NYS Excelsior Scholarship program accepting applications: Who's eligible and how to apply
Students walk and ride through the main campus at Stony Brook University in November. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
A state program offering free tuition for SUNY and CUNY students is accepting applications through early February, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced.
The Excelsior Scholarship application is open to eligible students planning to enroll or attending a two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY college full time for the upcoming spring term. The program, established in 2017, is designed to "remove financial barriers" for students pursing higher education, state officials said.
"Each year, the Excelsior Scholarship helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of New York students by making tuition-free college a reality and strengthening affordability across the state," Hochul said in a news release. "This program cements our commitment to ensuring every eligible student can earn a degree without the weight of debt."
Here’s what to know about the scholarship:
Who is eligible?
The scholarship is open to students whose family has an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less.
Eligible students must pursue a full-time undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university and complete at least 30 credits per year in an approved program.
Applicants must be in good standing on their student loans.
Students must also be either a United States citizen or an "eligible noncitizen" and a legal resident of New York State who has lived in the state for at least 12 months.
After graduation, recipients must live and work in New York State for a "duration equal to the number of years the scholarship was received," according to a new release announcing the applications window.
How can students apply?
Students must first complete their FAFSA and New York State Tuition Assistance Program, or TAP, application forms and qualify for federal aid. The Excelsior Scholarship covers the remaining tuition after any federal or state assistance, such as the Pell Grant or TAP, is applied.
The application process must be completed annually. The application form can be found on the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation website.
When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will be accepted through Feb. 3 for the spring 2026 semester.
For more information, students can visit the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation website.
"Every application we process, and every student we support, brings us closer to a future where tuition-free college is not just an aspiration but a reality," New York State Higher Education Services Corporation president Guillermo Linares said in a statement.
