The Excelsior Scholarship is a New York State financial-aid program that can cover the remaining undergraduate tuition for eligible students attending a SUNY or CUNY college. For the 2026–27 academic year, applicants generally need a combined federal household adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less, must study full-time, and must complete at least 30 degree-applicable credits per year. The deadline for new 2026–27 applicants is August 31, 2026.

The Excelsior Scholarship is a last-dollar tuition award, not a full cost-of-attendance scholarship. Federal Pell Grants, New York State Tuition Assistance Program awards, and other applicable grants or scholarships are applied to tuition first; Excelsior then covers the eligible tuition balance. Students remain responsible for expenses such as mandatory fees, housing, meals, transportation, textbooks, and supplies.

Important verification notice: Scholarship rules, deadlines, income limits, and funding can change by academic year. Always confirm current requirements through the official New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, or HESC, before applying.

Excelsior Scholarship 2026–27 at a glance

Program detail	2026–27 information
Scholarship type	Income-limited, last-dollar tuition scholarship
Eligible colleges	SUNY and CUNY undergraduate colleges, including community colleges and eligible statutory colleges
Household income limit	Combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less
Enrollment requirement	At least 12 degree-applicable credits per term
Annual credit requirement	At least 30 degree-applicable credits per year
New-applicant deadline	August 31, 2026
Award duration	Two years for an associate degree, four years for a bachelor’s degree, or five years for an approved five-year program
Renewal requirement	Complete the FAFSA and TAP application, or the applicable DREAM Act application, every year
Post-graduation obligation	Live in New York and, when employed, work in New York for the same number of years the award was received
Expenses not covered	Fees, housing, meals, books, transportation and other non-tuition costs

These requirements come from the official 2026–27 HESC program page and SUNY’s Excelsior Scholarship guidance.

What is the Excelsior Scholarship?

The Excelsior Scholarship is a New York State program designed to help eligible residents attend a public SUNY or CUNY college without paying undergraduate tuition out of pocket. New York launched the program in 2017 as part of an effort to expand public-college affordability for middle-income families.

HESC administers the scholarship. It is not awarded through an essay competition, academic ranking or extracurricular review; eligibility depends primarily on income, residency, enrollment, degree progress and compliance with financial-aid rules.

During the 2024–25 academic year, New York distributed approximately $101 million in Excelsior Scholarship awards to more than 25,000 students, according to the state’s 2026 program announcement. The state also reported that combinations of Excelsior and other aid allowed 72% of CUNY students and 55% of SUNY students to attend tuition-free that year.

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How much does the Excelsior Scholarship pay?

The Excelsior Scholarship can provide up to $5,500 per year or the student’s eligible tuition liability, whichever is lower. When the remaining eligible tuition balance exceeds the scholarship amount, an institutional Excelsior Tuition Credit may cover the additional eligible tuition amount.

The calculation generally works in this order:

1. The college establishes the eligible resident undergraduate tuition charge.
2. Pell Grants, TAP awards and other applicable tuition assistance are applied.
3. The Excelsior Scholarship covers the remaining eligible tuition amount, subject to program limits.
4. An Excelsior Tuition Credit may cover an additional eligible balance when required.

Example of the last-dollar calculation

Assume a student has an annual eligible tuition charge of $7,000 and receives $4,000 in Pell and TAP funding applicable to tuition.

Calculation	Amount
Eligible tuition	$7,000
Pell, TAP and other applicable aid	−$4,000
Remaining tuition balance	$3,000
Potential Excelsior coverage	Up to $3,000
Student’s eligible tuition balance	Potentially $0

This is only an illustration. HESC and the student’s college determine the actual award based on tuition, financial aid and continued eligibility.

The term “tuition-free” does not mean college is completely free. SUNY specifically states that Excelsior does not cover college fees, room and board, textbooks or other educational expenses.

Who is eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship?

An applicant must satisfy the program’s income, residency, citizenship, enrollment, academic-progress and financial-standing requirements. The scholarship is available to eligible undergraduate students rather than only graduating high-school seniors.

