Taking it to the Road: Bringing Financial Aid Awareness to College Fairs Across NY

ALBANY, NY (03/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Thousands of high school students are visiting and gathering information at college fairs scheduled throughout the spring. While students look for information about academic programs and campus life, they and their families are also thinking about the resources needed to pay for college.

The New York State Higher Education Services Corp. (HESC), the state agency that helps people pay for college, joins spring college fairs throughout the state with information about federal and state financial aid, including New York State's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the new, state-sponsored New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs).

Stops along HESC's college fair tour include Buffalo, Syracuse, Troy, White Plains, Long Island, and New York City. A complete college fair schedule can be found on the HESC Web site.

Acting HESC President, Elsa Magee, encourages all college-bound juniors and seniors to explore the array of college financial aid available to New York students and families at the college fairs and the HESC Web site. "HESC.org has program information and resources to help you afford a college education," she said recently.

"New York is first in the nation when it comes to giving money to college students. The New York State Tuition Assistance Program is the largest need-based student grant program in the United States," Magee continued.

In addition to TAP, New York offers 18 federal and state scholarships, loan forgiveness, and special award programs to help New York students finance their education.

The New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs) helps students and families make up the difference between the cost of college and available financial aid. Information about this low-cost fixed-rate loan offered by New York State will also be available.

About HESC: HESC is the State's student financial aid agency, helping people pay for college by providing more grant and scholarship awards than any other state in the nation. By administering 26 student financial aid programs, including the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), guaranteeing student loans, offering guidance and administering a highly successful College Savings program, HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year. In 2008-09, HESC helped nearly 600,000 students achieve their dream of attending college by providing $4.6 billion in grants, scholarships and loan guarantees, including $813 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to more than 375,000 students.

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