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Financial Aid (FAFSA & TAP)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and NY State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application must be completed by all eligible Say Yes to Education scholars seeking funds from Say Yes to Education. While these forms may at first seem daunting, we can point you to online resources and college readiness services within the community to help you.

About FAFSA & TAP

All students who want to qualify for a Say Yes Scholarship must apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and if they are attending college in New York State, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP ). We highly recommend that you complete your FAFSA and TAP applications prior to submitting your Say Yes Syracuse applications. The hard deadline to submit your FAFSA and NYS TAP applications is August 1 following your high school graduation.

You must then reapply for FAFSA and NYS TAP each January or February you are enrolled in college. Students applying to some private colleges must also complete the CSS Financial Aid Profile

To help you  and your family with applying for financial aid, the Financial Aid Counseling Network (FACN) was created as a joint effort between Say Yes to Education, the Syracuse City School District, and financial aid administrators from the colleges in Central New York. The FACN sponsors programs that help educate and inform students and their families about the college financial aid process. In addition to holding college information events for high school juniors and seniors in each SCSD high school, the FACN conducts a number of financial aid application filing events where students and parents can meet one-on-one with a financial aid professional in numerous community locations and complete the financial aid application process.

All programs will be announced by the high school guidance counselors and advertised on this Say Yes Syracuse website. You are welcome to attend events at any of the SCSD high schools if you are unable to attend the event scheduled at your high school. View the events page for listings of upcoming FAFSA Completion Nights and Collegiate Sundays.

To learn more about Financial Aid, you may also visit Fin Aid’s SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation

Remember to complete FAFSA and TAP applications

Contact Us

Are you inspired by the goals and approach of Say Yes or have questions about scholarships? We invite you to subscribe to our mailing list, set an appointment, or reach out to and learn more about how you can get involved.

Ahmeed Turner, Executive Director

Dana Lyons-Canty, Officer, Scholarship and Student Support