The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other financial aid programs, allows qualified students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college (including community colleges) tuition-free. To be eligible, an applicant must:
be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
be a U.S. citizen or eligible on-citizen;
have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less;
be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;
be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;
if attended college prior to the 2017-18 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicatble toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;
be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;
be in compliance witht he terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and
execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.