For thousands of New York students — many from mixed-status and immigrant families and low-income backgrounds — college is slipping further out of reach, blocked not only by steep financial barriers but also by fears of putting their families at risk.

New York has made real progress in breaking down financial barriers to higher education — from offering free tuition at community colleges for high-needs fields, expanding SUNY’s ASAP and ACE programs that help students stay on track, creating a safer path to apply for state aid, and opening the Tuition Assistance Program for part-time students.

But now, new anti-student and anti-borrower federal policies sabotage that very progress — pushing higher education further out of reach for the very students New York has fought to support.

Federal Threats Put Higher Education at Risk

President Trump signed the budget reconciliation package into law on July 4. It deals a direct blow to students. Just days later, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will reinterpret decades-old federal law to bar undocumented students from career, technical, and adult educational programs.

These harmful policies include:

• Eliminating federal loans that help graduate students pay for school and adds strict borrowing limits, making it harder to afford advanced degrees and forcing students to rely on private banks.
• Eliminating more generous income-based student loan repayment plans that help students manage their debt.
• Excluding undocumented students from adult education, career and technical training, and enrollment programs.
• Fueling fear and mistrust among students from mixed-status families, who may now hesitate to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The result? A system that penalizes students for pursuing higher education. Current, former, and future students will have to shoulder higher monthly payments over longer repayment periods. Students from immigrant families may be deterred from applying for aid altogether. Those seeking advanced degrees will meet steep financial barriers, forcing more students to rely on costly private loans.

How New York is Fighting Back and Defending Opportunity

New York State has stepped up to counter these threats and expand higher education access — especially for students from low-income backgrounds, immigrant students, students from mixed-status families. Here is how:

Universal FAFSA Law: Last year, New York passed a Universal FAFSA law. The law requires schools to support students in completing an application for state-based aid, FAFSA or the NYS Dream Act application, which is available to undocumented students. This policy is a game-changer for equity.

To support implementation, EdTrust-New York advocated for more resources in communities with low FAFSA completion rates. The State University of New York (SUNY) responded with summer outreach grants for community organizations like the Urban League Rochester that help students navigate the application process.

Removing the FAFSA Barrier for State Aid: Previously, students had to complete the FAFSA to qualify for TAP, even if doing so risked exposing their family immigration status. Thanks to advocacy from EdTrust-New York and our partners, New York created an alternative pathway that no longer requires a FAFSA for state aid. This opens the door for more students to pursue college at SUNY and CUNY schools without sacrificing their families’ safety.

What’s Next: How New York Can Double Down on Equity

As federal attacks intensify, New York must do more to ensure students can access higher education without fear, confusion, or crushing debt. The state should:

• Raise awareness of the new state aid application pathway and NYS Dream Act through Universal FAFSA initiatives.
• Expand support for trusted community-based groups that help students and families.
• Protect and grow TAP, regardless of federal policy changes.
• Continue to invest in college credit in high school programs and adult education, career, and technical education, and dual enrollment programs — ensuring that undocumented students retain access.
• Fund higher education emergency relief to support CUNY and SUNY students facing housing, food, or other financial crises to help them stay enrolled and graduate.

Federal budget cuts and policies don’t just threaten education funding — they threaten the futures of millions of New Yorkers.

New York has the power — and the responsibility — to defend higher education access for the students who enrich our state’s diversity and shape its future.

About the blog series: When federal leaders make decisions about education and our communities, they don’t stop in D.C. — they land in New York communities. The #DCChoicesNYVoices blog series breaks down how federal threats are reshaping access and opportunity for students and families across the state. Read more here.