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Financial Aid

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

Types of Financial Aid

  • Grants
  • Scholarships
  • Work Study
  • Loans

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. 

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.

Learn more about types of financial aid.

Sources of Financial Aid

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

Please utilize the links below to learn more about the sources and how to apply for aid.

BHS Financial Aid Presentation

Thank you to Jerome St. Croix, Director of Financial Aid at MCC, for sharing his expertise with us!  You may reach out to him directly or contact MCC's Financial Aid Office with any questions:

   .pdf

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.

  • 2025–26 FAFSA Form Preview Presentation

    To assist the community with planning and communicating changes to the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, we are pleased to provide the attached Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and PDF file with information and screenshots of the 2025–26 online FAFSA form.

  • 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).

  • 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)), and Financial aid outreach programs for students and families.

  • CSS Profile

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

  • FinAid.org

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

  • 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.

  • College Score Card - US Department of Education

    Search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more.

  • FAFSA and CSS Filing How Tos and Pitfalls
  • How Do You Get Financial Aid and Scholarships?
  • How to Pay Your College Tuition Bill with a 529 Plan