This Veterans’ Day, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) reminds veterans and families about the various awards, scholarships and other benefits available to help pay for college. HESC is the New York State agency that helps people pay for college.

“Our military men and women who are returning home, along with our veterans who served in every branch of the military, all deserve our thanks and gratitude for their service and sacrifice,” said Elsa Magee, Acting President of HESC. “We’re honored to administer programs that assist our veterans and their families in pursuing their higher education goals and provide them with the life-long benefits of a college education.”

New York State programs for veterans and their families include:

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are available to veterans returning from Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts. The award covers an amount up to the undergraduate tuition for New York State residents at State University of New York to help pay college tuition expenses. More than 2,100 veterans received awards totaling roughly $6.7 million for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Available for full or part-time study, the VTA may be used for undergraduate, graduate or vocational programs.  Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards help veterans fill any remaining financial need beyond their VTA. 

Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarships, also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarships, help children, spouses and dependents of those who, while New York State residents in service in the Armed Forces of the United States or state organized militia, died, became severely and permanently disabled, or were classified as missing in action in a combat zone while engaged in or training for hostilities at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990. The award covers an amount up to the undergraduate tuition for New York State residents at State University of New York for four years of full-time study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program).

Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans provide $450 a year in financial aid to students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified times of national emergency and either died, suffered a 40 percent or more disability, or were classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war as a result of service.

To receive any of these NYS awards, veterans or their family members must complete the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application, and the appropriate supplemental application found on HESC’s online “Military Corner” page.

HESC.ny.gov’s Military Corner provides up-to-date information specifically targeted to those who serve or previously served in the military and are interested in obtaining financial aid for themselves or their family members to attend college, as well as links to other State and federal veterans’ sites.

About HESC: HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2012-13, HESC helped more than 342,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing more than $979.4 million in grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness benefits, including $931 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).