Homeschool benefits and savings in Schenectady County
The Schenectady County Higher Education Promise pays up to $1,368 in 2026-27, the cost of six credit hours at SUNY Schenectady, part of the State University of New York (SUNY),, toward tuition and select fees for Schenectady County residents. A student without a diploma can qualify through the college's 24-credit High School Equivalency program, after filing the FAFSA and the TAP application.
Who qualifies
Lives in Schenectady County
Sign the Affirmation of Schenectady County Residence confirming 12 months in New York State and the six months before enrollment in the county.
Is a matriculated student
Your student must be admitted to a degree, certificate, or micro-credential and take credit-bearing classes, full time or part time. Students in the 24-credit-hour High School Equivalency program may also apply.
Files the FAFSA and TAP
Both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application are required.
What it is worth
SUNY Schenectady charges New York State residents with a residency certificate $228 per credit hour in 2026-27, and $2,736 a semester full time.
- One class (3 credits)
- $684
- Two classes (6 credits)
- $1,368
- Full-time semester
- $2,736
- Full-time year
- $5,472
- Most the Promise pays in 2026-27
- $1,368
The college does not list which fees count as select fees, so ask the Financial Aid Office what your bill will still show after the award.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Apply for admission
Submit the free SUNY Schenectady application for a degree, certificate, or micro-credential, with a high school transcript or GED or TASC scores.
- After admission
File the FAFSA and TAP
Complete both aid applications so the college can apply federal and state aid before the Promise.
- Before classes
Turn in the residency form
Bring the signed affirmation and supporting documents to the Student Business Office in the Welcome Center, Elston Hall, 78 Washington Avenue.
- After all steps
Watch for a notice
Financial Aid notifies qualifying students and puts the award on the student bill. Funds go out first come, first served once every step is done.
- By spring 2027
Use it this year
The award applies only to the 2026-27 academic year and ends after six credit hours or $1,368.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition for up to six credit hours
- Select college fees
Not covered
- The SUNY application fee
- Cash refunds of unused funds
- Credits beyond six in 2026-27
Who pays first
- Federal and state grants
- Other scholarships
- Schenectady Promise
The Promise is applied after all federal and state aid and scholarships, straight to the student bill, so it pays only the tuition and select fees still owed.
The Schenectady County Legislature set aside $1,000,000 for 2026-27, and awards are paid first come, first served.
Good to know
Homeschooled county residents can qualify
Your student needs to live in Schenectady County and enroll as a matriculated student. Ask Admissions at 518-381-1366 how it reviews a homeschool transcript.
Who to contact
The Financial Aid Office decides who receives the Promise and answers questions about the award.
financialaid@sunysccc.edu 518-381-1468 Schenectady Promise page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New York
Send a letter of intent by July 1 each year, or within 14 days of a midyear start. You must submit the IHIP within four weeks after receiving district forms or by August 15, whichever is later.
New York sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach the subjects required for each grade band by Part 100.10, including patriotism and citizenship. Provide the equivalent of 180 days: 900 hours annually in grades 1–6 and 990 hours in grades 7–12.
- Testing: Annual assessment: grades 1–3, test or written narrative; grades 4–8, standardized test at least every other year, with a written narrative permitted in alternate years; grades 9–12, standardized test annually. A score above the 33rd percentile or one year of growth meets the progress standard.
- Records: Keep attendance records and make them available to the district on request. Submit an annual IHIP, quarterly reports, and the annual assessment.
- Teachers: New York requires the instructor to be competent; it does not require a teaching certificate.
Read the New York homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New York
Questions parents ask
- Does my student have to attend full time to get the Promise?
- No. Matriculated students may be full time or part time, so one or two classes a semester can be covered.
- Will we get money back if the award is more than the bill?
- No. Promise funds are not refundable and go only toward tuition and select fees on the student account.
- Why do we need the FAFSA if we expect no federal aid?
- Filing the FAFSA and the TAP application is a condition of the award. Any aid they produce is applied first, and the Promise covers what remains.
- Can the Promise be used again next year?
- Not as currently funded. The award is funded only for the 2026-27 academic year, and the college does not say whether the county will fund another year.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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