A college education is an important investment in your future and SUNY Poly wants to help make it affordable for you and your family! We are proud to be consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top Best Value School (Regional Universities North).
Receiving financial aid involves the completion of several important tasks. We’ve developed this step-by-step guide to help you successfully complete and submit the requirements to apply for federal and state financial aid.
You must apply for financial aid each year you plan to receive federal and/or state aid. Your FAFSA and TAP are used to determine your eligibility for most scholarships, work-study and federal loans.
FAFSA 011678 | TAP 4975
Apply For Financial Aid
- Obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)
All students and their contributors will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA form. A contributor (typically a student’s parent(s), stepparent(s), or spouse) is anyone who is required to provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA form and a signature on the form.
- Complete and Submit the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application for federal student aid. Filling it out can help students pay for college or career school. We recommend filing the FAFSA by the identified deadline to ensure you receive full consideration for institution-specific Once your form is processed, you will receive a confirmation email from FAFSA so you can review the results and make any necessary changes.
SUNY Poly's Federal School Code | 011678
For assistance with the FAFSA or to obtain a paper application, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center via telephone (800-433-3243), live chat, or email.
Students from mixed status families are now eligible to apply for NYS financial aid without completing the FAFSA at https://www.hesc.ny.gov/altpath. Students may also reach out to the Financial Aid Office at (315) 792-7210 or finaid@sunypoly.edu to learn more about their options to apply for NYS aid.
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.*
If you are a NYS Resident, to apply for TAP: refer to this Step-by-Step Process to apply for TAP:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Click the link that says, “Apply for TAP”*
- Once you are on the HESC website, create a HESC-specific user name and personal identification number called a HescPIN
- Note: You will use your HescPIN to "sign" your TAP application and access your HESC account information in the future.
- After you apply, check your TAP status by logging into your HESC account
Students applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for TAP. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to add a new application to apply for TAP.
Students from mixed status families are now eligible to apply for NYS financial aid without completing the FAFSA at https://www.hesc.ny.gov/altpath. Students may also reach out to the Financial Aid Office at (315) 792-7210 or finaid@sunypoly.edu to learn more about their options to apply for NYS aid.
*If you missed the link on the FAFSA you will receive information from HESC about how to apply.
For assistance in completing your online TAP application or questions regarding your TAP award status, please schedule a call with HESC.
*TAP may need to be paid back in some circumstances. Please refer to the Financial Aid policies for more information.
New York State residents may apply for the following programs based on program eligibility:
Excelsior Scholarship
The Excelsior Scholarship program makes a SUNY Poly education more affordable than ever. NYS residents and U.S. citizens who have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less are encouraged to consider applying for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship.
Apply for the Excelsior Scholarship
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Students interested in applying for SUNY Poly’s Educational Opportunity Program are required to apply for admission and submit appropriate SUNY EOP financial documentation.
NYS STEM Incentive Program
High school seniors who are NYS residents and U.S. citizens and intend to pursue a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) major should consider applying for the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program scholarship. Please review the details of this scholarship thoroughly on the HESC website. Although the deadline for applying is not until August, we highly recommend that students apply early (before high school graduation) as your guidance counselor will be required to submit information to support your application.
NYS Aid for Part-Time Study
Undergraduate students planning to enroll part-time during the fall and/or spring semester(s) who are also eligible for TAP can apply for a New York State Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) grant by submitting the application to the Financial Aid Office.
All students, regardless of state residency, are encouraged to apply to or submit document for the following programs for which they are eligible:
Veteran + Military Benefits
SUNY Polytechnic Institute is pleased to serve veterans and our country's service members in the armed forces.
The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 requires educational institutions to make certain disclosures to students using federal military and/or VA educational benefits. To view and print a copy of an estimated personalized cost of attendance you can visit the SUNY Net Price Cost Calculator and select SUNY Polytechnic Institute from the dropdown. Additional financial information can be found at the NCES College Navigator site.
Contact - Veteran Benefits Team
Summer Financial Aid Application
- Benefits for New Students (Students who have not previously used education benefits)
- Benefits for Transfer Students (Students who had been receiving veteran benefits at another institution)
- Benefits for Continuing SUNY Poly Students
View and Accept Your Financial Aid
New and returning students who have received a financial aid award must accept or decline the various forms of aid that have been offered to them via their SUNY Poly Banner Web Self Service account.
New accepted undergraduate and graduate students who have filed a FAFSA will receive a Financial Aid Award Plan in the mail and have access to view the Financial Aid Plan in Banner Self-Service. Returning students will be notified when their Financial Aid Award is viewable in Banner Self-Service via their SUNY Poly email.
To view your Financial Aid Plan and accept the awards, grants, and loans offered to you:
- Go to banner.sunypoly.edu (Banner Self-Service)
- Click Enter Student Secure Area
- From the Student Services Menu, locate the Financial Aid header, and under Eligibility, click on Financial Aid
- On the Financial Aid page, select the correct Aid Year
- Click Offer from the horizontal menu at the top of the page
- Scroll to Options to Pay Net Cost
- Under Loans, select Accept, Decline, or Modify under the Take Action dropdown menu for each offered loan
- Click Submit
**View step-by-step instructions with images here.
To accept or decline your offered financial aid:
- Go to banner.sunypoly.edu (Banner Self-Service)
- Click Enter Student Secure Area
- From the Student Services Menu, locate the Financial Aid header, and under Eligibility, click on Financial Aid
- On the Financial Aid page, select the correct Aid Year
- Click Offer from the horizontal menu at the top of the page
**View step-by-step instructions with images here.
SUNY Poly’s Financial Aid Office provides students with several resources to assist in better understanding the components of the Financial Aid Award Plan.
