The Excelsior Scholarship Program: Apply Today
With the passing of the FY 2018 State Budget, New York now has the nation’s first affordable college program, the Excelsior Scholarship.
More than 940,000 middle-class families and people earning up to $125,000 a year will be able to attend tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year universities in New York State thanks to this groundbreaking program. The new program begins in the fall of 2017 and will be phased in over three years.
Eligibility for The Excelsior Scholarship Program
Your household’s federal adjusted gross income can total up to $125,000. For dependent students, the federal adjusted gross income is comprised of parents’ and student’s income if the student’s income exceeds the income threshold for the applicable year.
The 2024-25 application uses income from 2022, and the verified federal threshold for 2022 is $12,950. If the dependent student applying for the 2024-25 school year earned $12,950 or less in 2022, they are not required to file their own taxes and the parent(s) income will be the only income used in determining income eligibility.
If you were deemed ineligible because your household’s federal adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $125,000 but your income has been negatively impacted by circumstances such as a disability, divorce, legal separation (of yourself, a parent, or a spouse), or the death of a parent or spouse, you may still be eligible based on your current income.
Amount
The Excelsior Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship program.
How to Apply for The Excelsior Scholarship Program
You cant start your application here.
