New York Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

A) Be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;

B) Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;

C) Have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;

D) Have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $110,000 or less;

E) Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;

F) Be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;

G) If attended college prior to the 2018-19 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;

H) Be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;

I) Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and

J) Execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.