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No specific application deadline mentioned; program is open for the 2026-27 academic year.
"Excelsior Scholarship Program" is currently closed and not accepting applications.
Excelsior Scholarship Program is sponsored by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). This New York State program enables students from families earning $125,000 or less per year to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. It aims to remove financial barriers to higher education, making it more accessible to middle-class families and strengthening New York's workforce.
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NYS Higher Education Services Corporation This application is used to establish your eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship. If additional documentation is required, you will be instructed to submit it electronically. Welcome to the online application for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship program.
This application is for students looking to receive a first-time award for the 2026-27 academic year. Applicants who first enrolled in college prior to 2023 (prior to 2022 if in an approved 5-year program or in an opportunity program) are not eligible for an Excelsior scholarship and should not submit an application . Visit hesc.
ny. gov to learn about other NYS scholarships that may be available. Please note: if you are already a recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship from a previous application period, you do not need to complete this application .
You are a recipient if you signed and submitted the Excelsior Scholarship contract, even if you did not receive payment in the prior year. The full list of the Excelsior Scholarship Award eligibility requirements can be found at Excelsior Scholarship Program | HESC . Are you sure you want to cancel?
All entered data will be lost and you will have to start over from the beginning.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Applicants must have an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less, be pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university, and complete at least 30 credits per year in an approved program of study. Recipients must live and work in New York State for a duration equal to the number of years the scholarship was received. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The published deadline was February 3, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
Excelsior Scholarship Program is funded by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in New York. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
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