The Excelsior Scholarship is a NYS scholarship that offers free college tuition for SUNY or CUNY schools for families that make less than $125,000 a year. There are a few eligibility requirements to receive this tuition:

An applicant must:

• 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 through continuous study with no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented.

• 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.

Please keep in mind that the Excelsior Scholarship only covers tuition, not room and board or other college fees/expenses. The Excelsior Scholarship opens in the spring of your senior year. 

Please visit the NYS Higher Education website for more information. 

Students from families earning $125,000 or less can qualify for up to $6,000 in tuition assistance at participating private colleges in New York State. 

An applicant must:

• 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 enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program through continuous study with no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented.

• 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.

• Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at one of the participating private colleges or universities in NYS. 

For more information, please visit the NYS Higher Education website by clicking here.