Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time 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.

Note: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. Those students who are attending an approved undergraduate or graduate program may apply for payment for the current academic year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then linking to the TAP on the web application. See How to Apply for Payment below for additional details.

Award Amounts

• For full-time study, a recipient will receive an award of up to the full cost of undergraduate tuition for New York State residents at the State University of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution.
• For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time study is defined as at least three but fewer than 12 credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution.

Duplicative Benefits

The combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the student's total tuition costs. Tuition payments received by a student under the Post-9/11 GI BILL® (Chapter 33 veteran benefits) and Yellow Ribbon Program are considered duplicative of any VTA and/or TAP award. Students receiving tuition assistance through these programs may, and in most cases will, have their state VTA and/or TAP payment reduced or denied due to these other benefits; however, payments received under the Montgomery GI BILL® do not duplicate the purpose of the VTA and/or TAP.

Note: Students attending high tuition schools may be eligible to receive both the federal and state benefits. Additionally, students with a "Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable" under the Post-9/11 GI BILL® (Chapter 33 veteran benefits) Program of less than 100 percent and those continuing to receive benefits under the Montgomery GI BILL® may also receive both federal and state benefits.

VTA Benefits – Duration

Full-time Study

• Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs: Awards are available for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
• Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs: Awards are available for up to six semesters (three years) of graduate study.
• Approved Vocational Training Programs: Awards are available for up to a maximum of four semesters (two years) of study in an approved vocational training program.

Part-time Study

• Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs: Awards are available for up to the equivalent of 16 semesters (eight years) of part-time undergraduate study in a four-year program. Awards can be made available for up to the equivalent of 20 semesters (10 years) of part-time study for enrollment in an approved five-year undergraduate program, which normally requires five academic years of full-time study.
• Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs: Awards are available for up to the equivalent of six semesters (three years) of full-time graduate study.
• Approved Vocational Training Programs: Awards are available for up to a maximum of eight semesters (four years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.

Approved programs are defined as undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or non-credit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the New York State Education Department Office of College and University Evaluation.

Eligible Veterans

Eligible students are those who are New York State residents discharged under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces and who are:

• Vietnam Veterans who served in Indochina between February 28, 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

Students must also:

• Establish eligibility by applying to HESC
• Be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be matriculated full- or part-time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State or in an approved vocational training program in New York State
• Have applied for the Tuition Assistance Program for all undergraduate or graduate study
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the commissioner of the State Education Department
• Meet good academic standing requirements
• Be charged at least $200 tuition per year
• Be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any state award
• Be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a state award

How to Establish Eligibility

Complete the New York State Veterans Tuition Award Supplement or contact HESC. Questions regarding eligible service or how to document service should be directed to the HESC Scholarship Unit.

How to Apply for Payment

Once you have established your eligibility, you must apply for payment. While you need only establish your eligibility once, you must apply for payment each year.

For undergraduate and graduate, full-time and part-time study:

• Complete and submit the NYS Veterans Tuition Award Application. Be sure to print the Application Confirmation and sign and submit it along with the required documentation according to the instructions.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—the form used by most colleges, universities, and vocational schools for awarding federal student aid and most state and college aid—and then link to TAP on the online application.

For veterans who do not anticipate filing a FAFSA, complete a Scholarship Grant Payment Application. To receive a copy of the application, please call 888.697.4372.

First-time applicants for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for the Veterans Tuition Awards program. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to log into your account and add a new application to apply for the Veterans Tuition Awards.

For Vocational Training Program students, complete and submit only the NYS Veterans Tuition Award Application.

All applications must be completed by June 30 of the academic year for which an award is sought. To learn more about programs and benefits for veterans, visit the Division of Veterans Affairs website.