The Excelsior Scholarship & Paying for College in New York State
Spring 2017
Sources of Financial Aid
- Federal government
- New York State
- Colleges – Institutional aid
- Other sources
- Businesses
- Foundations
- Clubs/Organizations
HESC.NY.GOV
What is the Excelsior Scholarship?
Provides for full in-state tuition for eligible undergraduate SUNY and CUNY students
- up to $5,500 minus any amounts received for TAP, Pell or other scholarships
- Remainder of tuition charges are covered through SUNY/CUNY Tuition Credit
Excelsior Scholarship: Who Qualifies?
- 2017-18 applicants, student and parent 2015 federal adjusted gross income (AGI) must be $100,000 or less to qualify
- For 2018-19 recipients, $110,000 and under based on 2016 AGI
- For 2019-20 recipients, $125,000 and under based on 2017 AGI
Excelsior Question: Assets
Does New York State take into consideration student and parent assets like the FAFSA and CSS Profile?
- No, eligibility for our programs is based on federal or state adjusted gross income
- Other programs are based on merit
Excelsior: Other Financial Aid
Excelsior Scholarship awards will be applied to any remaining tuition charges once other aid programs, such as Pell or TAP grants, are applied
- May be reduced by other grant or scholarship aid that can pay tuition
- Will not be reduced by other non-tuition aid (e.g. housing grants)
Excelsior: In-School Requirements
- Excelsior Scholarship recipients must earn 30 credits per year to maintain scholarship eligibility
- credits may be earned across all terms of an academic year
- Must have a passing grade as determined by their degree program
Excelsior: Post-Graduation Residency
- In-state residency post graduation requirement
- Recipients must reside in New York State for the same amount of time they receive an award
- If working, must work in NYS during that same residency period
Excelsior: Post-Graduation Residency
- Postponement of in-state residency requirement will be allowed under certain circumstances
- for graduate study, medical residency, military service
- Award converted to an interest-free loan if residency requirement is not met
Excelsior Scholarship: Application Process
- Must apply for the FAFSA and New York State Tuition Assistance Program
- 2017-18 application will be available on hesc.ny.gov on June 7th
- Applications for 2018-19 students will be available sometime next school year
Sign Up for Notification at HESC.NY.GOV
FAFSA.gov: October 1st of Senior Year
Applying for New York State Aid
Anytime TAPontheWeb Application
NYS Student Aid Programs: TAP
- Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
- Undergraduates
- Need-based, up to $5,165/year
- Full-time and part-time study in NYS
- For 2018-19 applicants, based on 2016 NYS tax return info
Other NYS Student Aid Programs
- Excelsior Scholarship
- Enhanced Tuition Award
- New York Achievement & Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS)
- STEM Incentive Program
- More programs and info at hesc.ny.gov
Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA)
- Provides tuition awards to NYS residents attending participating private schools in New York State.
- up to $6,000 through a combination of TAP, ETA award and a match from the private college.
- For 2017, combined household federal Adjusted Gross Income must be less than $100,000 to qualify
- up to $110,000 in 2018, up to $125,000 in 2019
NYS Achievement & Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS)
- $500 annual award for study in NYS
- Students must achieve two of the following criteria
- graduate with a GPA of 3.3 or above
- graduate “with honors” on a NYS Regents diploma
- score 3 or higher on two or more AP exams
- graduate in top 15% of high school class
- Apply at hesc.ny.gov in May senior year
NYS STEM Incentive Program
- Provides full in-state tuition scholarship for undergraduate SUNY and CUNY students
- For degree programs in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics
- Student must be ranked in top 10% of high school senior class to qualify
- Must execute a service agreement with NYS
- Apply at hesc.ny.gov in October of senior year
Apply for New York State Scholarships, Other Programs: HESC.ny.gov
