New York State Education Department Scholarships for Academic Excellence

The Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) provide high school students that are the top student(s) in their respective high school at the end of their junior year with a scholarship to attend an institution of higher education located in New York State.

Awards are renewable for up to four academic years of undergraduate study or five academic years, if the program of study normally requires five years as defined by the Commissioner of Education. In the event that a scholarship is declined by the student or revoked by the Commissioner of Education, its benefits will lapse and no re-awards will be made.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Each scholarship candidate must be eligible to graduate from a New York State high school by the end of the school year.
• If the scholarship candidate is a U.S. citizen, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or an individual of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general of the United States under the parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the United States then the student must:
  • have graduated from a New York State high school;
  • be a full-time, matriculated student in an approved undergraduate program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution;
  • be in good academic standing;
  • not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards; and
  • be a New York State resident.