Excelsior Scholarship now Open for 2025

The Excelsior Scholarship, a landmark program designed to make college tuition-free for eligible New York State residents, is now accepting applications for the 2025 academic year. The program, administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), helps students attend SUNY or CUNY schools without worrying about tuition costs.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirement

• Residency and Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and legal residents of New York for at least 12 continuous months before the start of the term.

• Education: Eligible candidates must hold a U.S. high school diploma, a GED, or pass a federally approved Ability to Benefit test.

• Enrollment: Students must attend a SUNY or CUNY institution, including community colleges and statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University, as full-time undergraduates. They must complete at least 30 credits annually and maintain continuous enrollment.

• Income: The combined household income must not exceed $125,000.

  
  

Application Process and Deadlines

Applications for the Spring 2025 term are open until February 3, 2025. Interested students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application before submitting an Excelsior Scholarship application.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Excelsior Scholarship is a "last-dollar" award, meaning it covers any remaining tuition costs after federal and state grants or scholarships, such as Pell or TAP, are applied. The program provides up to two years of support for associate degrees, four years for bachelor’s degrees, and five years for certain approved five-year programs.

Obligations After Graduation

Recipients must live and work in New York State for as many years as they received the scholarship. If this condition is not met, the scholarship converts into a loan that must be repaid.

For more information or to apply, visit the HESC website.