New York State Scholarships

The Excelsior Scholarship

The allows New York State residents to attend public colleges tuition-free for up to four years (eight semesters). Eligibility and payment are based on when a student starts college, not when they first receive the scholarship.

Eligibility

  • Income: Combined federal adjusted gross income must be $125,000 or less.
  • Enrollment: Students must enroll in at least 12 degree-applicable credits per semester and complete 30 credits each year.
  • Review full eligibility requirements on the .

How to Apply

  • The 2024-25 fall application is currently closed. Visit the for more information.
  • Current recipients don鈥檛 need to reapply but must complete the each year to continue receiving the award.
  • Income verification: Submit the Income Questionnaire via your HESC portal to confirm eligibility.

Application Timeline

  • Fall Semester: Application opens between April and July; closes at the end of August.
  • Spring Semester: Application opens between December and January; closes at the end of January.

After submission, HESC may request credit verification from 黑料视频 to ensure you meet the 15 credits-per-semester requirement (unless it鈥檚 your first college semester). Once verified, HESC will send you an Excelsior Scholarship Contract via email or through your HESC Student Access portal.

Award Posting and Disbursement

  • Awards are posted every Friday starting mid-July.
  • Excelsior Scholarship awards will appear on your student account once received from HESC, but certification occurs at the end of each semester.
  • After certification, funds are disbursed, and if a refund is generated, it will be sent to you based on your preferred refund method.

How the Excelsior Scholarship Works

If eligible, the Excelsior Scholarship covers tuition costs after other tuition-specific aid (e.g., TAP, Pell Grant) has been applied.

  • Course Compliance: Your course selection will be reviewed to ensure you meet the scholarship requirements. If non-compliance is found, you'll be notified to adjust your schedule during an open registration period.
  • Non-Certification: If your scholarship is not certified, you鈥檒l receive a notification explaining the reason. Failure to certify may result in a balance on your student account. Contact Student Accounts to resolve any outstanding balances.

Excelsior Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Students with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship even if attending less than full-time. For more details, visit the HESC webpage or contact Student Services Disabilities for assistance.

New York State STEM Incentive Program

The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to students who are New York state residents attending a university located in New York state. Recipients must be in the top 10 percent of students of their high school graduating class, pursue an approved STEM program and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field in NYS for five years after graduation (). For more specific information about NYS STEM, visit the .

NYS STEM Eligibility

*Note: 鈥淚nterest in鈥 will not meet the eligibility requirement. You must be declared in the major to maintain eligibility

How to Apply for the NYS STEM Incentive Program

  • First year recipients must complete the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program Application with
  • Once initially approved for the STEM program, students must complete the each year they wish to receive payment for the award.

How does the NYS STEM Incentive Program Work?

  • NYS STEM is awarded for the academic year, but is certified every semester based on meeting eligibility requirements, including the cumulative GPA of 2.5 that is calculated at the end of the semester and complete 12 degree-applicable credits.
  • Your course selection will be periodically reviewed to verify NYS STEM eligibility. If we find you are not in compliance with the regulations, we will notify you and ask you to make adjustments to your schedule during an open registration period.
  • Every semester, NYS STEM will show as a credit on the bill, viewable on . However, in order for the NYS STEM funds to pay, your eligibility must be certified by the institution at the end of every semester.
  • If your NYS STEM is certified and you are owed a refund, you will receive an e-mail from Student Accounts indicating that your NYS STEM funds have been received and your refund is available. Students are not refunded for NYS STEM until certification occurs at the end of each semester.
  • If your NYS STEM is not certified, you will be notified. You will also no longer receive credit on your bill for STEM, which may create an account balance. If you have questions regarding why you were decertified, please contact our office. Otherwise, you will have to contact Student Accounts to resolve any outstanding account balance that may have resulted. Students who lost eligibility in one semester may regain eligibility in the subsequent semester.

New York State Scholarships

New York state students may be eligible for a variety of scholarship and award programs to help pay for college.

There are several types of New York state scholarships and awards administered by Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and the New York State Education Department:

New York state scholarships, such as the World Trade Center Scholarship, must also be certified each semester.

Once certified, New York state scholarships will disburse around the same time as other New York state aid, typically around the 6th week of classes. If you are owed a refund, you'll receive an email from Student Accounts indicating that your New York state scholarship funds have been received and your refund is available. Alternatively, students who lose their scholarship eligibility will be notified.

If you have been awarded one of the above scholarships, you must complete the . This application must be completed for every year in which you wish to receive payment for a New York state scholarship and/or award.