Financial Aid

FSA funds are given with the expectation that the recipient will complete 100% of the semester. In general, the law assumes that a student "earns" federal student aid awards in proportion to the number of days in the term the student completes.  When a student fails to complete any course in a given semester, due to either withdrawing or failing, a school must determine how much aid the student is entitled to receive. Any funds determined to be “unearned” must be returned the FSA program. This may result in the student owing money to the college.

For example: If a student completed 30% of the semester, then 30% of the federal aid originally awarded is "earned".   This means that 70% of the student's scheduled or disbursed aid remains must be returned to the FSA programs.  Federal aid that must be returned is referred to as "unearned".  

A student must complete more than 60% of the semester to earn 100% of the federal aid awarded. This does not mean the student will be entitle to all the federal aid awarded if the student withdraws before aid has been disbursed.

The student's official withdrawal date will be determined by the college as:

• the date the student officially withdraws, or
• the midpoint of the semester if an official withdrawal date cannot be determined, or
• the student's last date of attendance as determined by each Professor. 

Any funds determined to be “unearned” must be returned the FSA program.  The college may return some Federal Student Aid for the student. This may result in the student owing money to the college.

FEDERAL GRANTS

When the student must return grant funds it is considered an over-payment.  The student must either:
• Repay the entire amount
• make satisfactory repayment arrangements with the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
• Students who fail to do so will lose eligibility to receive future Federal Student Aid at any institution.

FEDERAL LOANS

Student loan funds that are returned to the lender will reduce a student’s total Direct Loan balance.

REFUNDS

If the amount owed to the College is less that the amount of federal aid “earned” then student may be eligible for a refund.

Note: Students must submit all required documents to be eligible for Federal student aid.
This policy governs Federal Title IV aid only. This policy does not affect the student's charges; the college's refund policy will be used to determine the reduction, if any, of the student's tuition and fees. The student is responsible for paying any outstanding charges to the college.

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a New York State funded, non-competitive, financial aid grant for state residents attending an approved post-secondary institution in New York as a full-time, matriculated student and meeting the minimum standards of Program Pursuit and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Note: Full-time is defined as carrying 12 credit hours or more of degree-bearing and non-degree (remedial) course work. Of the 12 required hours, three must be degree credits in the first semester of TAP; at least six-degree credits per semester thereafter.

The TAP awards are based on a family’s net taxable New York State income from the previous year and range from $500 to full tuition per year. Students are entitled to TAP payments for up to three years in an approved associate degree or certificate program. For each full semester (12 credit hours or more) of course work, a student is assigned six points. Once the maximum of thirty-six points is reached, the student will receive no further TAP payments at SUNY Erie.

Exception: EOP students will continue to receive up to five (5) years of TAP while pursuing a two-year degree.

While the three-year limit applies to students enrolled in a two-year program, a student may be eligible to receive an additional year of TAP at a four-year institution.

How to Apply:  Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS TAP Application. The TAP application must be filed by June 30 of the academic year in which the grant is sought.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) grants are available to New York State residents (U.S. citizens, permanent alien, or refugees) enrolled in at least three but less than 12 credit hours. At least three of these required hours must be toward a degree. The student must meet the income limits to be eligible for the program and maintain good academic standing.

Regarding Program Pursuit, APTS requires a 50 percent completion of the required minimum half-time course load the first year, 75 percent completion the second year, and 100 percent completion thereafter.

How to Apply: APTS application available in the Financial Aid Office. Limited funds. Note deadline on APTS application.

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated in an approved program at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.

Eligibility:

• Vietnam Veterans who served in Indochina between February 1, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
• Persian Gulf Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990.
• Afghanistan Veterans who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001.
• Veterans of the armed forces of the United States who served in hostilities that occurred after February 28, 1961 as evidenced by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal or a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

Duration: Awards are available for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to ten semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.

How to Apply: Applications for Vietnam Veterans Awards may be obtained in the Financial Aid Office or New York State Higher Education Services Corp. The deadline for establishing eligibility is September 1.

The State University of New York (SUNY) Educational Opportunity Program assists students by providing access to higher education and additional support services for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

Who We Serve

• Students who show both the ability and the motivation to complete college despite the effects of economic and academic struggles.
• Individuals holding a high school diploma or a high school equivalency (HSE).
• First semester, first-year students whose high school average was an 82 or below.
• New York State residents.

