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Bringing It Home – The Saint Rose Blog

Are you eligible for the NYS Enhanced Tuition Award?

Good news – The College of Saint Rose has opted in to New York State’s Enhanced Tuition Awards program, which provides up to $6,000 in tuition assistance annually to eligible in-state students who are selected for the award (up to $3,000 from New York State and up to $3,000 from Saint Rose already included in your merit scholarship).

You might be wondering if you’re eligible for ETA. The NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) selects who is eligible based on certain criteria. We created an outline to help you better understand if you can receive the award or not.

Of course, if you have any questions about your eligibility, please feel free to contact a Saint Rose Financial Aid Counselor at finaid@strose.edu or 518.458.5464.

How to know if you’re eligible for ETA:

 

You’re a resident of New York State

SNL Skit

Whether you’re from the Big Apple or live just below the Canadian border, then you’re in luck. To be eligible for this award you must be a resident of New York State. Or, if you weren’t born and raised here, then you must have lived in NYS for 12 months prior to the beginning of the term for which you’re enrolled. You also must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

 

You’re a high school graduate or equivalent

Excited Dwayne Johnson

Chances are if you’re applying for college, you’re probably a high school graduate, have earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test. If that’s the case, then you’re on your way to the ETA.

 

You have a family income of $125,000 or less

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Hardly anyone enjoys revealing their income – but this is something you have to talk about when applying for financial aid. You and your family must make less than a certain adjusted gross income to be eligible for ETA.

According to HESC, your household adjusted gross income can total UP TO $125,000 to be eligible.

 

You’re pursuing an undergraduate degree

Michelle Obama News

You probably wouldn’t be looking into ETA unless you were pursuing your degree. However, not every college in New York is opting in to ETA (Saint Rose is of course). You can learn about what other NYS colleges are participating here.

 

You’re enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester

Funny Cat

You must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year toward your degree program to be eligible. Additionally, there can be no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented. At Saint Rose, 12 credits are the minimum amount of credits needed to be considered full-time. Anything less than 12 credits is part-time.

Note: A student who is not on track to complete an Associate’s degree in two consecutive years or Bachelor’s degree in four consecutive years (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year) can catch up on missing credits to become eligible for an Enhanced Tuition Award.

 

You’re up-to-date with student loan payments

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Although this is an award, it’s important that you have not defaulted on a student loan payment for any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award. For most federal student loans, you will default if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days. Additionally, you must be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award(s) that you have previously received.

 

You’re a dedicated New Yorker (for now)

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You don’t have to become a fan of our sports’ teams (although, why wouldn’t you want to be?) in order to be eligible for ETA. However, the contract does state that you’re agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time you’re receiving the award and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.

NOTE: Due to the financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State may reduce funds and/or prioritize funds for current recipients of the program. Meaning, even if you are eligible, you may not receive the award.

To learn more about ETA or to apply, click here.

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