New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) recognizes top students at New York high schools at the end of junior year. It is not an open-application scholarship: schools identify and nominate eligible students through the state’s SED Monitoring system. The award is for higher education in New York and is forfeited if the recipient attends an institution outside the state.
The state education department lists February 26 as the 2027 nomination deadline. Nominations must be submitted by the appropriate school building leader, not the student. Ask a counselor who verifies class rank and how the nomination is communicated; students will not find an individual application link because the school controls the official submission.
Subject to state appropriations for 2027, the department anticipates 8,000 scholarships: 2,000 awards of $1,500 and 6,000 of $500. Each school receives allocations under state rules and enrollment formulas, so not every high school has the same number of nominations. Winners must attend a New York college or university; awards do not apply to trade schools.
Awards may be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study, or five when the program normally requires that duration and meets commissioner rules. Because funding depends on appropriations and school processing, confirm your nomination and the eligibility of the chosen institution. The department publishes a program email, bulletin, and FAQs; use those documents instead of outdated summaries.
Confirm the academic year, local deadline and time, who must submit each document, and whether supplemental questions remain. Keep confirmations and recheck the portal after submitting. Ask the school’s financial-aid office how FAFSA, outside awards, and payments coordinate.
Read the aid-program profile and the FAFSA guide; confirm with the institution how funding is coordinated.
2027 SAE program bulletin — New York State Education Department.
2027 SAE nomination information — New York State Education Department.
Information checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Funding, criteria, and dates can change; confirm the linked cycle rules before submitting documents and ask the school how the award coordinates with other aid.
Confirm eligibility and the 2027 cycle deadline on the official portal before applying.
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New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence
New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) recognizes top students at New York high schools at the end of junior year. It is not an open-application scholarship: schools identify and nominate eligible students through the state’s SED Monitoring system. The award is for higher education in New York and is forfeited if the recipient attends an institution outside the state. The state education department lists February 26 as the 2027 nomination deadline. Nominati
College scholarship and financial-aid program
Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education
The agency sets rates, eligibility, and caps; the college certifies need, cost, and the individual amount within those limits.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
New York State Education Department · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
New York State Education Department · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
New York State Education Department · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
New York State Education Department · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.