Gift Aid

What is TAP?
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) administered by New York State Higher Education Services (NYSHESC) helps eligible New York state residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State.  An annual TAP Award can range from $250 to $5,665. TAP is a grant and it does not have to be paid back. Funding and eligibility requirements for TAP are contingent on the State Budget and state regulations and are subject to change.

Who is eligible?

 For a complete listing of all eligibility requirements please visit hesc.ny.gov

Why is my TAP award estimated?
St. John’s estimates a TAP award for all New York State residents who file a FAFSA.  This estimate is based on the income information reported on the FAFSA.

What determines the amount of the award?
The award amount is determined by:

• Academic year in which first payment of TAP or any state award is received
• Type of postsecondary institution and the tuition charge
• Combined family NYS net taxable income
• Financial status (dependent or independent)
• Other family members enrolled

What must I do now?
When you filed your FAFSA you were prompted to complete a TAP application through HESC, if you did so, no further action is required as long as St. John’s is the school on your TAP application.  If you did not complete the TAP application or if you are ineligible for federal aid and qualify under the NYS Dream Act, please go to www.hesc.ny.gov  to file a TAP application.

How can I view my TAP application status or change my school code?
You may view your application status  and/or make school code changes online by visiting www.hesc.ny.gov , or calling 1-888-NYS-HESC.

What is St. John’s school code?
St John’s Undergraduate Division     0751
 

What is a Federal Pell Grant?
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate  students to promote access to postsecondary education. Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional need and who have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.

Federal Pell Grants are a form of financial asssitance that does not require repayment except under certain circumstances. 

How much can a student receive?
The FAFSA Simplification changed the process for determining the amount of a student's scheduled Pell Grant award. Each Pell eligible student scheduled award for 2024-25 is one of the following:

• A maxiimum Pell Grant Award of $7,395
• Student Aid Index (SAI) - calculated Pell Grant, determined by subtracting the student's SAI from the annual published maximum Pell Grant amount. If the SAI calculated Pell Grant is less than the published minimum Pell Grant amount, the student is ineligible for a SAI-calculated Pell Grant.
• A minimum Pell Grant Award of $740

The U.S. Department of Education determines student’s eligibility for Pell based on tax filing requirements, family size and composition,Federal poverty guidelines, and state of residence. 

Upon completion of the FAFSA the student will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary which advises them of their Pell eligibility.

How can a student stay eligible?

File a FAFSA, make Satisfactory Academic Progress and continue to meet basic eligibility criteria.

Aggregate Lifetime Limit: Students may receive up to 12 semesters ( or its equivalent) of the Federal Pell Grant.

What is a Federal SEOG Grant?
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Program provides additional need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The program is designed to promote access to postsecondary education.  Funding is provided to postsecondary institutions by the U.S. Department of Education. Availability for Federal SEOG Grants are subject to federal funding and are therefore subject to change or elimination based on Congressional action. A Federal SEOG grant is a form of gift aid that does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances.
 
How much can a student receive?
For the 2024-2025 academic year based on funding levels, entering students who have a maximum Pell indicator set on their 2024-25 FAFSA will be awarded a $500 Federal SEOG grant. 

Who is eligible?
Federal Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate the highest need level.
The U.S. Department of Education determines student’s eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant by using a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How does a student stay eligible?

File a FAFSA, make Satisfactory Academic Progress and continue to meet basic eligibility criteria. Funding is subject to Federal Budget allocation.

What is a grant?
A grant is a form of financial aid often referred to as gift aid since it does not traditionally require repayment.

Who is eligible?
All  new undergraduate students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are automatically considered for University need based grants. 

What types of grants are awarded by St.John’s University?
St. John’s University awards a number of grants to needy students and students who have special abilities or who make significant contribution to the University.  

How does a student stay eligible?

St. John’s makes every effort to renew financial grants provided students file their FAFSA on an annual basis by March 1st and meet baisc eligibility criteria for federal aid programs, continue to demonstrate the same financial need, remain enrolled at the University in the same academic program and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

What is a Federal TEACH Grant?

TEACH stands for Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education.  It provides grant assistance for students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching.

What is a TEACH Grant eligible program?

A TEACH-Grant-eligible program is a program of study that is designed to prepare you to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field and that leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or is a post baccalaureate program.

How much can a student receive?

