Education & Student Aid · Surprise rank #441
Household at $125K or Less? Excelsior Can Cover Remaining SUNY or CUNY Tuition
The Excelsior Scholarship is a last-dollar award that can cover remaining tuition at eligible SUNY or CUNY schools after Pell, TAP and other tuition aid. The 2026–27 application deadline for new applicants is August 31, 2026.
Who
Eligible undergraduate students attending SUNY or CUNY whose combined federal household adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less and who meet enrollment, credit-progress, residency and other program rules.
Where: Eligible SUNY and CUNY colleges in New York State.
What to do
Start here: Complete the FAFSA and TAP/DREAM Act steps that apply to you, then submit the Excelsior Scholarship application through HESC before the current deadline.
Eligibility: For 2026–27, household combined federal AGI must be $125,000 or less. Students generally must pursue an undergraduate degree at SUNY/CUNY, enroll full-time and complete 30 credits per year toward the program, along with the program’s residency and good-standing requirements.
What you get
A New York scholarship that fills eligible remaining tuition charges at state-operated SUNY or CUNY colleges after other grants and scholarships are applied.
Benefit: Remaining eligible tuition after Pell, TAP and other tuition-specific aid is applied; the scholarship is designed to make covered SUNY/CUNY tuition tuition-free for qualifying recipients.
Possible value: Varies with tuition and other aid already received. Because it is last-dollar aid, a student with substantial Pell/TAP may receive a smaller Excelsior award than a student with a larger remaining tuition gap.
Good to know
Important: This is last-dollar tuition aid, not a check for living expenses. Recipients generally must live in New York after graduation for the same number of years they received the award and, if employed, work in New York; failing the post-award residency condition can convert the award to a no-interest loan.
Availability: 2026–27 application open; deadline August 31, 2026.
Why people miss it: Families often think they earn too much for state college aid, and students may not realize Excelsior is separate from Pell and TAP.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026