Governor Hochul Announces Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for New Applicants for Academic Year 2022-23

SUNY and CUNY Students Whose Families Make Up to $125,000 Annually Can Apply for Tuition-Free College

Applications Accepted Through August 31, 2022

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the application for the Excelsior Scholarship for new applicants for the 2022-23 academic year is now open here. The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other aid programs, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free.

“It is critical that we provide New York’s students every possible opportunity to climb the ladder of success,” Governor Hochul said. “The Excelsior Scholarship helps ensure a college education is attainable to all, especially for low-income students who face financial inequities that put them at a disadvantage. I am proud to support programs that tear down barriers to higher education and provide every New Yorker a chance to pursue a quality education.” 

To be eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship for the 2022-23 academic year, household federal adjusted gross income can total up to $125,000.  Student must also meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college
• Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study (including Summer and Winter terms) 
• Be on track to graduate on time with an Associate’s Degree in two years or a Bachelor’s Degree in four years

Dr. Guillermo Linares, President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment to ensure that higher education in our State is more affordable and accessible, especially among disadvantaged and low-income populations who face financial barriers to college attainment.  The Excelsior Scholarship can help New York’s students realize their dream of a higher education by providing financial support to alleviate the uncertainties around paying for college.”

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, “SUNY’s mission of affordable, accessible, and high-quality education means lifting up students from low- and middle-income households so that they have the same opportunity to achieve their academic goals as those from affluent families. The Excelsior Scholarship is another way New York State breaks down financial barriers deterring students from continuing their educational careers after high school. We thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to our SUNY students and for tirelessly working to ensure that every New Yorker who dreams of learning in a college classroom can do so.”

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said: “The Excelsior Scholarship has become another reliable fixture of New York State’s unrivaled portfolio of tuition assistance programs, which enable a growing swath of residents to obtain a quality education and start fulfilling careers without the kind of crushing debt that burdens so many graduates across the country. It is comforting to know that New York has families’ backs despite the many challenges of the pandemic and ongoing fluctuations of our economy. We thank Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment to our state’s public higher education institutions, and her recognition of the profound differences that college can make for individuals, families and society.”

The 2022-23 Excelsior Scholarship application is open to first-time students entering college in the Fall 2022 term and current college students who have never received the Excelsior Scholarship. Current Excelsior Scholarship recipients should not complete this application. Students eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship under the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act can apply here.

More than 190,000  New York residents now attend CUNY or SUNY tuition-free thanks to the addition of students receiving the Excelsior Scholarship.

Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2022.