Apply For The Excelsior Scholarship In New York State

if you have kids in High School who are thinking about going to college, they could score free tuition to SUNY or CUNY schools with the Excelsior Scholarship. The application process has just opened for the 2026-27 school year, and here is what you need to know.

Requirements For The Excelsior Scholarship In New York State

There are some rules/requirements that you have to meet if you want to be qualified for The Excelsior Scholarship. They include:

Open to Families earning up to $125,000 per year. If your household makes more than that, you cannot apply for the scholarship.

The Excelsior Scholarship money can only be used at SUNY or CUNY schools. If you child wants to attend a different school or a private school, they need to apply for the Enhanced Tuition Award.

You must enroll full-time at a SUNY or CUNY school to be considered for the scholarship. Full-time equals at least 30 credit hours a year.

You must live and be a resident of New York State.

You must apply by August 31st to be eligible for the scholarship.

You can learn more and apply online HERE.

The Best Public Colleges In New York State

If you are in the process of looking at colleges, here are the Top 5 public colleges in New York State according to Niche.com:

#1 - SUNY Binghamton
#2 - CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
#3 - United States Merchant Marine Academy
#4 - Stony Brook University
#5 - University at Buffalo

Check out the whole list HERE.