- Understanding Your Financial Aid Plan (pdf)
- Financial Aid Next Steps (pdf)
- Verification Process Document (pdf) - includes the following:
- 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet for Federal Student Aid Programs
- Instructions for IRS Data Retrieval Tool and Instructions for Requesting an IRS Tax Transcript
- How to Get an IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter
- Federal Direct Loan Borrowing Process for Students & Parents (pdf)
- Cost of Attendance (pdf)
Submit your Outstanding Financial Aid Requirements
SUNY Poly’s Financial Aid Office, Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and/or HESC (NYS TAP) may contact you with important information and questions regarding your financial aid application. Please check your email daily so that you can respond to communications in a timely manner and avoid processing delays.
The Financial Aid Office processes financial aid requests on an on-going basis. New students will receive their award letter in the mail in addition to an email notification when their award is available to view in the Financial Aid tab in Banner Web Self-Service. Continuing students will receive an email notifying them that their financial aid award information is available in Banner Web Self-Service.
Note: After a student is issued a SUNY Poly email, it will become the official email address used by the Financial Aid Office for all correspondence. Financial aid inquiries/requests to our office will only be accepted from a student’s official SUNY Poly email.
Verification is a federally required and initiated process used to check the accuracy of the information that a student has given when applying for federal financial aid. It’s used to confirm that the student provided accurate information about their financial need to ensure their financial aid plan meets their specific needs.
Note: Not all FAFSA applicants will be selected for and required to complete FAFSA Verification. You’ll be notified on your FAFSA Submission Summary and on your SUNY Poly Financial Aid Checklist if you’ve been selected for FAFSA Verification.
Pay your Bill
SUNY Poly and its programs continue to garner impressive rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Fortune and more, which means that you get a world-class education at an economical price. SUNY Poly students enjoy a public-school tuition with benefits that many small private institutions boast, including:
- small class sizes
- individualized applied learning experiences
- and a tight-knit community
A bill is generated each semester based on a student's course registration. All students must confirm their attendance, authorize their financial aid (if applicable), and pay their bill.
To keep your registered course schedule and housing assignment (if applicable), you must do one of the following:
- No payment due: Confirm your attendance and automatically accept your charges online.
- Pay online: Pay either in full or with a payment plan. This automatically accepts your charges.
- Pay by check: Access your Enterprise e-Bill account, print out a copy of your current statement, and return the lower portion with your check payment.
The Student Accounts Office is responsible for billing and collection of student tuition, fees, and room and board. The office is also responsible for the distribution of student financial aid refund checks and tuition refunds. The Student Accounts Office staff can answer questions regarding student account charges, payments, holds on your account, and refunds.
Email: bursar@sunypoly.edu
Phone: (315) 792-7412
Fax: (315) 792-7802
Office Location: Kunsela Hall, A210
Maintain Your Financial Aid
Federal and New York State student financial aid is available to help pay for college. In order to continue receiving financial aid, you must apply for it every year you attend college.
SUNY Poly’s Financial Aid Office recommends submitting your FAFSA and NYS TAP applications (if applicable) by February 1 in the academic year preceding the aid year for which you are applying.
Students from mixed status families are now eligible to apply for NYS financial aid without completing the FAFSA at https://www.hesc.ny.gov/altpath. Students may also reach out to the Financial Aid Office at (315) 792-7210 or finaid@sunypoly.edu to learn more about their options to apply for NYS aid.
In order for students to receive federal and state financial aid, they must be making “satisfactory academic progress” (SAP) toward a degree.
Special Circumstances + FERPA
We recognize that the FAFSA may not capture important life events that could impact your ability to finance your education at SUNY Poly. You and your family have the opportunity to provide information about these special circumstances so we can consider their impact as we determine your expected family contribution and financial aid eligibility.
If there are special circumstances which you believe the Financial Aid Office should consider when determining your financial aid eligibility, please submit our Special Conditions form. This paperwork should be submitted to our office as soon as possible after completing the FAFSA.
Examples of special circumstances include:
- loss of employment
- loss of taxable/untaxable income (i.e., child support, social security, alimony, worker’s compensation)
- legal separation or divorce
- death of a spouse
- extraordinary medical/dental expenses
If one of these events occurs after you have received your financial aid award, please contact our office so that we can counsel you on appropriate next steps before you submit your special conditions paperwork.
Should a student wish to authorize a third party (i.e., parent, spouse) to speak with the Financial Aid Office on their behalf, a signed FERPA Agreement must be on file. A new form must be completed each academic year to keep this authorization in effect.
Email: finaid@sunypoly.edu
Phone: (315) 792-7210
Fax: (315) 792-7220
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