Financial Aid

The purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance to matriculated students whose financial resources are inadequate to meet the costs of their education. Financial aid is intended to supplement, not replace, a family’s resources. A family’s resources include the student’s resources; spouse’s resources, if married at the time of application; and parents’ resources, if the student is a dependent. For that reason, most families should think of themselves as the first – and probably primary – source of funds for college. Annual family taxable and nontaxable income is not the only factor that is considered in evaluating eligibility for financial aid. A family’s assets are also considered, since a family with assets (such as a savings account or investments) is considered to be in a stronger financial position than a family with the same income, but no assets.

Financial aid programs vary widely as to their precise qualifications, but awards are generally determined on the basis of the eligibility criteria of the specific aid program, and without regard to sex, age, race and ethnicity, color, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, military status or marital status, although special opportunities for underrepresented student populations do exist. With the exceptions noted, the major financial aid programs are open to part-time as well as to full-time students. Veterans may be entitled to full tuition and fees from the Veterans’ Administration.

All programs are open to United States citizens, nationals and permanent residents who have declared their intent to become United States citizens. Persons holding Temporary Student, Exchange Visitor or Visitor Visas are not eligible.

A student’s eligibility cannot be determined until he or she provides full information about financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All financial aid applications as well as detailed descriptions of financial aid are available at www.esc.edu/FinancialServices. You are advised to apply for all assistance programs for which you may be eligible at least three months before your expected date of enrollment. All financial aid programs must be applied for annually after the first of the year.

There are three types of aid available at Empire State College: 1) grants/scholarships – money that does not need to be repaid; 2) loans – money that students borrow which must be repaid with interest; and 3) work study – student employment

Priority Deadlines

The priority deadline date for applying for financial aid is:

• six weeks before the start of the term. Please note that Empire State College scholarships are awarded based on the FAFSA results. Priority deadline is April 15.

Financial aid files completed after the financial aid priority deadline date will be reviewed. However, Student Financial Services cannot guarantee that financial aid will be processed in time for the student to register with a financial aid deferral. A federal financial aid file is complete when the college has received valid FAFSA data from the federal processor and all other documentation requested by Student Financial Services. Completed files are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Federal and State Aid
Eligibility for New York State Financial Aid
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid
Other Sources of Financial Aid
To Find Out More