Types of Grant Programs

Federal and State Grants

Federal

  • Federal Pell Grant Program
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

State

  • Tuition Assistance Program
  • Aid for Part-time Students


View State Grants

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Assistance Plans (Title IV)

Matriculated students attending or planning to attend college on a part-time or full-time basis may apply for this Federal grant program. Students should use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply online. The application starts with the Fall semester, continues into the Spring, and ends with the Summer.

The Federal Processor determines the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). In about two to three weeks after filing, a Student Aid Report (SAR), which contains the EFC, will be sent to the student. If an email address is provided the information will be sent via email. The information on the SAR is used to determine the student's eligibility for federal aid, including a Federal Pell Grant. If the award is finalized prior to the date the tuition bill is due, tuition and fees will be reduced by the amount of the Pell award. If the award is finalized after the tuition bill is due, the student will pay the tuition and fees when the bill is due and will be reimbursed later in the school year.

Eligibility for PELL

Eligibility and award amounts are based on need. Congress votes upon the formula used to determine the need each year. Students are notified by the Office of Financial Services about the conditions for receiving Pell payments and how and where these payments can be received. To remain eligible, students must attend classes and continue to make satisfactory academic progress in their chosen program of study.
Note: A student must have achieved at least a 2.00 GPA after two years of attendance at Queensborough. PELL will only pay for a maximum of thirty (30) equated remedial credits, excluding ESL courses.

The amount of Federal Pell Grant you may receive over your lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of 12 full time semesters. If you are attending full time and are eligible for Pell you will receive Pell for 6 years. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six year equivalent is 600%. In addition, all students who are eligible to receive Pell Grants may receive Pell Grants for up to 12 full time semesters.

Where can I find my lifetime PELL grant used?

You may view your percentage of Pell Grant used by logging into NSLDS website Your “Lifetime Eligibility Used” percentage will be displayed in the “Grants” section. Example: Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used: 400% or 8 terms. How is the percentage used calculated? The percentages are based on the annual full-time award. For example, students who had a Pell award for the 2022-2023 academic year and registered for 12 or more credits in each semester (Fall and Spring), would have used 100% of that year's award. If you only attended 9 credits for two semesters, your percentage used for the academic year would be 75%, etc.

Financial Aid Questions? What is a Pell Grant? Get video answers below.

Financial Aid Questions? What is the Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU for Pell Grants? Get video answers below, or head to Financial Aid TV

Professional Judgement

When there are unusual situations or circumstances that impact your federal student aid eligibility, federal regulations give a financial aid administrator discretion or professional judgment on a case-by-case basis and with documentation on behalf of the student, to make adjustments to certain data elements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

1.  Dependency Override - Dependency overrides require an involuntary dissolution of the family or situations in which it would be harmful for the student to have contact with their parents.  Examples include but are not limited to incarceration, abuse and abandonment.

2.  Income Adjustment - Many FAFSA applicants have experienced recent financial changes due to the COVID_19 emergency or other reasons.  Has your family's financial situation changed from what is reflected on your federal income tax return?  For example, you or your parent(s) may have lost a job or had a drop in income.  If so, you may be elgible for an income adjustment.

 For professional judgement requests, please indicate if you think you have met one of the conditions above by emailing financialaid@qcc.cuny.edu.  Please make sure to put "Professional Judgement" in the subject line of your email along with your student empl id.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

FSEOG grants are available to exceptionally needy full-time and part-time (at least half-time) students. These grants range from $200 to $2,000 annually. Students who request work-study or a Federal Perkins Loan on the FAFSA are automatically considered for SEOG. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress as stated under the PELL program.

Financial Aid Questions? What is a FSEOG? Get video answers below.


The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Sponsored by the State of New York, TAP provides tuition assistance for full-time and part-time degree (matriculated) students (that is, students enrolled for 12 or more credits or 6 or more credits for part-time students and/or equated credits) depending upon the family net taxable income. All students should apply for TAP each year by completing the FAFSA and clicking on the link on the FAFSA Confirmation Page to go to “ TAP on the web”. Students apply on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) Website. This application starts with the Summer semester, continues with the Fall, and ends with the Spring. Students whose applications for TAP are approved will receive an award certificate from HESC, which states the amount of aid. The amount of the TAP award is scaled according to the level of study, tuition charged, and the net taxable income, as well as the number of TAP payments received.


A student enrolled in a two year school cannot receive more than six semesters of TAP while completing the program. If the award certificate is received before that student's tuition bill is due, tuition will be reduced by the amount stated on this certificate. If the certificate is received after the tuition bill is due, the student will pay the tuition at the time of registration and will be reimbursed later in the school year.

Eligibility for TAP
To be eligible for TAP, a student must be

  1. New York State resident and U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
  2. Enrolled as a full-time or part-time matriculated student in an approved New York State postsecondary institution; and
  3. Have, if dependent, a family net taxable income below a specified amount, or, if independent, a taxable income below certain specified amounts as stated in the application.

Important Reminders:

  1. To be eligible for a full-time or part-time TAP award, a student must register for a minimum of 12 credits or at least 6 credits for part-time students and/or equated credits, which must include at least six credits in credit-bearing courses.
  2. These 12 credits/equated credits or 6 credits for part-time students must be for coursework that meets the requirements of their specific degree program.
  3. For the first TAP payment, only three (3) credits in credit-bearing courses are required.
  4. Students who withdraw from all courses during a semester will lose eligibility for TAP in the next semester. These credits must be required by the curriculum.

Financial Aid Questions? Questions about eligibility? Get video answers below.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

The Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) program, sponsored by the State of New York, was established to provide tuition assistance for part-time matriculated students. The students of Queensborough should apply for TAP using the FAFSA and linking to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website, and complete the CUNY Supplement on the CUNYfirst Student Self Service.

Eligibility for APTS

APTS is not an entitlement program. There are limited resources. The institution (CUNY) selects and determines the individual award amounts. To be eligible, students must: (1) be enrolled as a part-time student in an approved undergraduate degree program in New York State (part-time is defined as at least six [6] but no more than eleven [11] equated credits); (2) meet the income limits — if a student is not eligible to be claimed as a tax dependent, the student's net taxable income cannot exceed $34,250; if a student is claimed as tax dependent, the family's net taxable income cannot exceed $50,500; (3) be a New York State resident; (4) be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; (5) have a tuition charge of at least $100 per year; and (6) have remaining TAP eligibility.

APTS awards

The money available for all participating institutions is set each year in the State budget. The amount received by a particular college is determined by the school's percentage of the total part-time enrollment at all participating institutions. The number and the amount of awards is determined by the participating institution based on its allocation of funds.

Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.