New York HESC 2025-26 Annual Report: Nearly $1 Billion in Student Aid Delivered to About 300,000 Students
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on November 3 that the state Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has released its 2025-26 annual report, showing the agency delivered nearly $1 billion in student aid over the past year to about 300,000 New York students. HESC, headquartered in Albany, is the state's main student aid agency; its acting president is Doris B. González.
During the state's College Application Month, 130 colleges and universities waived application fees, students submitted nearly 300,000 applications, and families saved about $15 million in fees, with 670 high schools taking part. A higher income threshold for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) made 152,438 additional students newly eligible, and three part-time TAP programs were consolidated into one, with the minimum course load cut from six credits to three.
After the Veterans Tuition Award was expanded in July 2025, the number of recipients rose by nearly 70 percent. New York students' FAFSA completion rate ranked sixth in the nation, up nearly 6 percent year over year as of June 2026. HESC also launched its Financial Aid Navigator in fall 2025 and held the first College Access Conference in Albany in March 2026, presenting 30 awards.
HESC said the report reflects the state's steps to make college more affordable, including streamlined aid for part-time students, expanded tuition support for veterans and fee waivers that helped more high school students apply.
(Source: Office of the Governor of New York)
Source: Office of the Governor of New York
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 纽约州教育大楼，奥尔巴尼（资料图）。CC BY-SA 4.0，Beyond My Ken 摄，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The New York State Education Building in Albany (file photo). CC BY-SA 4.0, by Beyond My Ken, via Wikimedia Commons.
