Financial Aid

  • Federal and State financial aid is very individualized and is not one size fits all.  We encourage you to have honest conversations at home regarding finances for post-secondary education, so students can make informed decisions about their future.

    The cost of attendance of many post-secondary options, be it college or occupational training, is an extremely important part of the search for many families.  Financial aid can be a confusing part of the process.  We recommend that you direct specific questions about the financial aid process to the college’s financial aid office. 

     

    What is Financial Aid?

    Financial aid helps pay the cost of attending college. Depending on the type of college, costs may include:

    • Tuition and fees
    • Room and board
    • Books and supplies
    • Transportation
    • Miscellaneous personal expenses
    • Required loan fees
    • Study abroad costs
    • Dependent care expenses
    • Expenses related to a student's disability

    Financial aid is based either on a student's financial need or merit, such as high grades or ability in a particular subject or sport.

    Financial aid comes in four different forms:

    • Grants
    • Scholarships
    • Work Study
    • Loans

    Grants and scholarships are known as "free money" because the student does not need to pay this aid back. Work study and loans are "self-help aid" because in each case, the student either needs to work in order to receive the aid or to pay the funding back, plus interest, after graduation.

    Financial aid comes from a variety of sources:

    • Federal government
    • New York State
    • Colleges
    • Community organizations, associations and other groups

     Learn more about types of financial aid.

     

    CSS Profile

    The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.

    Some colleges, primarily private colleges, ask for additional financial information (in addition to FAFSA) to determine school-based aid through the CSS/Profile application.  The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid.  A college’s financial aid page should let you know if this is part of their financial aid process, so be sure to check every website.

BHS Financial Aid Presentation

Resources

  • FAFSA Form

    Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

    You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy.

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  • NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

    The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York State residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. TAP is one of the grants, scholarships and awards programs administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC).

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  • NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

    HESC helps New Yorkers attain their higher education through the administration of:

    • New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
    • 25+ State scholarship and loan forgiveness programs
    • New York’s 529 College Savings Program, with the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC)
    • Financial aid outreach programs for students and families
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  • CSS Profile

    CSS Profile is the leading nonfederal aid common application used by hundreds of institutions and scholarship programs.

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  • FinAid.org

    Information on financial aid for college and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses.

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  • National Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators

    Our mission at NASFAA is to provide professional development and services for financial aid administrators; advocate for public policies that increase student access and success; serve as a forum on student financial aid issues and commit to diversity throughout all activities.

    While our primary focus at NASFAA is assisting financial aid administrators, we have compiled some resources for students, parents, and counselors.

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