Savanna Hoffman
The Excelsior Scholarship is a New York State initiative that enables students from families earning $125,000 or less per year to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are US citizens or eligible noncitizens, have resided in New York State for at least one year prior to enrollment, and complete 30 credits per year. International students, on the other hand, are not specifically mentioned as being eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship. However, undocumented and other immigrant students are advised to apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before submitting their application. Therefore, it appears that international students may be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship if they meet the other requirements and have applied for the NYS DREAM Act.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Undergraduate U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who reside in New York State for one year prior to enrollment and whose family's adjusted gross income does not exceed $125,000. |
| What colleges are included? | State-operated SUNY or CUNY colleges |
| What are the credit requirements? | Enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete 30 credits per year |
| Is it a full scholarship? | No, it is a "'last-dollar' scholarship", meaning that any federal or NYS grants or scholarships are applied to tuition first, and the Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses. |
| Is it a loan? | The scholarship converts to a no-interest loan if the residency requirement is not met after graduation. |
| Is it renewable? | Yes, recipients must apply for payment annually. |
| Is it taxable? | Any award payment received may have tax implications. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
International students must be enrolled in 12+ credits/term
International students must meet several requirements to be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship. One crucial requirement is enrolling in a minimum of 12 credits per term and completing 30 credits per year. This mandate applies to students pursuing their degree programs at a SUNY or CUNY college in New York State.
The Excelsior Scholarship is a "last-dollar" scholarship, which means that any federal or state grants or scholarships, such as the Federal Pell Grant or NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), are applied to tuition first, and the Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses. To maintain eligibility for the scholarship, students must complete the necessary credits each year. This requirement ensures that students are on track to obtain their associate degree within two years or their bachelor's degree within four years.
The credit requirements for the Excelsior Scholarship are essential for international students to consider. Enrolling in at least 12 credits per term is a prerequisite for full-time student status at many colleges and universities. International students should consult with their academic advisors or the financial aid office to understand the specific credit requirements for their institutions.
Additionally, it's important to note that the Excelsior Scholarship has specific eligibility criteria beyond credit requirements. International students must meet residency requirements, such as residing in New York State for 12 continuous months before the start of the term. They should also be aware of any income requirements, as the scholarship is typically available to students from families earning $125,000 or less per year.
To summarize, international students must be enrolled in 12 or more credits per term and complete 30 credits per year to maintain eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship. This scholarship provides valuable financial assistance for tuition expenses at SUNY or CUNY colleges in New York State. However, international students should also be mindful of the additional eligibility criteria, such as residency and income requirements, to ensure they meet all the necessary conditions for the Excelsior Scholarship.
OPT Work: Can International Students Freelance on Upwork?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
30 credits/year must be completed to maintain eligibility
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must complete 30 credits per year. This is a requirement for students to receive payment and maintain eligibility. Students must also be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term in their program of study.
The Excelsior Scholarship is a “last-dollar” scholarship, meaning that any federal or New York State grants or scholarships, including PELL and TAP, are applied to tuition fees first, and the Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses. This scholarship is available to students from families earning $125,000 or less per year, allowing them to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.
To maintain eligibility, students must complete 30 credits over a 365-day period. If a student fails to do so, the Excelsior Scholarship will cover their first term, and they will be responsible for the tuition liability for the second term and ineligible for future award payments. Additionally, students must be continuously enrolled without any pauses in enrollment. A pause in enrollment is only allowable in the case of the death of an immediate family member.
First-time applicants who are deemed ineligible due to insufficient credits may regain eligibility by catching up on missing credits and reapplying once they meet the credit requirements. However, this option is not available to students who previously received the Excelsior Scholarship but lost eligibility due to insufficient credits.
It is important to note that students with disabilities may take longer to complete their associate or bachelor's degrees if their disability requires them to attend less than full-time or pause their studies.
Transfer Student: Understanding Your International Status
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Applicants must be US citizens or eligible noncitizens
The Excelsior Scholarship is a form of financial aid offered by the State of New York to address the cost of college education and student loan debt. The scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are US citizens or eligible noncitizens. To be eligible, applicants must have resided in New York State for at least one year prior to enrollment and have a family income of $125,000 or less.
