They don’t work on business hours. They work on your time.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Earning an online degree with financial aid is within reach at Empire State University. Follow these steps to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Then apply for grants, scholarships, and loans to help fund your education.
FAFSA Application
1
Plan Ahead
You don’t need to wait to be accepted to SUNY Empire to start the financial aid process. Give yourself enough time to submit your application before the deadline.
2025-2026 Priority deadline
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2025-2026 Final deadline
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Application opens
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2
Create an FSA ID
An FSA ID is a username and password used to log in to U.S. Department of Education websites. It confirms your identity and gives you access to your personal information.
3
Complete the FAFSA
Use your FSA ID to log into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website. Complete the application for the year you’re applying.
Empire State University Federal Code
010286
Use the Right Name
Our official name is Empire State University
4
Complete FAFSA Requirements
Make sure to complete entrance loan counseling and sign your Master Promissory Note to receive federal student loans. Depending on your FAFSA results, you may need to submit additional financial information — this is a standard part of the process.
When you leave SUNY Empire, you'll also need to complete exit loan counseling.
5
Receive Your Aid
After your FAFSA is processed, review and accept your financial aid offer in Self-Service Banner. Once accepted, funds will be applied to your student account. If you’re eligible for a refund, it will be issued based on the disbursement schedule.
New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant for New York State residents enrolled
in an undergraduate degree program.
Find out more about TAP
Find out more about TAP
How to Apply
To apply for TAP, you must complete the NYS Student Aid Payment Application. There are two ways to do this:
- Complete the application at the end of the FAFSA
- Apply directly on the HESC website
TAP School Codes
- 0913 for undergraduate working towards a bachelor's degree
- 0916 for undergraduate students working towards an associate's degree
- 5680 for graduate students.
FAFSA-Required Grants & Scholarships
Some grants and scholarships require you to complete the FAFSA first before submitting their separate applications. These include:
Use these resources as you apply for financial aid for your online degree at SUNY Empire.
Student Support
My advisor is amazing, very helpful and thorough. He really helped me put things together
to get me to my goal of graduating
This grant allowed me to finally take the businesses classes I’ve been wanting to
take. Now I just accepted a manager position.
They don’t work on business hours. They work on your time.
