Excelsior Scholarship — New York State HESC

Excelsior is New York’s last-dollar scholarship for undergraduate tuition at SUNY or CUNY: eligible grants and scholarships are applied first, then Excelsior covers the remaining tuition balance. For 2026–27, HESC set a federal adjusted gross household-income limit of $125,000; it also requires New York residency, full-time enrollment and progress toward at least 30 program credits each year, with special rules for some students.

The award does not mean “college at no cost.” It applies to tuition, not necessarily housing, food, transport, books or other fees. TAP and other aid can reduce the Excelsior amount because they are applied first. The program also carries a post-award obligation: recipients must live and work in New York for a period equal to the number of years they received the scholarship; failure to meet the condition may convert the award to a loan under applicable rules. Compare the full cost of attendance and ask the campus what remains uncovered before choosing a college.

The application for new 2026–27 students closed on August 31, 2026. Current recipients must file the FAFSA and TAP, or the relevant DREAM Act application, each year and keep meeting credit requirements. HESC had not yet posted a new deadline for 2027–28 applicants on the page checked. For account or program questions, the agency lists 1-888-697-4372, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except holidays, and 99 Washington Avenue in Albany; applications are submitted online.