NYS STEM Incentive Program
Up to SUNY resident tuition or lower actual tuition, minus other tuition aid; requires an approved STEM major, 2.5 GPA, and five years living and working in NY.
About NYS STEM Incentive Program
NYS STEM Incentive is a tuition award with a service commitment for high-performing New York graduates.
Applicants must have been legal New York residents for 12 months, graduate from a New York high school in the top 10%, apply during senior year, and start the following fall. They must take at least 12 credits per term in an approved undergraduate STEM program and maintain a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. HESC can review other evidence if a school does not rank.
The 2026–27 deadline was August 15, 2026 and has passed. For the next cycle, prepare the web application, FAFSA, NYS Student Aid Payment Application, transcript, and school top-10% verification; HESC usually opens around October 1, but confirm the new date. Before accepting, review the contract: failure to meet service can convert the award into a state debt.
Who it serves and what it can cover: Up to SUNY resident tuition or lower actual tuition, minus other tuition aid; requires an approved STEM major, 2.5 GPA, and five years living and working in NY.
How to apply or get help: The 2026–27 deadline was August 15, 2026 and has passed. For the next cycle, prepare the web application, FAFSA, NYS Student Aid Payment Application, transcript, and school top-10% verification; HESC usually opens around October 1, but confirm the new date. Before accepting, review the contract: failure to meet service can convert the award into a state debt. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
State student financial-aid program