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Important Information for 2025-2026

FAFSA and Financial Aid Processing for 2025-2056

The 2025-2026 FAFSA application became available mid-November, 2024 instead of October 1st (for this year only). Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI).

Pell Grant Eligibility

Pell Grant eligibility will be determined in three steps:

• Maximum Pell Grant – Applicants may qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant ($7395) 
  based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI), and poverty guidelines. Students 
  qualifying for a Maximum Pell Grant will have a SAI between - $1,500 and $0.
• Student Aid Index (SAI) – Applicants who do not qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant may still qualify if their calculated SAI is less than the maximum Pell Grant award for the award year. The applicant’s Pell Grant award for full-time enrollment will be equal to the maximum Pell Grant for the award year minus SAI. The Pell Grant will be adjusted if the applicant enrolls less than full time, or if the applicant’s COA is less than the calculated 
  Pell Grant award.
• Minimum Pell Grant – Applicants whose SAI is greater than the maximum Pell Grant award for the award year may still qualify for a Pell Grant, based on family size, AGI, and poverty guidelines.

New Application Pathway for NYS Financial Aid

This application provides a clear and secure alternative for eligible students to access a variety of New York State grants and scholarships, including the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), without needing to complete the FAFSA.

The new application pathway is for eligible students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who do not want to complete a FAFSA due to concerns related to the privacy of their information, but want to apply for New York State financial aid. For information and to apply, please visit  

However, while this route allows access to many state financial aid programs, students who use it will not be eligible for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship or the Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA), both of which require a completed FAFSA. Additionally, you will not qualify for federal financial aid—such as the Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, or Federal Student Loans—unless you submit the FAFSA.

Direct Student Loan Programs

Effective for Loans with a First Disbursement on or after July 1, 2025 but before July 1, 2026

All subsidized and unsubsidized loans made to undergraduate students will have a fixed interest rate of 6.39%. All unsubsidized Loans for Graduate students will have a fixed interest rate of 7.94%.

• For loans with a first disbursement on or after July 1, 2025:
  October 1, 2025, the lender withholds 1.057% from the borrowed amount for loan 
  origination fees, prior to disbursement.

          PLUS loans for Parents and Graduate students will have an interest rate of 8.94%.

• For loans whose first disbursement date is on or after July 1, 2025:
  October 1, 2025, the lender withholds 4.228% from the borrowed amount for loan 
  origination fees, prior to disbursement

In-State Tuition Match Program for Out of State Students

SUNY's four-year colleges are matching the in-state tuition of the flagship public universities in 8 states to make it easier for students from around the country to get a great education in New York.

If you live in one of the states listed below, all you have to do is apply to a participating campus, and they’ll match the tuition and fees of your state's flagship. It's that easy.

Connecticut: UConn - Storrs
Pennsylvania: Penn State - University Park
New Jersey: Rutgers - New Brunswick
Massachusetts: UMass Amherst
Vermont: UVM - Burlington
New Hampshire: UNH - Durham
Illinois: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
California: UC Berkeley