The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free.

“Since its inception, the Excelsior Scholarship has enabled tens of thousands of students from low and middle-income families the chance to pursue a quality education tuition-free,” Hochul said in a press release. “By easing the financial burden associated with the cost of attending college, students and their families can focus on their education, providing New York’s students every possible opportunity to climb the ladder of success.”

Students from households with federal adjusted gross incomes up to $125,000 are eligible for a spring Excelsior Scholarship award. Students must also:

– Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college;

– Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study (including summer and winter terms);

– Be on track to graduate with an associate’s degree in two years or a bachelor’s degree in four years

“The cost to attend college is often a barrier for students from low and middle-income families who wish to experience the benefits that come from earning a post secondary degree or credential,” Dr. Guillermo Linares, president of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, said. “The Excelsior Scholarship offers the opportunity for students who, without financial support, could not readily afford to purse a college degree.”

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, “The data clearly shows that a college degree is the most effective tool for upward mobility — boosting earning power, expanding career opportunities, and even lengthening your life. Yet that experience remains out of reach for far too many. The Excelsior Scholarship helps address the college affordability problem, reinforcing SUNY’s longstanding commitment to delivering a world-class education by eliminating financial barriers for hardworking students from across the state.”

The Excelsior Scholarship is just one of the many ways New York State makes college affordable and accessible. Check out the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website — www.hesc.ny.gov — to explore other options available to help pay for college.

The spring 2023 Excelsior Scholarship application is open to first-time students entering college in the spring 2023 term and current college students who have never received the Excelsior Scholarship. Students currently receiving an Excelsior Scholarship do not need to complete this application to receive continued award payments. Students eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship under the Sen. Jos Peralta New York State DREAM Act can apply online at nysdream.applyists.net.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 9.