Financial aid applications for 2023-2024 school year due June 30

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)–If you’re a current college student who just finished the school year and haven’t filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and New York’s Tuition Assistance Program forms, you have until June 30th to do so.

If you need funding for next year, you still have some time before those aid applications are due.

“The good news is that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid which is the gateway to financial aid for college for next year, they still have time because the deadline is June 30th of next year,” explained SUNY Chancellor, John King.

King said the federal government decided to make its financial aid form shorter. While in the long run he thinks it’s a good thing, he spoke of some of the challenges it caused.

“Usually it comes out in October, it didn’t come out until December. There were technical glitches early on. As a result, the whole county is down in FAFSA completion. We are very worried about that. In New York State, we’re down about 14% compared to the same time last year. That means fewer students are aware of the financial aid that is out there for them.”

In the recently passed state budget, changes were made to TAP to help more lower- and middle-income students starting in the 2024-2025 academic year.

“We’ve addressed that by increasing the income threshold to $125,000 and now the minimum award would be $1,000,” said Assemblymember Pat Fahy. “We still have to do more on the maximum, but that’s about $5,600.”

Starting next year, New York high school students will be able to receive help in school to complete the college FAFSA form.

“We passed a mandatory FAFSA with some waivers next year, so that every high school student will have help in trying to complete those FAFSA forms because it’s the financial aid form used by all colleges,” Fahy said.

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