Higher Education Services Corporation, New York State

Agency Web Site: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/

Mission

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) provides centralized processing of student financial aid programs. HESC administers the State’s Excelsior Scholarship, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the Federal Family Education Loan Program and other State and Federal Aid Programs.

Organization and Staffing

HESC is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of fifteen members. Ten members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, the remaining five members serve in an ex-officio capacity and consist of the State Education Department (SED) Commissioner, State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor, SUNY Student Assembly President, and Chair of the CUNY Student Senate. Daily operations are managed by HESC’s President and senior administrative staff.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2022 Executive Budget recommends $1.1 billion in All Funds support for HESC and projects a workforce of 139 consistent with current workforce levels. The FY 2022 appropriation level represents a $24 million net decrease from the previous year largely reflecting updated enrollment estimates for student financial aid programs.

The Budget protects New Yorkers’ access to an affordable college education in the face of economic challenges caused by the pandemic by preserving student financial aid and opportunity programs that serve our neediest students. The FY 2022 Executive Budget maintains full support for over $1 billion in HESC financial aid programs, including TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship, as well as over $200 million in funding for higher education opportunity programs and training centers.

The FY2022 Executive Budget also includes legislation to hold harmless students who were unable to complete academic requirements needed to maintain financial aid eligibility because their enrollment was disrupted by coronavirus. The Budget extends financial aid award duration limits for those students who because of the pandemic were unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress due to illness, course closure, or other special circumstances.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Higher Education (PDF)

Program Highlights

Excelsior Scholarship

In 2017, building on the State’s already generous tuition assistance, New York launched the groundbreaking Excelsior Scholarship to provide tuition-free college for middle class families. The first-of-its-kind program covers tuition at New York’s public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000 a year, ensuring nearly 230,000 students go to SUNY or CUNY tuition-free, including students receiving the Excelsior Scholarship, TAP, Pell and other financial aid.

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is one of the largest need-based grant programs in the nation, and the cornerstone of New York’s student financial aid programs. In 2019-20, more than 297,000 New Yorkers attending college were awarded more than $838 million in TAP funds to help pay their college tuition costs.

Senator Jose R. Peralta DREAM ACT

In 2019, the Senator Jose R. Peralta DREAM Act was enacted opening the doors of higher education to thousands of undocumented students providing access to the Excelsior Scholarship, TAP, and other state-administered scholarships.

Targeted Scholarship, Loan Forgiveness and Award Programs

During 2019-20, HESC-administered State scholarship and loan forgiveness programs provided tens of thousands of students with targeted awards towards their pursuit of a college education, with approximately $200 million going to support the college costs of more than 50,000 students. The Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program provides Federal student loan relief to New York residents who graduate from college and continue to live in the state for the first two years out of school if their income is not high enough to cover their student debt burden without significant financial hardship.

College Access and Outreach Programs

HESC is expanding outreach to New York State high schools for activities promoting a college-going culture, including New York’s financial aid awareness campaign to promote Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion; and New York’s College Application Week, which seeks to provide every graduating high school senior the opportunity to apply to college. In 2019-20, more than 600 high schools and community groups participated in College Application Week, helping nearly 25,000 high school seniors secure their direct path to college. In addition, HESC coordinated and/or participated in more than 450 events that provided nearly 64,000 students and families with the tools and information necessary to access and pay for college.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/19/2021