New York Excelsior Scholarship

Students from families earning $125,000 or less can attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.

• Attend SUNY or CUNY tuition free!
• Adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less
• Pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university
• Enrolled in full-time study (at least 12 credits per term)
• Complete at least 30 credits per year
• Live and work in New York State for a duration equal to the number of years you received the scholarship  

AWARD

Covers tuition expenses at a SUNY or CUNY college

• Allows students to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.
• Is a “last dollar” scholarship. Any federal or NYS grants or scholarships, including PELL and TAP, are applied to tuition first and the Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses.

Citizenship & NYS Residency Requirements

To receive the Scholarship, you must meet the following residency requirements:

• You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. AND
• You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application.

Academic Requirements

High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

• Graduated from a High School in the U.S.; earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED) or passed a federally approved Ability to Benefit test.

College & Program

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements:

• Pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University.
• Enrolled full-time in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward your degree program.  If you attended college prior to the 2024-25 academic year, you must have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward your degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship.
• Continuously enrolled without any pauses in enrollment.  

Opportunity Programs

If you are in an opportunity program, the Excelsior Scholarship allows five years to complete your bachelor’s degree and requires completion of 24 credits each academic year.