Excelsior
NYS Excelsior Scholarship
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students from families earning $125,000 or less can attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.
Application and Deadlines:
2025-2026 Application: The NYS Excelsior Scholarship program will open in May 2025.
If you would like to receive Excelsior Scholarship Application updates for the 2025-26 academic year, including notification of when future applications are available, .
**IMPORTANT**
Current Excelsior Scholarship recipients should not complete this application. Current
recipients must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or DREAM Act application each
year for payment.
Eligibility:
To receive award payments after the initial application year, an Excelsior Scholarship recipient must annually complete the and the each year.
An applicant must be:
- Be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- 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
- Have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University
- 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
- If attended college prior to the 2024-25 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
- 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
- Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and
- 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.
A college education is increasingly necessary to secure the jobs of tomorrow, and the Excelsior Scholarship ensures New York's students have access to a quality education and the skills they need to succeed. Read more about it here:
Have questions about the Excelsior Scholarship Program, visit:
