Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a CUNY or SUNY college tuition-free.

To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including but not limited to the following criteria:

• Have an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less
• Entering college -first- term
• Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time
• Agree to live in New York State and not be employed out of state for a duration equal to the number of years you received the scholarship

To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students eligible for federal aid must complete the FAFSA and New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) applications or apply through the New York State DREAM Act. The TAP application can be accessed through the New York State Aid link at the end of the FAFSA. Students who already submitted their FAFSA and missed the link can apply at the New York State Student Aid Payment Application page.

Applicants who first enrolled in college prior to 2018 (prior to 2017 if in an approved 5-year program or in an opportunity program) are not eligible for an Excelsior scholarship and should not submit an application.

Please note: if you are already a recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship from a previous application period, you do not need to complete this application. You are a recipient if you signed and submitted the Excelsior Scholarship contract, even if you did not receive payment in the prior year.

Full list of eligibility requirements

The Excelsior Scholarship will be applied to each qualifying student’s financial aid package after all other aid, including TAP, Pell, City Council Scholarship, college scholarships, and other grants or scholarships are applied.

Please visit the Excelsior Scholarship program website to apply.

Please contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372 or email excelsior@hesc.ny.gov if you have any questions.