The Excelsior Scholarship is a "last-dollar" award, meaning that any other financial aid, such as federal Pell grants or state TAP awards, will be applied to the tuition bill first, and the Excelsior Scholarship will cover any remaining tuition expenses. This scholarship is only applicable to tuition fees and does not cover other college expenses such as fees, room and board, or textbooks.
To maintain eligibility for the scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time and complete a minimum of 30 credits per year toward their degree. Students must also maintain good academic standing and make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Failure to complete the required number of credits per year will result in the loss of the scholarship.
It is important to note that the Excelsior Scholarship is not available to students seeking a graduate degree or a second associate or bachelor's degree. Additionally, students who attended college/university prior to 2022 are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants who have never received the Excelsior Scholarship and are not on track to complete their degree within the specified time frame may regain eligibility by catching up on missing credits and reapplying for the scholarship.
International Students: Financial Aid Eligibility
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Family income must be $125,000 or less
The Excelsior Scholarship Program is a “last dollar” scholarship that allows students from families earning $125,000 or less per year to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. This means that any federal or NYS grants or scholarships, including PELL and TAP, are applied to tuition first, and the Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses. For example, if a student is eligible for a federal Pell Grant of $3,000 and the tuition fee is $9,000, the Excelsior Scholarship will cover the remaining $6,000.
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term in their program of study and complete 30 credits per year. This means that students must be continuously enrolled, full-time, at a SUNY or CUNY college. A pause in enrollment or a reduction in the required credits is only allowable for specific reasons, such as the death of an immediate family member, being called to active military duty, or taking parental leave.
The Excelsior Scholarship also has residency requirements. Recipients must sign a contract agreeing to live in New York State for a continuous number of years equal to the duration of the awards received. For example, if a student receives the scholarship for four years, they must live and work in New York State for four years after graduation. Failure to meet these requirements within six months of receiving the final payment will convert all award funds received to a 10-year student loan without interest.
Additionally, students must be in good standing on any previous student loans made under any NYS or federal education loan program. They must also be in compliance with the terms of any previous NYS awards received.
It is important to note that students seeking a graduate degree or a second associate or bachelor's degree are not eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship. The scholarship is only available to first-time college/university students seeking an undergraduate degree who meet the gross adjusted income limits.
Understanding Your Status: GSU International Student Inquiry
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The scholarship only covers tuition fees
The Excelsior Scholarship is a “last-dollar” scholarship, meaning that it covers any remaining tuition expenses after all other financial aid (federal or NYS grants or scholarships, including PELL and TAP) has been applied. The scholarship enables students from families earning $125,000 or less per year to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. However, it's important to note that the Excelsior Scholarship covers tuition only. Recipients are still responsible for college fees and other costs such as room and board.
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term in their program of study and complete 30 credits per year. If students attended college prior to the 2024-25 academic year, they must have earned at least 30 credits each year, applicable toward their degree program, to apply for the scholarship. Additionally, scholarship recipients must be continuously enrolled full-time at a SUNY or CUNY college without any pauses in enrollment.
There are a few exceptions to the continuous enrollment requirement. A pause in enrollment is allowable if the student experiences the death of an immediate family member, is called to active military duty, or interrupts their studies to take care of a newborn child (parental leave).
It's important to note that the Excelsior Scholarship has specific requirements for maintaining eligibility and receiving the award. Students must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or DREAM Act application each year for payment. Additionally, there is a residency requirement, where recipients must live and work in New York State for the same number of years they received the scholarship. If this requirement is not met, the scholarship converts to a no-interest loan that must be paid back.
International Students: Migrants or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, only U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens can apply for the Excelsior Scholarship.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be New York State residents, have a family income of $125,000 or less, and complete 30 credits per year.
The Excelsior Scholarship is a tuition award that enables students to attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.
Applicants must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or DREAM Act application each year for payment.
No, only full-time students are eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship.
