New York State has opened applications for the Excelsior Scholarship that allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free for the 2023-2024 academic year, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
The scholarship is administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.
"The Excelsior Scholarship is one of the most promising programs in New York State, providing access to an affordable college education for thousands of middle and lower-income New Yorkers," Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. "At a time when economic disparities are widening, it is more important than ever that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed."
Students have through August 31 at midnight to apply.
The 2023-2024 Excelsior Scholarship application is open to first-time students entering college in the Fall 2023 term and current college students who have never received the Excelsior Scholarship. Students currently receiving an Excelsior Scholarship do not need to complete this application to receive continued award payments.
Here's everything you need to know about the scholarship and how to apply:
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students.
For the 2023-24 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2021 are eligible to apply.
Students must also:
Students eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship under the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act can apply here.
Students newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for the Excelsior Scholarship. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to update any prior year information that may have changed to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship.
The Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining gap in tuition expenses after other federal and state grants and scholarships are applied, up to $5,500.
To determine the award amount, the tuition rate charged is first reduced by the total dollar amount awarded from other student financial aid awards for the academic year, including an NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award and/or federal Pell Grant. The Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses up to $5,500. In instances where tuition expenses exceed the total financial aid a recipient is awarded, a tuition credit will be applied to the remaining balance.
Tuition rates are based on 2022-23 resident tuition rate charged by SUNY ($7,070) or CUNY ($6,930)
Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
The application is used to establish your eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship. If additional documentation is required, you will be prompted to submit it electronically to expedite the process.
Students have through August 31 at midnight to apply.
A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate's degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program leading to a bachelor's degree.
A leadership program is helping students continue to pursue higher education. News 4's Rana Novini reports.
