Excelsior Scholarship
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
Last-dollar award covering remaining tuition at SUNY/CUNY for families earning up to $125,000
- How much
- Covers tuition at SUNY/CUNY (last-dollar, after other aid)
- Who qualifies
- Adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less. Legal NYS resident for 12 continuous months. Full-time at a SUNY or CUNY 2- or 4-year college, 12+ credits/term and 30 credits/year, continuous enrollment (ADA-registered students with disabilities may take fewer credits). Must live in NYS (and work in NYS if employed) after the award for as many years as received, or the award converts to a no-interest loan.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual new-applicant window announced each spring (2026-27 window opened May 26, 2026 and closed Aug 31, 2026); spring-term windows have also been announced in some years
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA and the TAP application (or NYS DREAM Act application), then submit the Excelsior application during HESC's application window
- Renew by filing FAFSA and TAP each year
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (hesc.ny.gov) and page 2
The details
'Last dollar' scholarship that covers tuition at a SUNY or CUNY college after other grants and scholarships (e.g. Pell, TAP) are applied. Annual; up to 2 years (associate), 4 years (bachelor's) or 5 years (approved five-year programs) of full-time study. Students must enroll full-time (12+ credits/term), complete 30 credits each year, and stay continuously enrolled. After the award, recipients must live in NYS for as many years as they received it (and, if employed, work in NYS); otherwise all or part converts to a no-interest loan.
More money from New York
- Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA)Up to $6,000 for tuition expenses
- Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)$1,000 to $5,665
- NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence$500 or $1,500 per year
- Non-degree Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)Prorated TAP award based on credits and actual tuition
- Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (Part-Time TAP)Prorated share of TAP ($1,000 to $5,665 full-time range) based on credits
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.