How to Apply for Free Tuition at New York Universities

New York State has an Excelsior Scholarship that allows residents in the region to earn a free degree from the City University of New York (CUNY) or State University of New York (SUNY). It is reported by the official website of the City of New York.

The scholarship covers the remaining tuition fees after applying for other scholarships and financial aid such as the Pell Grant and the Learning Assistance Program (TAP). With Excelsior, you can get up to $ 5 annually.

The program does not cover other training costs: accommodation, meals, transport, etc.

Excelsior provides payments for the following courses:

• 2-year full-time study programs that lead to an associate degree;
• 4 years of full-time undergraduate studies. If the duration of the program is 5 years, then the scholarship is paid over 5 years.

Eligibility criteria for the Excelsior program

Both new and existing CUNY and SUNY students can apply for the Excelsior Scholarship.

To qualify for a scholarship, you must:

• Be a resident of New York State for at least 12 months prior to the date of application
• Be enrolled in a two- or four-year study program at CUNY or SUNY
• Study full-time in full-time studies
• Have an income of up to $ 125 per year (gross adjusted household income)
• Complete an Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Learning Assistance Program (TAP).

On the subject: Top 9 Free NYU Courses

Program requirements

In order not to lose the Excelsior Scholarship, you must meet certain criteria during your studies. You may lose your scholarship if you do not continue to meet all the requirements.

To continue receiving payments every year, you must:

• Continue to live in New York State
• Get passing points
• Receive a total of 30 credits every year
• Apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Learning Assistance Program (TAP).

After completing your degree, you must have lived in New York State for the same years as you received the scholarship. For example, if you received a scholarship for four years, you must have lived in the state for four years after you graduated from college. If you have worked for these four years, you must be working in New York State.

If you do not meet these requirements, the scholarship will be converted into a loan, which you will have to repay.