Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program — becas de posgrado para empleados de NYC

New York City’s Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program is for municipal employees who want to pursue graduate study. It is not a general scholarship for everyone who lives in the five boroughs or for every local high-school graduate: applicants must work full time for the City and hold a bachelor’s degree by the start of the scholarship year. As of October 12, 2026, DCAS lists the 2027–28 graduate application as open.

The programme’s name can sound as if City Hall itself pays tuition. The City administers the application route, but participating colleges decide who receives a scholarship and how much it is worth. The schools fund the awards; there is no single amount, universal tuition percentage, or guaranteed award. Before comparing a master’s degree, read the current programme offering, each institution’s costs, and any departmental academic requirements.

Applicants must remain full-time City employees throughout their studies, stay in good academic standing, and attend classes on their own time. DCAS says there is no minimum length of service and recipients are not required to remain in City employment after graduation. Even so, a college may set its own conditions, and not every degree programme participates. The offering guide and application page are where employees should check whether their intended course of study is included in the current cohort.

Selection is competitive and each school makes its own decision. DCAS recommends reviewing instructions before choosing a school, requesting academic records, meeting programme-specific deadlines, and carefully preparing essays and personal statements. A university’s general admission deadline may differ from its scholarship deadline. Keep copies of forms, confirmations, and employer communications; ask your agency personnel office early whether internal approval is required.

This guide focuses on the graduate application listed as open for 2027–28. Do not confuse it with CUNY programmes such as ASAP or SEEK, which serve undergraduates under different rules, or the City’s undergraduate employee route, which has separate materials. The <a data-profile="nyc-mayors-graduate">Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program profile</a> explains employment eligibility and competition; the <a data-profile="nyc-dcas-scholarship-office">NYC DCAS scholarship office profile</a> provides official contacts for application questions.

The programme office lists MGSP@dcas.nyc.gov and 212-386-0059. Its published address is One Centre Street, Room 2425, New York, NY 10007; check with DCAS before visiting because applications and information are handled through its pages and participating schools. If you work for an entity other than New York City government, confirm in writing that it qualifies as a City employer before investing time in an application.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Competitive graduate-study opportunity for NYC municipal employees who hold a bachelor’s degree. Each participating college decides and funds its scholarship; the City does not issue a direct grant or guarantee an award amount. Recipients must stay employed full time, remain in good academic standing, and attend classes outside work hours.

How to apply or get help: MGSP: MGSP@dcas.nyc.gov; 212-386-0059. One Centre Street, Room 2425, New York, NY 10007. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information