Financial Eligibility

A student is considered economically disadvantaged if he or she is a member of a household as defined in category A, B, or C below:                                                                        a). A family supported by one or more individuals whose total annual income is from Social Security or sources other than employment and which does not exceed an amount set by the state.
b). A family supported by more than one employed
individual whose combined total annual incomes do not exceed the amount set by the state.
c). A family supported by one employed individual (including student) or a single parent whose total annual income before taxes does not exceed the amount set by the state.

Additional Financial Eligibility

State law also requires that, in order to receive financial aid stipends from the Percy E. Sutton SEEK program, students must file the FAFSA to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and the CUNY FASIR form to apply for the for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Both applications are available at individual CUNY College Financial Aid Offices and online.
After acceptance into a CUNY college, SEEK applicants must submit a copy of their Federal Income Tax Return, Form 1040, and other supporting documentation to verify income eligibility, citizenship and residence.
If accepted into the program, applicants will be required to show proof of having filed for Pell and TAP prior to being awarded any Special Programs financial assistance. The following items are required proof: (1) Electronic notification to CUNY; (2) “Student Notification” sent to you by the Pell Grant processor; and (3) TAP Award Certificate.

Economic Eligibility

An applicant is also economically eligible if:                                                                                                   1). His or her family receives payment from:
– Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
– Home Relief
– Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
– Office of Children and Family Assistance
2). He or she lives with foster parents, who do not provide support for college and the natural parents provide no such support.
3). He or she is a ward of the state or county

The foregoing eligibility requirements, except those relating to economic need and residency, shall not apply to students who have been determined eligible for entry to the Percy E. Sutton SEEK program by virtue of their satisfactory completion of the College Discovery Program II (College Discovery and Development Program).

* The amount set by the state changes annually. To determine the current amount, please contact the Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program Financial Aid coordinator (Mr. Frantz Lespinasse, flespinasse@mec.cuny.edu, Room S-110).

Academic Eligibility 

Student’s academic average must be less than 80% or rank at the 65th or lower percentile of his or her graduating class if he/she is currently enrolled in high school at the time of application. Students holding a GED are also eligible for the program.