You must be:

• A U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, or eligible to apply through the New York State DREAM Act pathway.
• A legal New York State resident who has lived in New York continuously for at least 12 months before the beginning of the term.
• From a household with combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less.
• A high-school graduate in the United States, a holder of a high-school equivalency diploma, or a student who has passed an approved Ability to Benefit test.
• Pursuing an undergraduate degree at an eligible SUNY or CUNY institution.
• Enrolled full-time in at least 12 credits per term that apply to the degree program.
• On track to complete at least 30 degree-applicable credits during each academic year.
• Continuously enrolled without an unapproved break in attendance.
• In good standing on federal and New York State education loans and prior state-award obligations.

You generally cannot qualify when:

• Household federal adjusted gross income exceeds $125,000 and no approved income adjustment applies.
• You attend a private college that does not participate as a SUNY or CUNY institution.
• You enroll part-time without qualifying for a disability-related accommodation.
• Your courses do not count toward your registered program of study.
• You previously attended college but did not earn the required cumulative degree-applicable credits.
• You had an unapproved break in enrollment after beginning your degree.
• You are pursuing a graduate degree or an additional degree that does not meet the program’s continuation rules.
• You are in default on an eligible federal or New York State student loan.

Students attending a participating private New York college should investigate the separate Enhanced Tuition Award, which can provide up to $6,000 in combined tuition assistance.

Is there a GPA requirement for the Excelsior Scholarship?

The Excelsior Scholarship does not list a separate minimum unweighted GPA for initial selection. Students must nevertheless pass enough degree-applicable courses, earn the required credits and satisfy their college’s academic standing requirements.

A student who enrolls in 15 credits but fails a three-credit class may finish the term with only 12 earned credits. The student may then need eligible winter or summer coursework to reach the annual 30-credit requirement.

Credits earned in winter or summer can count when they apply to the student’s program of study. However, the Excelsior Scholarship does not pay the tuition for winter or summer courses taken to catch up.

What makes a strong Excelsior Scholarship candidate?

The Excelsior Scholarship is not a competitive merit scholarship, so a “strong candidate” is a student whose records clearly demonstrate eligibility and on-time degree progress.

A well-prepared applicant usually has:

• A completed and accurate 2026–27 FAFSA.
• A completed New York State TAP application.
• Tax information that exactly matches New York State and federal tax records.
• At least 15 degree-applicable credits planned for each fall and spring term, or another realistic path to 30 annual credits.
• Written confirmation that transfer, Advanced Placement, dual-enrollment and summer credits apply to the degree.
• No unexplained gaps in college enrollment.
• A graduation plan showing completion within two years for an associate degree or four years for a standard bachelor’s degree.
• Regular communication with the college’s financial-aid and academic-advising offices.

Students in an approved opportunity program may receive five years to complete a bachelor’s degree and generally must complete 24 credits per academic year, rather than the standard 30-credit requirement.

How do you apply for the Excelsior Scholarship?

New applicants should complete federal and state financial-aid forms before submitting the separate Excelsior Scholarship application.

Excelsior Scholarship application timeline

Phase	Recommended timing	What to do
Prepare financial-aid accounts	Immediately	Create or confirm StudentAid.gov and HESC account access. Gather contributor, tax, income and school information.
Submit the FAFSA	As early as possible	Complete the 2026–27 FAFSA and include the eligible SUNY or CUNY school.
Submit the TAP application	After or alongside the FAFSA	Follow the New York State aid link after the FAFSA or apply through HESC.
Apply for Excelsior	No later than August 31, 2026	Submit the separate HESC Excelsior Scholarship application as a new applicant.
Resolve verification requests	Immediately after notification	Correct income discrepancies or provide requested tax transcripts and residency documents.
Review and sign the contract	After approval	Read the New York residency and employment obligation carefully before accepting.
Confirm college certification	Each semester	Verify that at least 12 credits apply to the registered degree program.
Complete annual credit requirement	Within the applicable 365-day period	Successfully earn at least 30 applicable credits, unless an approved exception applies.
Renew financial-aid forms	Every academic year	Submit the FAFSA and TAP application, or the applicable DREAM Act application.

The 2026–27 FAFSA is available, and the federal submission deadline is June 30, 2027. However, students seeking Excelsior must meet the much earlier August 31, 2026 Excelsior deadline and should not wait for the federal deadline. The 2026–27 TAP deadline is June 30, 2027, but TAP should also be completed before the Excelsior application is finalized.

