Veteran Financial Aid Information

FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an application that provides access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for your college. FAFSA is required to receive aid including federal grants, work-study, and loans.

2025-2026 FAFSA is available now!

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Eligibility: Student must be a New York State resident and attend a public institution in New York State.

Description: The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant for New York State residents that does not have to be paid back. Awards are based on New York State net taxable income and tuition charges. Final determination of awards is made as a result of the completion of TAP Application each year and funding levels are dependent on the passing of the New York State Budget.

Award: Awards currently range from $500 to $5,165. These grants are available for a maximum of eight full-time semesters for undergraduates.  

The TAP application is available online following the submission FAFSA data. Upon receipt of the TAP application and the passage of the New York State budget for the subsequent year, New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) will determine the student's TAP Award. You can also view the status of your TAP award at hesc.ny.gov

Fredonia's TAP school code is 0915. 

The Excelsior Scholarship

Eligibility: Student must be a New York State resident and attend a public institution in New York State.

Award: A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship may receive up to $5,500.

• The undergraduate in-state tuition charged to recipients of The Excelsior Scholarship cannot exceed the tuition rate for the 2016-17 academic year ($6,470) pending the approval from the SUNY Board of Trustees. 
• As with the 2025-26 FAFSA and TAP application, Prior-Prior year (PPY) 2023 adjusted gross income (AGI) will be used. 

Combined Parent and Student Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Thresholds:

• 2025-26: $125,000 (2023 Adjusted Gross Income)

Application Process: Students applying for this scholarship must complete the FAFSA and TAP applications in addition to the Excelsior Application.

Tuition, Fees, and University Charges

2023-2024 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance per Year, Annual Charges

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (per year)

Accept Your Aid

Review your award letter from Fredonia when you receive it in the mail OR you can review your aid status online in YourConnection using these steps:

1. Click the Your Connection link located towards the bottom of the page
2. Enter your User ID and PIN
3. Click Financial Aid
4. Click Award
5. Click Award for Aid Year
6. Click the drop down box and select the appropriate aid year. Click Submit
7. Click Accept Award Offer tab
8. Under the Award Decision column, click the drop down box to Accept or Decline your awards. To accept partial amounts, click Accept and type in the amount you wish to receive under the accept partial amount column.
9. Click Submit Decision button

Federal Work Study

If you have been awarded a Federal Work Study position, and/or a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan, and TEACH Grant, you must log on to YourConnection to accept, decline, or accept partial amounts of these awards. Please refer to the instructions above for accepting or declining these Financial Aid Awards.

Failure to accept your Federal Work Study Award by July 31 of the upcoming aid year will result in cancellation.

Verification for Selected Students

Please note that not all students are selected for verification.  Students will receive notice that they have been selected for verification after the Office of Financial Aid receives the FAFSA.

Verification is a federal financial requirement in which the Federal Central Processing Center (CPS) randomly selects Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicants for verification (which will be noted on your FAFSA Submission Summary).   Once selected the process of comparing the self-reported information on the FAFSA to that of a signed copy of the federal tax form or a copy of the IRS Tax Transcripts and other financial documents begins.  Students can view the status of verification in the financial aid section of YourConnection under "Eligibility" followed by "Student Requirements".

Federal Direct Loan Borrower Instructions

1. All first-time borrowers at Fredonia must complete Entrance Counseling at StudentAid.gov.  
   • Sign in using your FSA ID used to sign the FAFSA.  Then click on "Complete Loan Counseling (Entrance, Financial Awareness, Exit)." 
   • Click the "Start" Button that appears to the right of Entrance Counseling.
2. All first-time borrowers at Fredonia MUST complete a new Federal Direct Loan Agreement at StudentAid.gov.  
   • Sign in using your FSA ID used to sign the FAFSA. 
   • Then click on "Complete Loan Agreement." 
   • Click the "Start" Button that appears to the right, for Subsidized/ Unsubsidized Loans.