Excelsior Scholarship Program

The Excelsior Scholarship Program provides tuition-free undergraduate study at SUNY and CUNY colleges for eligible students from families earning $125,000 or less. It is a last-dollar scholarship, applying federal and state grants first, then covering the remaining tuition balance. The scholarship supports full-time undergraduate students and requires post-graduation residency in New York State for the same number of years that funding was received.

Full tuition coverage for undergraduate study; eligibility for thousands of awards annually; requirement to live and work in New York State during and after funding period.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, a legal resident of New York State for at least 12 consecutive months, have a combined household adjusted gross income ≤ $125,000, be enrolled full-time, and meet other academic and residency requirements.

Submit FAFSA and TAP (or DREAM Act) applications; submit the Excelsior Scholarship application when the portal opens; provide required documentation; accept scholarship terms.