Current Excelsior recipients do not normally submit a new Excelsior application every year. They must continue meeting program conditions and submit the FAFSA and TAP application, or the applicable DREAM Act application, annually.

What are the most common reasons for denial or loss of eligibility?

1. Completing fewer than 30 applicable credits

Students must generally complete 30 degree-applicable credits within the required annual period. A recipient who fails the annual requirement may receive coverage for the first term but become responsible for second-term tuition and lose eligibility for future Excelsior payments.

2. Taking courses outside the program of study

A course may count toward full-time enrollment for the college but not count as a degree-applicable course for New York State aid. Students should verify every elective, repeated course, transfer course and changed-major requirement with an academic adviser.

3. Dropping below full-time status

Undergraduate recipients generally need at least 12 applicable credits per term. Dropping a class before the college certifies enrollment can make the student ineligible for that term’s state-aid payment.

4. Having an unapproved enrollment break

Excelsior generally requires continuous enrollment. Approved interruption reasons can include active military duty, the death of an immediate family member, parental leave, a documented medical or mental-health condition, or caring for an immediate family member with documented health needs.

5. Providing income information that does not match tax records

HESC verifies reported income details with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. If the information does not match official records, applicants may need to update their application or provide additional income verification documents through the HESC document portal.

6. Losing credits during a transfer

Transfer students can qualify, but accepted credits must keep them on schedule for on-time graduation. Students who lose credits during a transfer may need to make them up promptly to preserve eligibility.

Tips for keeping the Excelsior Scholarship

1. Plan for 15 credits each semester. Taking only 12 credits per term produces 24 credits over fall and spring, leaving six credits to complete during winter or summer.
2. Confirm that every course applies to the degree. Ask the adviser to review the DegreeWorks audit or equivalent program-of-study record before the add/drop deadline.
3. Treat withdrawals carefully. Speak with both financial aid and academic advising before dropping a course.
4. Check transfer-credit evaluations early. Do not assume that all credits accepted by the college automatically apply to the new major.
5. Save documentation of hardships. Medical records, military orders and other supporting documents may be required for an allowable interruption review.
6. Monitor HESC and college email accounts. Missing a verification request can delay or prevent certification of the award.
7. Budget for non-tuition costs. Estimate fees, books, food, transportation and housing before deciding whether a college is affordable.

What happens after graduation?

An Excelsior recipient must live in New York State for the same number of years the scholarship was received. When the recipient is employed during that obligation period, the employment must also be in New York State.

For example, a student who receives Excelsior for four years generally owes four years of New York residency after completing the degree. Leaving New York before fulfilling the obligation can cause all or part of the scholarship to convert into a no-interest loan.

Students should review the Excelsior Scholarship contract before accepting the award, particularly when they expect to relocate, work remotely for an out-of-state employer or attend graduate school outside New York.

FAQs

Does the Excelsior Scholarship cover room and board?

No. The Excelsior Scholarship covers eligible tuition only. It does not cover housing, meal plans, college fees, textbooks, transportation or personal expenses.

Can a current college student apply?

Yes. A current college student can apply when the student has remained continuously enrolled, has completed the required degree-applicable credits and meets all other eligibility conditions.

Do students need to receive TAP to qualify?

Students do not have to receive a TAP award, but they generally must submit the TAP application. Any TAP award received is applied before the Excelsior Scholarship is calculated.

Can Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment credits count?

Yes. College credits earned in high school can count toward the annual credit requirement when the college accepts them and applies them to the student’s degree program.

Can eligibility be restored after missing 30 credits?

A current recipient who fails to complete the annual 30-credit requirement generally cannot regain eligibility for future Excelsior payments. A student who has not yet received the award may be able to catch up on missing credits and reapply after meeting the cumulative credit requirement.

How to take the next step

Complete the 2026–27 FAFSA, submit the New York State TAP application, and file the separate Excelsior Scholarship application through the official HESC website by August 31, 2026. Before submitting, ask the college’s financial-aid office to confirm that the planned courses and prior credits satisfy Excelsior’s program-of-study and graduation-timeline rules.