New Yorkers can attend community colleges for free: all the features of the Excelsior Scholarship
'27.12.2023'
Alina Prikhodko
Last week, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that applications for Excelsior scholarship Open to new applicants for the Spring 2024 semester. New York City students looking to attend college this spring can apply now for free college tuition, reports Silive.
The Excelsior Scholarship provides students with money to help pay for tuition when federal and state financial aid is insufficient. It allows you to study for free at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY). The Excelsior Scholarship is available to state residents who meet certain requirements (listed below).
Application for Excelsior scholarship for Spring 2024 is open to students entering college for the first time this spring and current college students who have not previously received an Excelsior Scholarship. The application deadline is February 2. Students already receiving an Excelsior Scholarship do not need to complete this application to continue receiving payments.
New Yorkers who meet the following requirements are eligible for the Spring 2024 Excelsior Scholarship:
- be residents of New York State and have resided in the state for at least 12 months prior to the start of the semester;
- be US citizens or legal immigrants;
- Complete a U.S. high school, receive a high school diploma, or pass a federally approved Ability to Benefit test;
- have a total household income of $125 or less;
- obtain a bachelor's degree from a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and charter colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;
- successfully complete academic courses and programs leading to credits through continuing education;
- If you were in college before the 2024-25 school year, you must have completed at least 30 credits per year before applying for the Excelsior Scholarship.
The Excelsior Scholarship is provided by Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), a New York-based financial aid agency for higher education students.
On the subject: How much does higher education cost in the USA and how much does it cost to study at colleges in New York
In 2022, approximately 58% of full-time students at SUNY and CUNY were tuition-free (53% at SUNY and 67% at CUNY).