• $4,000 maximum award per grade level, prorated based on enrollment status
• $16,000 total for an undergraduate and/or post-baccalaureate teacher credential program
• $8,000 total for graduate study
• $24,000 total for undergraduate and graduate study

Please note: Funding and program requirements subject to congressional action.

What are the requirements for Undergraduate students?

• New Undergraduate/Transfer Students
  Establish a final GPA of 3.25 from their high school or prior institution or receive a test score above the 75th percentile in at least one battery of a nationally known admissions test (e.g. SAT)
  Maintain enrollment in one of the approved TEACH Grant eligible programs listed below
  Complete the FAFSA
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS)
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling

• Continuing Undergraduate Students
  Establish and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and make Satisfactory Academic Progress
  Maintain enrollment in one of the approved TEACH Grant eligible programs listed below
  Complete the FAFSA
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS)
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling

Enrollment Eligibility

Please note: St. John’s Eligible majors based on defined high need areas and Nationwide List.

What are the requirements for Graduate students?

• New Graduate Students
  Be accepted to and maintain enrollment in one of the approved TEACH Grant eligible programs listed below
  Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 from your undergraduate coursework at your prior institution
  Complete the FAFSA
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS)
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling

• Continuing Graduate Students
  Establish and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and make Satisfactory Academic Progress
  Maintain enrollment in one of the approved TEACH Grant eligible programs listed below
  Complete the FAFSA
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS)
  Complete the online Federal TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling

Enrollment Eligibility

Eligible Majors

Please note: St. John's eligible majors based on New York designated high need areas, those designated as high need and/or included on the Nationwide List.

Exception for Current Teachers, Former Teachers and Retirees

**Do not have to meet academic achievement requirements if:

• Current teacher is pursuing a master’s degree
• Retiree has expertise in a high-need field, as determined by the institution, and is pursuing a master’s degree
• Current or former teacher is pursuing certification through a high-quality alternative certification route that is offered by an institution of higher education and is part of a master’s degree program

What are the terms and conditions to receive the TEACH Grant?

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, a student must:

• Agree to serve as a full-time teacher for a total of at least four academic years within eight years after they complete or otherwise cease to be enrolled in the program(s) for which they received TEACH Grant funds.
• Perform teaching service as a highly qualified teacher at a low-income school or educational service agency.  Elementary and secondary schools (public and private) and educational service agencies serving low-income students are listed in the annual Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Directory
• Complete teaching service in a high-need field.
  • High-need fields are:
  • Bilingual education and English language acquisition
  • Foreign language
  • Mathematics
  • Reading specialist
  • Science
  • Special education, and
  • Any other field that has been identified as high-need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency, and that is included in the annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing (Nationwide List).
    Please note: If you are planning to teach in a high-need field that is included in the Nationwide List, that field must be listed for the state where you teach either at the time you begin your qualifying teaching service or at the time you received a TEACH grant. 
• Provide the U.S. Department of Education with documentation of  progress toward completing your service obligation

What happens if you fail to complete the service obligation?

If you fail to complete the service obligation:

• All amounts of the TEACH grant received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Repayment for the loan is made to the U.S. Department of Education
• Interest on the loan will be charged from the date the grant(s) were disbursed
• Recipients will be given a 6-month grace period prior to entering repayment

How do I apply for the TEACH Grant?

1. Complete Initial Counseling

   • Completed online at https://studentaid.gov

   • Ensures that students are provided with information about how to identify low income schools and documented high need fields
   • Informs students that in order for the teaching to count towards the service obligation, the high need field in which the student has prepared to teach must be one of the six high-need fields
   • Informs the grant recipient of the opportunity to request a suspension of the eight-year period for completion of the ATS
   • Explains the circumstances under which a TEACH grant will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and once converted to a loan it cannot be reconverted to a grant
2. Complete Agreement to Serve
   • Completed online at https://studentloans.gov
   • Agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students.
   • Teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received the grant
3. Complete Exit counseling upon completion of program or enrollment
   • Completed online at www.nslds.ed.gov .Once you have completed both the Entrance Counseling and the Agreement to Serve, St. John's University will be notified of your acceptance of the TEACH Grant and you will be reviewed for eligibility. Once the review is completed the grant will be posted to your account.

IFor more information about the TEACH Grant program, please visit https://studentaid.gov