn't file an IRS tax return.

Please be aware that other documentation may be required to resolve conflicting information that occurs between your FAFSA and verification documents. All errors, mismatches and verification issues must be resolved before your financial aid eligibility can be finalized.

Once your FAFSA data is received and any requested verification documents have been received, the Financial Aid Office will send an email to your Hudson Valley Community College email account.

Your SUNY Award Letter will list any federal grants you qualify to receive as a full-time student, as well as any student loans for which you may apply. If the Financial Aid Office has been notified of your New York State TAP award, this will also be listed on your notice. Students who plan to attend part-time must notify the Financial Aid Office immediately so their awards can be reviewed and adjusted.

Note about Degree Applicable Hours
You can only receive federal and state aid for courses that count towards your degree program. An error message will occur when you schedule a course that is NOT degree-applicable. You can view your scheduled courses on WIReD. Tuition bills will NOT reflect financial aid credits for courses that are not degree-applicable. Please review your schedule and your tuition bill very carefully for any discrepancies relating to your courses and financial aid.