What's happening
This bill creates the Adult Student Grant Program to provide financial aid for New York adults returning to college or career training.
Why it matters
Targets working-age adults. The grant is specifically designed for adults returning to school, addressing the unique financial and scheduling challenges faced by non-traditional students who may be balancing work, family, and education.
Aims to fill gaps in existing aid. It excludes those eligible for other major state awards, meaning it is meant to assist students who often fall through the cracks of traditional financial aid programs.
Includes broad eligibility, some flexibility. The program offers eligibility to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain refugees, and waives the New York residency requirement for military members and their families stationed in the state—broadening access to more adult learners.
Prioritizes financial need. By giving preference to applicants with demonstrated financial need, the bill targets support toward those for whom cost is likely the largest barrier to returning to school, increasing the likelihood of meaningful impact.
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Who cares
Adults returning to college or seeking career training
Eligible students taking at least three semester hours could receive up to $1,500 annually toward tuition, capped at $6,000 total, with priority for applicants demonstrating financial need.
Participating colleges and universities
Their students could qualify for grants if they maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and are ineligible for awards under the three specified existing aid provisions.
Active-duty military members and their families
Members stationed in New York on full-time active duty, along with their spouses and dependents, would be exempt from the program’s one-year state residency requirement.
The corporation administering the grants
It would determine financial need, distribute grants subject to appropriations and available funds, and have authority to issue implementing rules, including emergency regulations.
Headline styles
Grants for Adult Students
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1217
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, DAVILA, LUPARDO, OTIS, RA, SEAWRIGHT, WALKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the adult student grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i to read as follows:
§ 669-i. The adult student grant program. 1. Purpose. The adult student grant program is hereby created to provide financial aid grants to adults returning to college or seeking career education and training.
2. Definitions. a. "Good academic standing" for the purposes of this section means retaining a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or the equivalent.
b. "Participating institution" for the purposes of this section means any institution of higher education that is included in the University of the State of New York as enumerated in section two hundred fourteen of this title.
c. "Cost of attendance" shall mean tuition, required fees, laboratory and other instruction related to expenses, books, transportation, and room and board.
3. Eligibility. The adult student grant program shall be available to those persons:
a. who are (i) a citizen of the United States, or (ii) a noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, or (iii) an individual of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general of the United States under the attorney general's parole authority pertaining to the admission of noncitizens to the United States;
b. who remain in good academic standing;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02859-01-5
c. who attend a participating institution for at least three semester hours;
d. who are not eligible for awards under sections six hundred sixtysix, six hundred sixty-seven, or six hundred sixty-seven-c of this subpart; and
e. who have been either a legal resident of the state for at least one year immediately preceding the beginning of the semester, quarter or term of attendance for which application for the adult student grant program is made. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, the New York state residency eligibility requirement for this program is waived for a member, or the spouse or dependent of a member, of the armed forces of the United States on full-time active duty and stationed in this state.
4. Grants. The annual adult student grants shall be for an amount up to one thousand five hundred dollars or the cost of tuition, whichever is less. In no event shall the amount of the annual grant exceed the recipient's cost of attendance at the institution attended. The corporation shall provide such grants within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on the availability of funds. A recipient shall receive no more than six thousand dollars in adult student grants.
5. Priority. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate financial need as determined by the corporation.
6. Rules. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations, for the necessary implementation of the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.