CUNY ASAP helps students earn an associate degree within three years by providing financial, academic, and personal support. Benefits include an ASAP advisor, career development support, tuition help for students on financial aid, and more. The program is available at eleven CUNY colleges in all five boroughs.
- Other program benefits include free unlimited Metrocards, help with textbook costs, and special registration options.
- For students interested in earning a bachelor's degree, the program ACE (Accelerate, Complete, Engage) offers the same benefits as ASAP and is available to students at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Lehman College.
Who is eligible
To be eligible for CUNY ASAP, you should:
- Apply and be accepted to a CUNY college that offers ASAP
- Be a New York City resident or eligible for in-state tuition
- Agree to enter into a full-time associate degree program in an ASAP-approved major
- Be proficient in Math and/or English (reading and writing)
- Have no more than 15 college credits and a minimum GPA of 2.0.
How to apply
To join ASAP, follow these easy steps:
- Apply to a CUNY college that has ASAP.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application. Students under the New York State Dream Act may be eligible to receive state aid, including TAP, Excelsior, and other state-run scholarships.
- Accept your offer of admission.
- Complete all admissions requirements for your college.
- Check your college’s ASAP website for information on additional needs and next steps.
Note: To join ASAP, students must complete the FAFSA and New York State TAP application each year and accept any federal and state grant aid awarded (Pell, SEOG, TAP).
Students under the New York State Dream Act may be eligible to receive state aid, including TAP, Excelsior, and other state-run scholarships.
If you are or were in foster care, you can receive additional benefits, such as:
- Tuition and fee gap scholarship (Admissions, CUNY Start, and Math Start)
- Intersession tuition assistance (Free summer and winter courses)
- Full coverage of MetroCards (Replacement MetroCards)
- Full coverage of all textbooks and more
Students between the ages of 17-25, currently or formerly in foster care, and enrolled or on track to join ASAP or ACE are encouraged to register for the CUNY ASAP Foster Care Initiative.
How to get help
- Visit the CUNY ASAP website to learn more.
- Contact the Welcome Center with your undergraduate admissions-related questions.
Other Education Programs
We Speak NYC (WSNYC)
Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
English conversation and learning program
Free classes with materials for you to learn about City services and improve your English.
3-K
NYC Department of Education (DOE)
Early education for three-year-olds
Free, full-day and high-quality education for New York City three-year-olds.
CUNY Start
The City University of New York (CUNY)
Academic support for CUNY students
CUNY students can get help meeting CUNY's proficiency standards and preparing for college-level courses.
Updated January 14, 2022