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NYS DREAM Act


The application for the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act (“NYS DREAM 
Act”) is now available! Undocumented students and other immigrant students can now 
access New York State-administered grants and scholarships to support their higher 
education costs, including New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The 
application and supporting materials are available at www.hesc.ny.gov/dream. 

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has stated that eligibility depends 
on criteria related to immigration status and attendance of a NYS high school or NYS 
high school equivalency program. 

Who can benefit?

According to HESC, eligibility for financial aid depends on your immigration status and when and where 
you attended and graduated high school or got your high school equivalency diploma.

Eligible immigration statuses

According to HESC, you can qualify if you have a U visa, a T visa, TPS, DACA, or have no immigration 
status. If you don’t live in NYS, you can also qualify if you are a U.S. citizen, green card holder, asylee, or 
refugee.

Schooling

You must also show that you have attended school in NYS. For those applying for financial aid at the 
undergraduate level:

If you graduated from high school in NYS:

· You must have attended high school in NYS for 2 or more years.
· You must apply within 5 years of graduating high school.


If you have a NYS High School Equivalency Diploma:

· You must apply within 5 years of receiving a high school equivalency diploma.


Students applying for graduate school aid have to apply within 10 years. 

When should I apply?

The application for the NYS DREAM Act is open now. We encourage eligible students to apply as soon as 
possible. TAP accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Certain scholarships and grants may have additional deadlines. Check with your school to learn more about 
other deadlines and opportunities that may be open to you.

If you have further questions about the NYS DREAM Act, email NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com or call 
888-697-4372 to speak with the Higher Education Services Corporation, which oversees the NYS DREAM 
Act and NYS financial aid. 

For additional information about educational services and the NYS DREAM Act, visit MOIA’s page at on.nyc.
gov/NYSDREAMAct. 



FAQs

Will undocumented students in NYS now have access other forms of federally-funded tuition 
assistance, such as Pell grants and FAFSA? 

· No. The NYS DREAM Act will not impact eligibility of other federal programs like Pell grants and FAFSA. 
Only the federal government can make such changes. 


Will the NYS DREAM Act allow Dreamers a pathway to citizenship? 

· No. Under the NYS DREAM Act, more students will become eligible for the NYS Tuition Assistance 
Program, including undocumented students. 
· This legislation has nothing to do with granting citizenship. Only the federal government can 
change federal laws regarding immigration status. 
· The de Blasio Administration supports federal efforts to provide undocumented immigrants, including 
Dreamers, a pathway to citizenship and will continue to advocate for justice for all immigrants. 


Will I have to disclose my immigration status in applying for financial assistance? Will that 
information be protected? 

· Yes. The application for the NYS DREAM Act asks about immigration status in order to determine 
eligibility. In addition, students without lawful immigration status are required to file an affidavit with 
their school saying they filed an application to legalize their status or will do so as soon as they are 
eligible. 
· NYS laws and federal laws protect student information collected by an educational institution, including 
information collected about immigration status.