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Other Aid Programs
There are a number of aid programs that are available to students with specific life situations or histories. While these programs apply to only a small number of students, they can be an important part of your financial aid package if you are eligible.
Through the Federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Grant, the Niagara County Employment & Training Department offers multiple scholarships – up to $4,000 per student for the final year of a degree program or for short-term certificate training. Please visit Niagara’s WorkSourceOne website for more details.
New York State Grants, Scholarships & Awards
Grants don’t have to be paid back. A grant is “free money” for college.
| State Grant | Summary |
|---|---|
| NYS Aid for Part-time Study | The NYS Aid for Part-time Study (APTS) program provides grant assistance for eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies. |
| NYS Educational Opportunity Program | The Educational Opportunity Program provides assistance to NYS residents who are academically and financially disadvantaged, according to state guidelines. Learn more by visiting the EOP office in G-223. |
| NYS STEM Incentive Program | The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a public or private degree-granting college or university located in New York State. Recipients must be in the top 10 percent of students of their high school graduating class, pursue an approved, two or four-year STEM degree program and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field in NYS for five years after graduation. |
Scholarships are “free money” awarded based on various factors. Some may require certain conditions be met.
| Scholarship | Summary |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Tuition Awards | This program enables students attending private colleges to receive financial assistance to complete their college degree. The program provides a maximum award of $3,000, requires private colleges to provide a match and freeze student tuition for the duration of the award – maximizing the financial benefit to the student. |
| Excelsior Scholarship | This program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. The program began in 2017 and will be phased in over three years. It first applied to families who earned $100,000 or less, then who earned $110,000 or less in 2018, and it will eventually reach $125,000 or less in 2019. |
| Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute - MERIT Scholarship, also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS) | Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or of a state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while a New York State resident, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities. For study in New York State. |
| New York State Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS) | The New York State Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS) provides high school graduates who excel academically with $500 in merit-based scholarships to support their cost of attendance at any college or university located in New York State. |
| New York State Part-time Scholarship (PTS) Award | The New York State Part-Time Scholarship Award Program provides scholarship awards to students who attend a SUNY or CUNY Community College part-time and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students can receive $1,500 per semester for up to 2 years. |
| NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program | The NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program grants awards for child welfare workers employed at voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Recipients must agree to live in NYS and work at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency licensed by OCFS for 5 years after graduation, and can use the award to get an associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree for not more than 2 years, 4 years, and 2 years, respectively. |
| NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship | Provides grants to eligible full-time undergraduate or graduate students in approved programs that lead to math or science teaching careers in secondary education. |
| NYS Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers | Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. For study in New York State. |
| NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence | Awarded to outstanding graduates from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. For up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State. |
| NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program | The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides awards for full-time study up to the annual tuition charged to NYS resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less, for the top 10 percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an associates or bachelor degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for 5 years after graduation. |
| NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship | Guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of the victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts. |
| Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship | The Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship program seeks to increase the number of educators and adjunct clinical faculty teaching nursing education in New York State. |
NYS Awards
| Award | Summary |
|---|---|
| NYS Aid to Native Americans | Provides aid to enrolled members of tribes listed on the official roll of New York State tribes or to the child of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe. For study in New York State. |
| NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans | Provided to students whose parent(s) have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency. |
| Segal AmeriCorps Education Award | Provided to New York State residents interested in high quality opportunities in community service. |
| Veterans Tuition Awards | Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or other eligible combat veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State are eligible for awards for full or part-time study. |
Native American Aid—BIE Higher Education Grant Program
Scholarships may be made to full-time students who are members of tribes served by the bureau, have financial need, and are enrolled in an approved program. The student must file the FAFSA and a NYS TAP application. More information is available from your tribe’s education office or the BIE Scholarship Opportunity Website
Native American Aid—Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara Counties, Inc.
Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara Counties, Inc., provides direct and supportive services based on a student’s needs and eligibility for the program. Services include classroom training, transportation, child care, books, and supplies and tuition payment (only for specialized curricula). There are no eligibility requirements for services related to education assessments, information/referral, financial aid, or academic follow-up. More information is available from:
Native American Community Services
561 Portage Road
P.O. Box 2161—New Market Station
Niagara Falls, NY 14301-2161
716- 282-5441
ROTC Scholarships
Apply for an ROTC scholarship through the ROTC Office at Niagara University.
Students must meet certain academic and medical standards, be interviewed by military officials, and be willing to serve up to four years of active duty as an officer after graduation. Entry into active duty after graduation may be deferred to obtain an advanced degree at the student’s own expense.
The award may be for two or three years for a sophomore or a freshman, respectively. Recipients receive 80 percent of expenses, or $7,500, whichever is greater, for tuition and all required university fees; a flat-rate fee of $450 annually for textbooks and supplies; plus $100 per month for up to ten months of the academic year.
Social Security Survivor’s Benefits
Students who are eligible for survivor’s benefits from Social Security may be entitled to maintain those benefits after age 18 by remaining enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education. Check with your local Social Security Office for information on eligibility and benefits.
Reserve Forces scholarships are available to qualified sophomores. The benefits are the same as the regular ROTC scholarship; however, the obligation is changed to serve eight years with the Army Reserve or National Guard.
Contact the Department of Military Science at Niagara University, 716-285-1212, ext. 360, for further information.
Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES – VR)
The NYS Office for Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) provides financial and other services to assist people with disabilities to achieve a higher education. For more information, including a list of local VESID offices, visit the NYS Education Department website.
Veterans Educational Benefits
Veterans of the Armed Services are generally eligible for educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA pays some benefits directly to the veteran/student, and some to the school, depending upon which program the veteran/student participates in. The veteran/student must apply for benefits directly with the VA, and SUNY Niagara will certify the student’s enrollment and academic progress to the VA. The VA makes monthly payments to the student or school as appropriate based upon that certification. Veterans with a service-connected disability and children/dependents of veterans who were disabled or killed in the line of duty may be eligible for even more generous benefits. For more information about VA educational benefits, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-844-698-2311, visit their website at: VA.gov or visit SUNY Niagara’s Veterans’ and Military Educational Benefits page.
Contact
Financial Aid Office
Phone: 716-614-6266
Fax: 716-614-6820
Email: finaid@niagaracc.suny.edu
Location: Enrollment Center (Notar Admin Bldg)
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm*
*New and current financial aid advisors receive training from the follow professional financial aid organizations in an effort to train new financial aid advisors and keep updated on both federal and state financial aid regulations:
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/pdf/2021-2022
https://www.nysfaaa.org/
https://www.nasfaa.org/
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/pdf/2022-2023
https://www.hesc.ny.gov/
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/pdf/2021-2022
https://www.nysfaaa.org/
https://www.nasfaa.org/
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/pdf/2022-2023
https://www.hesc.ny.gov/
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