Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship

Say Yes Buffalo combines a tuition scholarship with college-access support for graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools. It is not open to every New York resident: students generally 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 institution within one year. They must also apply for available federal and state aid, including FAFSA and TAP.

There are documented exceptions to the consecutive-years rule: the page names McKinney-Vento status, refugee or otherwise eligible noncitizen status, foster-care placement or ward-of-the-court status, and completion of the Buffalo Public Schools College Career Institute. These exceptions do not remove the other residency, graduation, partner-college, and financial-aid requirements. If your school history includes a move or interruption, collect documentation and ask Say Yes before assuming you are ineligible.

At SUNY and CUNY, the tuition percentage depends on the grade when a student first entered a Buffalo public or charter school: kindergarten entry, 100%; grades 1–3, 95%; grades 4–6, 80%; grades 7–9, 65%. For households with adjusted gross income above $125,000, the page says the current award is capped at $7,070 a year, the SUNY tuition amount cited there. The site anticipates cohort changes, so check the current chart and do not treat these percentages as a promise to cover fees, housing, or food.

The network includes all SUNY/CUNY schools and more than 90 private colleges, but private-college packages differ: some have limited places and their own terms. Review the current list before paying a deposit or choosing a campus, and request a net-price estimate from financial aid. Say Yes also notes that students with a tiered award may use other eligible aid, but Excelsior has its own application; programme guidance says students already eligible for Say Yes SUNY/CUNY tuition should not apply for Excelsior for the same coverage.

Registration generally starts in the fall of senior year, with instructions from the school counsellor and Say Yes staff. Then complete FAFSA and TAP, apply to a partner college, and return to your account to report where you plan to enrol. The site lists December 1 for completing fall financial-aid paperwork and February 15 for spring; check each year in case the institution sets an earlier deadline.

The scholarship may not appear on the first day of classes: the FAQ says Say Yes waits for academic and financial data from the college and verifies that the student remains enrolled past the add/drop period. Funds go directly to the institution, generally after October 15 for fall and February 15 for spring. <a data-profile="say-yes-buffalo">The scholarship page explains eligibility, tiers, and partner colleges</a>; <a data-profile="say-yes-cap">The College Access Program helps with FAFSA, TAP, and registration</a>. If the credit is delayed, contact the college and do not assume every remaining balance will be covered.

Who it serves and what it can cover: 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.

How to apply or get help: Say Yes Buffalo offers support through school counsellors, staff at schools, and virtual appointments. Office: 1166 Jefferson Avenue, Suite A, Buffalo, NY 14208; phone 716-247-5310; info@sayyesbuffalo.org. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information