Atlantic Housing Foundation Scholarships - $5,000 - 50 Awards (Deadline: February 1, 2026)
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/33376/atlantic-housing-foundation-scholarships 

Stacey Scholarship Fund - $5,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: February 1, 2026)
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/27662/stacey-scholarship-fund 

Wings Over America Scholarships - $5,000 – 50 Awards (Deadline: February 1, 2026)
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/12562/wings-over-america-scholarships 

Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards - $4,000 - 300 Awards (Deadline: February 2, 2026)
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: Be a child or grandchild (or step-child, step-grandchild, or legal ward) of a living Elk member.

Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/12293/elks-national-foundation-legacy-awards

Stacey Scholarship Fund - $5,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: February 1, 2026)
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: Be planning to study the fine arts of painting and/or drawing and Be attending or planning to attend college or university in 2026.
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/27662/stacey-scholarship-fund 

SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarships - $11,000 – 72 Awards (Deadline: Feb. 15, 2026)
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be enrolled in a program related to the field of optics and photonics.

B) Be attending or planning to attend college or university in 2026.
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/28654/spie-optics-and-photonics-education-scholarships. 

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarships - $10,000 – 7 Awards (Deadline: February 20, 2026)
Be a senior in high school in the United States and have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities.
Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/9544/vegetarian_resource_group_scholarships

The 2026 Spring Excelsior Application is Now Open

Attend a SUNY or CUNY school tuition-free!
If you’re starting college in spring 2026, or missed the fall Excelsior application, you may qualify for free tuition at state-operated SUNY or CUNY colleges through the Excelsior Scholarship.

To qualify, you must:

• Have an adjusted federal household income of $125,000 or less.

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.

• Be a legal resident of New York State for at least 12 continuous months prior to applying.

• Live and work in New York State for the same number of years you receive the scholarship.

Deadline: February 3, 2026

If you do not meet the residency criteria, you may still qualify through the NYS DREAM Act.

For more information and full eligibility, visit the HESC Excelsior webpage.

Need help?
Get one-on-one help completing your financial aid applications with HESC's virtual events.