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Apply for Financial Aid

2024-2025 FAFSA Updates

The Financial Aid Office will begin receiving FAFSA results from the U.S. Department of Education in early April. Financial Aid awards for the 2024-25 year will be determined shortly after we receive the application results.

Applying for financial aid consist of five steps. 

  1. Create an FSA ID for all people who will be on the FAFSA. These people are referred to as Contributors through the instructions below.
  2. Complete your FAFSA. FAFSA is the federal financial aid application.
  3. Complete your TAP application. TAP is the first New York State application.
  4. Explore other grants and scholarships:
    1. Complete your SUNY Schenectady Foundation Scholarship application. There is a deadline for this application so do not delay. 
    2. For those attending college for the first time, be sure to complete your Excelsior Scholarship application.
    3. Review the list of other grant and scholarship award. Apply for as many as you would like.
  5. Follow up with the Financial Aid Office after finishing your applications to submit required documents and finalize your financial aid eligibility.

Below are instructions for all five steps. Reach out if you need help! The Financial Aid Staff is ready to help in anyway they can. 

Starting with the 2024–25 award year, every contributor—anyone (student, the student's spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form—will need a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the FAFSA form. Contributors will access their StudentAid.gov account by using their FSA ID (account username and password).

The Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) is a username and password that will be utilized to sign your FAFSA and is used to access other student aid websites such as studentaid.gov. Here are the steps to create an FSA ID: 

  1. Go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id
  2. Click Create an Account
  3. Click Get Started, you will be redirected to the FSA ID creation page
    • Enter name, date of birth, and social security number
    • Create a username, enter contributor’s email address, and create a password (case specific)

Each contributor must have their own unique account, which will require their own email address and phone number.

  • Enter contributors mailing address and phone number
  • Enter communication preferences
  • Set up challenge questions
  • Confirm and verify information, review terms and conditions
  • Retrieve Secure Code to verify e-mail and phone number. Do not skip this step
  1. Be sure to write down the FSA ID, password, and backup code, keep it in a safe place, as it will be utilized each time the contributor accesses studentaid.gov.

IMPORTANT: If a required contributor doesn't provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form, the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.

To complete the contributor's portion of the FAFSA form, the contributor will

  • create an FSA ID account if they don't already have one;
  • receive an email informing them that they've been identified as a contributor;
  • review information about completing their section of the FAFSA form; and
  • provide the required personal information, financial information, consent, and approval on the student's FAFSA form.

Note: It takes three business days for the FSA ID to activate before it can be utilized.

The FAFSA is the first financial aid application all students should complete. This will determine if the student is eligible for any Federal Grants (money that does not need to be repaid) or Federal Student Loans (money that does need to be repaid). To complete your FAFSA follow these steps:

  1. Go to studentaid.gov/fafsa.
  2. Click Log In
  3. Choose I am a student and want to access the FAFSA form
  4. Log In to Continue
  5. Enter your FSA ID (what the student created in Step 1 of these instructions)
  6. Accept Conditions
  7. Choose I am a student and want to access the FAFSA form
  8. Click Continue
  9. Choose Start FAFSA Form (the actual link will also indicate the Aid Year)
    • For Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 complete the 2022-23 application
    • For Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024 complete the 2023-24 application
    • If you have previously completed a FAFSA application, choose Renew my FAFSA Form
  10. Create a random 4-digit Save Key. The save key is for temporary use and will only be utilized to save your application. The save key can be as simple as 1234.
  11. On the Introduction Page, you can either read the instructions or click CONTINUE to get started.
  12. There are seven tabs to complete the FAFSA:
    1. Student Demographics: student general information. It is important to confirm this is the student’s current contact information.
    2. School Selection:
      • Choose the “Search by Federal School Code” tab
      • Enter the SUNY Schenectady school code of 006785
      • You will then need to choose housing plan from the drop down
    3. Dependency Status: a series of questions to determine if the student is dependent or independent. If the student answers NO to each question, they will be directed to the Parent Information Tab.
    4. Parent Demographics: parent general information. Only required for dependent students. It is important to confirm this is the parent’s information.
    5. Financial Information: Student (and parent) must enter their tax information. It is highly recommended that you utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import student (and parent) tax data (Click the blue button).
      • Do not skip questions after importing the taxes
      • Be sure to answer all questions asked within this section, even if the answer is zero
      • It is OK to skip the last asset question, unless a specific dollar amount has been calculated.
    6. Sign & Submit:
      • Review the summary page. If all looks good click Continue at the bottom of the page.
      • Either answer, or decline to answer, the gender, race, and ethnicity questions. These answers to not effect a student’s eligibility. Click continue at the bottom of the page.
      • Student will check off “I, Agree to the terms outlined above,” (do the same thing for parent, if applicable) and finally “Sign and Submit FAFSA Form”
    7. Confirmation: On the right-hand side of the confirmation page, Start Your State Application to apply for New York state-based financial aid (Click Apply Now, Blue Box). It is highly recommended that you apply for New York state-based financial aid.

