Say Yes Buffalo serves eligible graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools. In general, students must live in the city, complete grades 9–12 at a Buffalo public or charter school in consecutive years, graduate, and enrol full-time at a partner college within one year. They must also apply for FAFSA and TAP and submit required financial-aid documents. This is not a statewide scholarship for anyone who attends college in New York.
The programme lists documented exceptions to continuous school attendance for students with McKinney-Vento status, refugee or otherwise eligible noncitizen status, foster-care placement or ward-of-the-court status, or completion of the Buffalo Public Schools College Career Institute. An exception does not remove the other steps. If your school record includes interruptions, ask Say Yes what documentation is needed before assuming you cannot qualify.
For SUNY and CUNY, the tuition percentage depends on the grade when a student entered a Buffalo school: kindergarten, 100% of tuition; grades 1–3, 95%; grades 4–6, 80%; grades 7–9, 65%. The current page says households with adjusted gross income above $125,000 have an annual cap of $7,070, the SUNY tuition amount cited there. The chart can change by graduating class and does not promise to cover housing, meals, or every fee.
More than 90 private institutions also participate. Each may have a different structure, limited places, or aid packages that cover more than tuition. Before paying a deposit, review the current college list, confirm that your programme and campus are included, and request a net-price estimate. The programme says students eligible for Say Yes SUNY/CUNY tuition should not apply for Excelsior for duplicate coverage; tiered-award students may need another plan and should check with both offices.
Registration generally starts in the fall of senior year. The school counsellor shares the process and Say Yes staff are available at schools. Complete FAFSA, TAP, and registration, apply for admission, then return to your account to report your selected college. Say Yes lists December 1 for completing fall documents and February 15 for spring; a college may impose an earlier deadline. Undocumented students can review New York’s DREAM Act TAP route; federal FAFSA eligibility is governed separately.
Funds go to the college, not the student. The FAQ says Say Yes verifies enrollment after the add/drop period; payments generally arrive after October 15 for fall and February 15 for spring. It warns that FAFSA/TAP delays can delay an award, so confirm with financial aid that files arrived and ask about pending charges. The scholarship profile gathers eligibility, tiers, and partner colleges; College Access offers FAFSA, TAP, and registration guidance. Do not budget the award before the college confirms it.
Say Yes Buffalo Student Eligibility — Say Yes Buffalo.
How to Apply for Say Yes Buffalo — Say Yes Buffalo.
Participating Institutions — Say Yes Buffalo.
Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship FAQ — Say Yes Buffalo.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Eligibility and dates change by graduating class; do not treat one academic year’s calendar as permanent. Confirm eligibility and the amount your institution authorizes before committing to expenses.
Say Yes Buffalo can cover a substantial share of tuition, but eligibility depends on school history, income, institution, and timely paperwork. Confirm the cohort rules and package with the college before counting on the funds.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship
1166 Jefferson Avenue, Suite A, Buffalo, NY 14208
Eligibility depends on Buffalo residency, attending a local public/charter school through high school, graduating since 2013, full-time enrollment at a partner college within one year, and FAFSA/TAP applications. At SUNY/CUNY, the percentage depends on the grade when a student entered a Buffalo school; for AGI over $125,000, the page lists a current annual cap of $7,070.
Tuition scholarship for eligible Buffalo public and charter school graduates in New York
Say Yes Buffalo College Access Program
1166 Jefferson Avenue, Suite A, Buffalo, NY 14208
Help with FSA IDs, FAFSA, New York TAP, Say Yes registration, application status, and documents. The site lists information to prepare, but workshop availability and credential requirements can change; never share login credentials with a third party.
Guidance service for FAFSA, TAP, and Say Yes Buffalo scholarship applications
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Say Yes Buffalo College Access Program ↗
Primary source
Say Yes Buffalo · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.