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Scholarship Information & Financial Planning

Scholarship Information

The most up to date scholarship information can be found on the Counseling Center Google Classrooms for each graduating class. The majority of awards are for seniors and focus on local and regional scholarships. Applications can be printed directly from the google classroom. Please see your counselor if you have questions about the scholarship process.

2024-2025 Scholarship Bulletins

January Scholarships
December Scholarships
November Scholarships
September/October Scholarships

2023-2024 Full Year Scholarship Booklet

Students and parents are encouraged to check with their employers, community organizations, and financial aid offices of the colleges they have applied to for additional scholarship information. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of deadlines, obtain and complete scholarship applications, and attach required documents including resume, transcript, letters of recommendation, and essay. There are many scholarships awarded to students for their community service, extracurricular involvement, citizenship, character as well as specific fields of study.

Scholarship Search Websites

Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s higher education student financial aid agency. HESC helps New Yorkers attain their higher education through the administration of:

  • FAFSA Completion Initiative
  • New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
  • New York’s Excelsior Scholarship
  • New York’s 529 College Savings Program
  • Financial aid outreach programs for students and families
  • HESC Website

Financial Aid & Planning

College financial aid helps students and their families by covering higher education expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and other coursework supplies, and transportation.

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA can be filed as early as October of senior year. This application is used by all colleges and many training programs and agencies to determine financial aid.

Filling out the FAFSA application is easier than you think, and it’s completely free! If you don’t submit a FAFSA, you could miss out on free money and low-cost federal loans for school. Last year, students in New York left over $225M of unclaimed federal financial aid on the table because they didn’t apply for the FAFSA  FAFSA

CSS Profile – College Scholarship Service Profile. Some schools, mostly private colleges, use a supplemental form called the CSS Profile, to determine how to give out their own funds. This form is more detailed than the FAFSA, can be more time-consuming to complete, and there is fee to submit the CSS Profile.   CSS Profile

NYS TAP – New York State Tuition Assistance Program.  This program helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State.  TAP is a grant so it does not have to be paid back.   NYS TAP

  • Pay attention to submission deadlines for these financial aid programs. Different college may have different submission deadlines.  Missing a deadline may result in missing out on money for college.
  • Contact college financial aid offices directly if you have questions or more complicated financial situations.

What Are Different Types of Financial Aid?

Need-based: Federal need-based aid, for instance, is determined by a family’s demonstrated ability to pay for college as determined by household size and household income. This is calculated by the FAFSA.

Merit-based: Merit aid can be awarded by an institution, college or private organization to a student for a specific talent or an athletic or academic ability. These awards aren’t based on financial need.

Federal Grants: This federal money doesn’t need to be repaid. The most well-known higher education grant for college is the Pell Grant. Eligibility for Pell is based on data provided by the applicant on the FAFSA form to determine eligibility and calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI). The maximum Pell for the 2024-2025 school year is $7,395.

Federal Student Loans: These are fixed-interest-rate loans from the government. The interest rate for each academic year is set on July 1, and that rate is secured for the life of the loan. The main program for federal student loans is the direct loan program. Under the program, undergraduate students can borrow direct subsidized or unsubsidized loans up to $31,000 in total if they’re a dependent. An undergraduate student classified as independent can borrow up to $57,500 in total.

Work-Study: This program provides part-time work, typically on campus, to help students cover college-related expenses. Not all students qualify for federal work-study. Students need to qualify through the FAFSA with demonstrated financial need. Federal Work Study

How do Colleges Award Aid?

While there are many similarities between how schools award aid, each has its own unique process for processing applications and awarding aid. Some schools offer larger financial aid packages than others, just like some institutions charge higher tuition rates compared with other schools. For example, although some schools claim to meet full financial need for the cost of attendance with aid, those packages may include loans.

When Will I Receive a Financial Aid Award Letter?

Students will receive a Financial Award letter from each college they have applied and been accepted to. Financial aid award letters typically arrive in early spring – usually after or at the same time as a college acceptance offer.

Additional Financial Aid Resources