 

To complete your FAFSA follow these steps:

  1. Go to studentaid.gov/fafsa
  2. Click Start New Form
  3. Enter your FSA ID (which the student created in Step 1 of these instructions)
  4. Verify Demographics and Accept Conditions
  5. Choose I am the student and want to access the FAFSA form
  6. Click Continue
  7. Review the Understanding the FAFSA Form How to Videos or click continue to bypass until you see Start FAFSA Form
  8. Student Identity Information: Student general information. Review the information and verify that it’s correct for the student before moving forward.
  9. Student State of Legal Residence
  10. Consent and Approval. Student MUST provide consent and Approval to have their federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form or the student will not be eligible for federal student aid. Read consent disclosure and click approve to continue.
  11. There are five tabs to complete the FAFSA:
    1. Your Personal Circumstances. Student will be asked questions that help to determine eligibility for federal student aid. Sometimes this will require information from other people. The system will determine if information is required.
      • If necessary, an email invitation will be sent to contributors inviting them to provide their information. It is highly recommended that you only complete the “Parent Who Will Fill Out This Form” box.  Information MUST match the parent contributor information they created in Step 1.
      • Click Invite Parent to the FAFSA Form and click continue
    2. Student Demographics
    3. Student Finances
    4. Colleges: Students can select up to twenty schools to automatically receive an electronic copy of the FAFSA form
      • Choose the “Search by School Code” tab
      • Enter the SUNY Schenectady school code of 006785
    5. Sign & Submit: Take a Moment to Review Before Signing
      • Click Check Box to agree to Terms
      • Click Sign and Submit

Dependent Students: 

Starting with the 2024–25 award year, All contributors are now invited to provide their information and consent when a student completes their FAFSA application. While contributors are not financially responsible, your student will be ineligible for financial aid without your help.

To get started, navigate to the email invitation you received from donotreply@studentaid.gov.

  1. Click Get Started
  2. Enter your FSA ID (which was created in Step 1 of these instructions)
  3. Verify Demographics and Accept Conditions
  4. Click Accept Invitation to get started.
    • If you decline your invitation, student will be unable to obtain federal student aid to pay for school.
    • Clicking accept, and providing information as a contributor does not make you financially responsible for education costs
  5. Click Continue
  6. Review the Understanding the FAFSA Form How to Videos or click continue to bypass until you see Start FAFSA Form
  7. Parent Identity Information: parent general information. Review the information and verify that it’s correct for the parent before moving forward.
  8. There are three tabs to complete the FAFSA:
    1. Parent Demographics. Parent will be asked questions about themselves and their family situation to help to determine student’s eligibility for federal student aid. 
    2. Parent Finances. Parent will be asked questions about their financial information. Sometimes this will require information from other people. The system will determine if information is required.
      • If necessary, an email invitation will be sent to parent spouse’s or partner’s information this information MUST match the parent contributor information created in Step 1.
      • Click Continue
    3. Sign & Submit: Take a Moment to Review Before Signing
      • Click Check Box to agree to Terms
      • Click Sign and Submit

 

The TAP Application is the next financial aid application students should complete. It is highly recommended that students apply for New York state-based aid. 

Non-resident or non-citizen students are encouraged to apply for TAP through the NY State Dream Application. (hesc.ny.gov/dream)

To complete the TAP application, follow these steps:

  1. Go to hesc.ny.gov (Higher Education Services Corporation)
  2. Scroll down and click into the block “All About TAP”
  3. Scroll down under the heading “Didn’t Apply for TAP through the FAFSA?” Click “Apply Now”
  4. Click on the “Start My Application” button
  5. Login or First-Time users click here to register with HESC
  6. Verify contact information
  7. Follow the prompts to apply

When adding our school type ONLY Schenectady and click search.   Our school will not populate if you choose any other options.

  • If dependent, be sure to have your parent’s driver’s license numbers when completing the application as this is how they will electronically sign it.
  • If Independent, please carefully read the dependency questions as you should be answering “YES” to claiming independence from your parent.

 

Once your FAFSA is submitted, the College will receive your results in three to four business days. In some cases, the student will need to turn in additional forms to finalize their financial aid.

An e-mail will be sent from the Financial Aid Office to the e-mail address the student listed on FAFSA. Students must monitor their e-mail regularly for updates on their financial aid.

To view your outstanding items, follow these steps:

  1. Go to sunysccc.edu
  2. Click Records and Registration (located below the photos)
  3. Login and choose second option to login with SUNY Schenectady ID (900 number) and Pin
  4. Click Student Registration & Records
  5. Choose Financial Aid from the list of options
  6. Click My Eligibility
  7. Click Student Requirements
  8. Choose the aid year which corresponds to the FAFSA you submitted

After selecting an aid year, the top section of the page will show the Unsatisfied Requirements that need to be submitted to the financial aid office to finalize your FAFSA application.

All documents should be submitted directly to the financial aid office and can be sent by fax, email, or delivered in person.

E-mail: financialaid@sunysccc.edu
Fax: 518-381-1477
Office: Elston Hall, Welcome Center, Window III

If you complete any of the New York State applications, it can take up to eight weeks for the College to receive the application results.  New York State will contact the student via email with status updates on the application. Students must monitor their e-mail regularly for updates on their financial aid.

 

Financial aid regulations require that students must be accepted for admission into a degree or certificate program.  Any questions about the SUNY Schenectady admissions criteria can be addressed to the Admissions Office at 518-381-1366 or admissions@sunysccc.edu.

The Financial Aid Office recognizes that some students and/or parents may have unusual or extenuating circumstances that may complicate the completion of their financial aid application.  In the following cases, the student may need to talk to a financial aid advisor before submitting their FAFSA.

  • The student is dependent using financial aid criteria, but the student believes they should be independent due to special circumstances.
  • The FAFSA uses the prior-prior year family income to determine financial aid eligibility. Some students and/or parents may experience unusual or special circumstances (e.g., significant decrease in family income, loss of employment, death in family, separation/divorce, etc.) that would mean that the prior-prior year income would not be a good indicator of the family’s current financial status. It may be possible for the Financial Aid Office to make adjustments to the family income.