Excelsior Scholarship

• Be a resident of New York State.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), and applicable toward your degree program
• To complete the application, you will need your IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s).
  • 2022 NYS Tax information for 2024-2025
  • 2023 NYS Tax information for 2025-2026
• File Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and New York State Aid (TAP)
   

OVERVIEW

Tuition-free program for eligible NYS residents ¹ pursuing their first undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY College

• The Excelsior Scholarship application opens in the spring for the next academic year. 
• New York State residents can apply for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship via HESC.
• If you have graduated from a high school outside the United States, you must meet the "Ability to Benefit" (ATB) requirement by the 21^st day of the semester. For more information, contact the Evaluation and Testing Office located at Wille Administration Building, Room A-213. Phone: 1(212) 650-6488
• Students must file a FAFSA and TAP application before filing the excelsior scholarship.
• Applicants must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward their degree program.
• Recipients may receive up to $5,500 ($2,750 per semester) or actual tuition for the aid year, whichever is less.
• The maximum Excelsior Scholarship will be reduced by the amount of certain other financial aid awards, which an applicant has or will receive for the academic year including other New York State aid award(s) and/or federal grant(s).
• Recipients must live in New York State for the length of time they received the award. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the conversion of your award to a no-interest loan.
• For additional information, contact HESC or visit their website: www.hesc.ny.gov.

Read eligibility requirements at Excelsior Scholarhip FAQs- CUNY.

HOW TO APPLY

*Students who are current recipients of the scholarship do not need to complete the 2024-25 application.

In order to complete the 2024-20245 or 2025-2026 application, you will need to:

• Complete the 2024-2025 / 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the 2024-2025 / 2025-2026  Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Application.
• Apply for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship via HESC at: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/find-aid/nys-grants-scholarships/excelsior-scholarship-program/ , if you are a New York State resident¹.
• Provide copies of the 2022 New York State income tax return(s) filled by you and your parent(s).
• Upload all of your college transcripts and your 2024-2025 Student Aid Report (SAR).
• Upload an official college transcript, if you are a transfer student with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Please ensure that you upload your documents after you submitted the Excelsior Application at the HESC Account Access page.

Read eligibility requirements at Excelsior Scholarship FAQs - CUNY.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact the Scholarship Unit at scholarships@hesc.ny.gov or call 1(888) 697-4372.

• Excelsior Scholarship Fact about program
• HESC Account Access