CUNY SEEK Program — The City College of New York
SEEK is a New York State program offered at 12 four-year CUNY colleges, with academic and financial criteria, one year of state residency, and first-time status or transfer from CD/EOP/HEOP/SEEK. At City College it may include tutoring, counseling, possible CUNY-fee assistance, and an educational stipend subject to available funds; it is not an automatic scholarship and does not guarantee all expenses.
About CUNY SEEK Program — The City College of New York
SEEK stands for Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge, CUNY’s four-year opportunity program funded by New York State. Unlike Scholarship Plus, it is not a private scholarship open to every NYC senior: it serves students with financial need and academic potential who do not meet the regular admission criteria for a particular CUNY college. SEEK is offered at 12 four-year campuses.
The basic criteria include legal New York State residency for at least one year before college, a high-school diploma or state-approved equivalency, first-time freshman status—with exceptions for transfers from College Discovery, EOP, or HEOP—and income within state guidelines. Start by selecting SEEK on the regular CUNY admission application, then submit documents verifying household eligibility. Do not choose a campus based on the program name alone: confirm that it offers SEEK and ask its admissions team to review your case.
For 2026–27, City College lists income ceilings by household size: for example, $59,478 for four people and $100,178 for eight, plus $10,175 for each additional person. The program generally uses the relevant prior-prior tax-year information for the cohort. Confirm the current table and documents with the campus; certain public benefits, foster-care status, or state ward status may create exceptions that require specific verification.
SEEK offers tutoring and academic counseling, and financial support may include CUNY fee assistance and educational stipends, subject to available funds. Across CUNY, aid coordination may involve FAFSA, TAP, or the DREAM Act application, depending on the student’s status. The program does not promise to cover housing, food, or every college charge. Ask the financial-aid office for a written breakdown and compare the full aid offer before accepting loans.
A prospective City College student should request SEEK on the CUNY admission application, gather 2024 tax returns and household documents required for the 2026–27 review, and follow the campus intake process. CCNY lists seek@ccny.cuny.edu and 212-650-6656 for program questions; its campus is at 160 Convent Avenue. Students without citizenship or eligible-noncitizen status can review the NYS DREAM Act, but state-aid eligibility does not automatically guarantee SEEK admission.
Who it serves and what it can cover: SEEK is a New York State program offered at 12 four-year CUNY colleges, with academic and financial criteria, one year of state residency, and first-time status or transfer from CD/EOP/HEOP/SEEK. At City College it may include tutoring, counseling, possible CUNY-fee assistance, and an educational stipend subject to available funds; it is not an automatic scholarship and does not guarantee all expenses.
How to apply or get help: Request SEEK consideration on the regular CUNY admission application and complete the campus income-document review. City College directs applicants to Financial Aid; SEEK contact: seek@ccny.cuny.edu and 212-650-6656. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
State college-opportunity program with advising, tutoring, and financial support at four-year CUNY colleges