Apply for New York State Financial Aid

Students can apply for TAP through their FAFSA application.  New York State (NYS) residents attending NYS schools can link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page.

If the FAFSA was exited before completing the TAP application – and you filled in your New York State address and a New York State college on the FAFSA – the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) will automatically receive the information in about three (3) days. HESC will then send you an email or postcard with directions to complete the TAP application online.

New York State Aid applications become available on October 1st for the following Fall semester. The FAFSA must be completed first.

  • OCC's TAP School Code is 2185. Unlike with the FAFSA, only one (1) school code can be listed on the TAP application.
  • At the beginning of the online TAP application, you will be prompted to create a HESC-specific username and personal identification number called a HescPIN. You will use your HescPIN when "signing" your TAP application and when accessing your HESC account information in the future.