New York Governor Hochul announced on the 26th that the application for the “Excelsior Scholarship” for the 2026-2027 academic year is now open. Eligible students can attend New York State University (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) tuition-free for either a two-year or four-year program. If students choose to enroll in a participating private university within the state, they can receive up to $6,000 in tuition assistance through the “Enhanced Tuition Award” (ETA). The deadline for new applications is August 31, 2026.
The “Excelsior Scholarship” is managed by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and is primarily targeted towards students from families with a total adjusted gross income not exceeding $125,000. Applicants for the “Excelsior Scholarship” must be enrolled in a two-year or four-year program at SUNY or CUNY, maintain full-time enrollment status, complete a minimum of 30 credits annually, including summer and winter session credits, and meet the requirements for an associate degree in two years or a bachelor’s degree in four years.
The “Enhanced Tuition Award” applies to students attending participating private universities in New York State. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, have been continuous residents of New York State for at least 12 months prior to the start of the semester, have a family income not exceeding $125,000, and be enrolled full-time, completing 30 credits per year. Award recipients must also agree to reside and work in New York State for the same period during which they receive the grant.
The state government reminds students who have already received either of the mentioned scholarships that they do not need to reapply annually, but they must continue to meet the eligibility criteria. They are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application annually, or submit the DREAM Act grant application. The deadline for new applications for the 2026-2027 academic year for both the “Excelsior Scholarship” and the “Enhanced Tuition Award” is August 31, 2026.
According to state data, in the 2024-2025 academic year, New York State awarded approximately $100 million in total to over 25,000 students through the “Excelsior Scholarship.” With the combination of this scholarship and other financial aid programs, about 72% of CUNY students and 55% of SUNY students were able to attend college tuition-free. In the same academic year, the “Enhanced Tuition Award” provided a total of $1.7 million in aid to over 1,500 students.