Services

• Counseling and financial assistance beyond those services available to the general student population.
• Program counselors provide assistance with academic and personal concerns, academic advisement, career exploration, and transfer options.
• EOP maintains a computer lab and provides tutorial services.
• The program offers several supplemental orientation workshops to assist students transitioning both to college and college life.

EOP Application Guidelines: The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), funded and administered by the New York State Education Department, is a financial aid program designed to help those students who are educationally and economically disadvantaged. The amount of each award is determined on an individual basis depending on need. 

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a first-generation, full-time college student in their first semester at SUNY Erie.
• Be a New York State resident for 12 months prior to enrollment.
  
  
• Meet one or both of the following criteria in order to be considered academically eligible for EOP at SUNY Erie:
  
  • The student must have an 82 high school average or below
  • The student must have a High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE/GED)
• Meet with an EOP counselor to review additional requirements for the program
• Fall within a defined income bracket or show other evidence of being economically disadvantaged 

Household Size (including head of household) / Total Income (before taxes/gross)
1 / 22,459
2 / 30,451
3 / 38,443
4 / 46,435
5 / 54,427
6 / 62,419
7 / 70,411
8 / 78,403*

* Add $7,992 for each additional household/family member in excess of eight

How to Apply: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and EOP application. Funds are limited, apply by May 1 prior to academic year for first consideration.

Exceptions to Financial Guidelines

• The student's family is the recipient of Family assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance.
• The student lives with foster parents who do not provide support for college and the student’s natural parents provide no such support.
• The student is a ward of the state or county.

The cost of a SUNY Erie education may be even more affordable with New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship! Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, New York residents making up to $125,000 annually will be considered. After Pell, TAP, and other scholarships are applied to tuition, the Excelsior Scholarship will cover what is needed to pay tuition. Fees are not covered by Excelsior.

How to Apply: An application for the Excelsior Scholarship can be obtained on NYSHESC's website.

Excelsior Notes

• Your financial aid will not go down. If eligible, you may receive for more aid through the Excelsior Scholarship.
• The Excelsior Scholarship covers tuition only. If your tuition costs are fully covered by Pell and/or TAP, you would not qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship.
• This program will make the greatest difference for students who pay at least some of their tuition out‐of‐pocket or with loans.
• Continuing students who qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship must have successfully completed 30 credit hours in the previous year to be eligible.
• Students must agree to live in New York State for a continuous number of years to the duration of the award received. If a student fails to meet this requirement, the award will be converted to a loan.
• The Excelsior Scholarship only applies to students pursuing an Associate or Bachelors’ degree. It does not apply to Certificates.

Students are encouraged to investigate other grants available through the New York State Office of Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Veterans Administration, Training Readjustment Act, Social Security Administration, private clubs, charitable organizations and foundations. The Financial Aid Office and counselors can be of assistance in this area.

The Foundation has a comprehensive listing of scholarships which are available to incoming and current SUNY Erie students. For more information, visit Foundation.

Under FASNY HELP, student-volunteers are eligible to have up to 100% of their tuition reimbursed in exchange for maintaining their grades and fulfilling defined service requirements. You must also be a "member in good standing" in one of New York's volunteer fire companies during both your college years and service payback period. Contact your fire chief or fire company president to apply for the FASNY Grant. 

Contact: Tom Chmielowiec, Transition Programs chmielowiect@ecc.edu, (716) 851-1589

The NYS Aid to Native Americans provides aid to enrolled members of tribes listed on the official roll of New York State tribes or to the child of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe for study in New York State. Enrolled members of a New York State tribe and their children who are attending, or planning to attend, a college in New York State and are New York State residents are eligible for the program. There is no qualifying examination and awards are available for 2, 4 or 5-year programs.

Say Yes Buffalo provides scholarships to eligible graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools to attend all State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) schools and more than 90 private colleges and universities. The amount of these scholarships is determined by how long the student has been continuously enrolled at a Buffalo public or charter school and the tuition balance that remains after state, federal and institutional aid are subtracted. Family income is not a factor in determining the amount of Say Yes SUNY/CUNY Tuition Scholarships.

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is a public charity holding more than 750 different charitable funds, large and small, established by individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and businesses to benefit Western New York. Eligibility for scholarships is restricted to current residents of the eight counties of Western New York. Students must have been admitted to a nonprofit, U.S. Department of Education accredited school in the United States for full-time study at the undergraduate level. Students who attend college outside Western New York remain eligible if they maintain a permanent residence in Western New York. In addition, Pell eligible applicants attending school within the eight counties of Western New York will be given strong preference in the award decision process.