Is financial aid hard to get?

Op states that she is from Buffalo.

BTF salary schedule

http://www.buffaloschools.org/files/124962/2016-2019%20BTF%20Salary%20Schedule.pdf

it will depend on how long each parent has been teaching and if they have completed a masters, credits above a masters, etc.

Op is most likely not EOP eligible at SUNY (which will look at income/assets of both parents).

She may have to commute from home at Erie, Niagara or whatever other community college. Improve her grades and then transfer to buff state or UB.

She can toss an application at Buff State, which may be a slight reach. Again, is it close enough that she can commute from home. If her parents’s don’t have the $$ then dorming will be expensive.

Other colleges in the area; Canisius and Damen will be unaffordable to her. Right now, UB will be a big reach for her.

Op can count on receiving very little money from TAP and will most likely not be PELL eligible making their family virtually full pay.