Does Excelsior Scholarship cover room and board?

The Excelsior Scholarship covers tuition only. You would be responsible for college fees and other costs such as room and board.

How long do you have to stay in NY with the Excelsior Scholarship?

To be a NYS resident for purposes of receiving this award, applicants who consider NYS their permanent home and who are either a U.S. citizen, qualified paroled refugee, or permanent resident alien must have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months prior to the term for which the award is being sought.

How much does Excelsior give you?

The maximum annual Excelsior Scholarship is $5,500, however a tuition credit will be awarded to cover any gap between the maximum Excelsior Scholarship and the cost of annual tuition.

How does the NY Excelsior Scholarship work?

A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate's degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program ...

Can NYS tap be used for room and board?

TAP is used specifically to pay for tuition. However, all other financial aid can be utilized for tuition, fees, room, board and other educational expenses.

Excelsior Scholarship - What to know!

What is the max tap grant in NY?

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to $5,665.

How many years does NYS tap cover?

According to Education Law, students are entitled to a total of four years of TAP. Students who enroll in approved five-year undergraduate programs, including opportunity programs, are eligible to receive five years of undergraduate TAP.

What are the cons of the Excelsior Scholarship?

Excelsior has become the leading example of a post-graduation residency restriction in a free college program because it requires students to live and work exclusively in New York for as many years as they receive the award.

How many people get nys Excelsior Scholarship?

Thanks to New York State's generous higher education funding programs, in 2021-22, more than 263,000 students received state financial aid, including approximately 30,000 students who attended a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free because of the Excelsior Scholarship.

What is the income limit for the Excelsior Scholarship?

The Excelsior Scholarship program, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students who are New York State residents, and whose families earn $125,000 or less annually to attend SUNY Poly tuition-free.

What happens if you fail a class with the Excelsior Scholarship?

Excelsior Scholarships cannot be used for summer or winter session tuition costs. Students who fail to complete 30 credits within 365 days will receive the first payment (typically fall), however, they will forfeit the second payment (typically spring), and all future payments.

What is the GPA for Excelsior Scholarship?

There is not a GPA requirement for students to be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship provided they earn thirty (30) credits over the course of a year, however students will need to maintain a GPA that allows for the successful completion of their degree.

Who qualifies for free college in NY?

Be pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree. Attend school full time. Earn $125,000 or less (household federal adjusted gross income) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.

What is the income limit for free SUNY tuition?

Leading the Way to College Affordability

Under this groundbreaking program, more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York State.

How long does it take to hear from Excelsior Scholarship?

Q: When will I be notified of my actual Excelsior award? Award amounts should become available in August and are released on a rolling basis. Students will be notified as their awards become available as well as any necessary aid adjustments.

What is considered a full time student at Excelsior college?

Undergraduate-Level Programs

Excelsior schedules three trimesters in an academic year: fall, spring, and summer. At Excelsior the standard academic year is two of the University's 16-week Trimesters. Full-time status for each trimester at the undergraduate level must have a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Is Excelsior Scholarship only for SUNY schools?

Applications Accepted Through February 2, 2024

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free.

Do New York residents get free college?

In 2017, the state of New York's Excelsior Scholarship made headlines when it became the first in the nation to cover four years of tuition without being tethered to academic performance. New York initially said more than 940,000 students with family incomes up to $125,000 could qualify.

Is Excelsior College a SUNY school?

As are all educational institutions in New York state, Excelsior University is a member of The University of the State of New York.

What is the controversy with Excelsior College?

In the complaint, filed in a federal district court in New York, 17 former students in Excelsior's associate degree program in nursing from 11 different states say the college sold them “ an 'educational' program that was devoid of any education, and ... an 'objective' test, which was anything but objective.” The ...

What is one criticism of the Excelsior Scholarship?

UNSTABLE BENEFITS. Students who qualify for Excelsior benefits receive a valuable financial aid grant – but an unstable one as well. Students must maintain a pace of 30 credit hours per year and remain on track for an on-time graduation or else permanently lose access to the program.

Is the Excelsior Scholarship competitive?

Excelsior's eligibility criteria and application process make it hard to access. Urban's analysis shows that a low percentage of eligible students receive the award. Approximately 25 percent of eligible first-year students receive the award, with lower rates for Black, Hispanic, and community college students.

What disqualifies you from getting financial aid?

For example, if your citizenship status changed because your visa expired or it was revoked, then you would be ineligible. Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school.

Do I have to pay back NY Tap?

TAP is a grant – it doesn't have to be paid back. New York State students attending college in New York State – including high school seniors who plan to attend college the following fall – should apply for TAP. TAP is available for eligible college students studying full- or part-time.

Does NYS tap cover summer classes?

Students must be enrolled full-time (12 degree applicable credits) in an approved program in New York State during the preceding spring term to be eligible for a summer TAP payment. You may receive up to eight semesters (10 semesters if you are in the EOP program) of TAP as an undergraduate student.