Applying for Financial Aid

School Codes
FAFSA: 002845
TAP: 0920 (SUC Geneseo)

Recommended 2024–25 FAFSA Filing Dates

There are significant changes coming to the FAFSA application and processing system for the 2024-25 academic year due to FAFSA Simplification. As a result, the FAFSA will be delayed from an October 1, 2023, availability date to sometime in December 2023. (The exact date has not been released but it will be available by December 31, 2023.) 

• Fall 2024 Early Action Students: March 15, 2024
• Fall 2024 Regular Admit Students: March 15, 2024
• Returning Students and All Graduate Students: March 15, 2024

What can you do to prepare for the 2024-25 FAFSA?

1. Create your FSA ID, if you don't already have one. Your FSA ID is your username and password for your StudentAid.gov account. You and anyone contributing to your FAFSA (like a parent or spouse) will need an FSA ID.
2. Gather the information you will need to complete the FAFSA. You and anyone contributing to your FAFSA will need 2022 income tax returns, records of investments and assets, Social Security numbers, child support information (if applicable), and other personal information.
3. Submit your admissions application to Geneseo. For more information on how to apply and deadlines, click here.
4. Complete and save your New York State TAP application, if you are a NYS resident. Students will still be required to complete the FAFSA by February 15th and then go back to submit the TAP application for the early application to be processed.  (Please note to complete the application, students will need valid New York State identification to verify their identity.)
5. Research and apply for scholarships. Use this time wisely. Research and apply for scholarships. Scholarship searches and applications take time, but they can help reduce the cost of your education and may prevent you from having to take on student loan debt. One search engine we recommend is FastWeb.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Step 1: Fill Out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

All students—prospective freshmen, transfers, continuing, or graduate—need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal student aid, including federal grants and loans. 

As you complete the FAFSA, be sure to:

• List SUNY Geneseo's Title IV School Code, 002845.
• Provide income from the prior, prior year.
• File by the recommended deadlines: See deadlines above.
• Sign the FAFSA with your FSA ID and Password. A parent must sign, too, if the student is a dependent.
• If you need assistance, review the resources provided here or through Federal Student Aid Help.

Campus-based aid, like SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and Federal Work-Study have limited funding and are made on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you file your FAFSA, the greater the likelihood you will be considered.

Step 2: Apply for NYS TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program)

NYS TAP Site

From the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC): "New York State (NYS) residents attending NYS schools will have the option to link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page.

If you exited the FAFSA before selecting this option, you can complete the application after HESC has received your FAFSA data (three days). HESC will send you an email or postcard notifying you to complete the TAP application online if you did not select the FAFSA link to TAP on the web."

A TAP application MUST be on file with HESC for the award year to be considered for ANY New York State grant or scholarship programs, including STEM, AIMS, Excelsior, and Merit.

Go to Additional TAP Information and Frequently Asked Questions

Step 3: Apply for NYS Excelsior Scholarship

Families whose adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less should consider applying for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship. A separate application MUST be completed to receive this award. Current Excelsior Scholarship recipients do not need to re-apply.

The application for new fall applicants usually opens in the spring or summer before the fall semester starts. Once the application closes we recommend that you sign up at New York State Higher Education Services Corporation to be notified when the application becomes available again for future semesters.

Related Information

New York State Dream Act

The NYS Dream Act gives undocumented and other students access to NYS administered grants and scholarships. For more information or to apply, go to NYS Higher Education Services Corporation.

Institutional Scholarship Information

For scholarship consideration, new students are automatically considered for scholarship when admitted to the College. Current students must submit an online application. Most scholarships are awarded in the spring semester for the next academic year. Continuing students looking for assistance for study abroad should visit the Study Abroad Office.

Special Circumstances

Special circumstances can directly impact a family's ability to pay for college. If the information provided on your FAFSA has changed, you may submit a Request for Special Circumstances form and provide supporting documentation. If the application is approved, financial aid eligibility is re-evaluated for federal need-based aid. Note: this does not change New York State financial aid eligibility.