New York students hoping to attend SUNY or CUNY tuition-free can now apply for the state’s Excelsior Scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that applications are officially open for new students seeking financial assistance through the Excelsior Scholarship program and the state’s Enhanced Tuition Award program for private colleges.
The Excelsior Scholarship allows eligible students from households earning up to $125,000 annually to attend SUNY and CUNY two- and four-year colleges without paying tuition.
State officials said more than 25,000 students received Excelsior awards during the 2024-25 academic year, with the state distributing roughly $101 million through the program. Hochul’s office said a combination of Excelsior and other aid programs allowed 72% of CUNY students and 55% of SUNY students to attend tuition-free.
“Higher education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a source of financial strain,” Hochul said in a statement. “This program helps make higher education more accessible by allowing eligible students to attend SUNY and CUNY colleges tuition-free.”
To qualify, students must attend a SUNY or CUNY school full-time, complete 30 credits per year, and remain on track to graduate on time. Applicants also must meet residency and income requirements.
The state also reopened applications for the Enhanced Tuition Award, which provides up to $6,000 annually for eligible students attending participating private colleges in New York.
Officials said students receiving the Enhanced Tuition Award must agree to live and work in New York for the same number of years they receive the benefit.
The application deadline for both programs is Aug. 31.
State higher education officials are encouraging eligible students to complete financial aid applications, including FAFSA, TAP, or DREAM Act forms, as part of the process.
New York Higher Education Services Corporation officials said the programs are designed to reduce barriers to college access while helping retain students and future workers in New York.
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