Janice Lozano
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York proposed a free tuition plan at state colleges for students from low- and middle-income families in 2017. The Excelsior Scholarship, as he called it, would cover tuition for any student from a family earning less than $125,000 a year by 2019, with a three-year rollout beginning in the fall. The scholarship would cost about $163 million a year, but Cuomo did not specify how the state would cover this cost.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the program | Excelsior Scholarship |
| Who proposed the program | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo |
| Who will benefit from the program | Students from families earning less than $125,000 per year |
| Number of families that will benefit | 900,000+ |
| Colleges that are covered under the program | SUNY and CUNY |
| Type of colleges covered | Four-year colleges and community colleges |
| Tuition fee for public colleges in New York | $6,470 per year |
| Tuition fee for two-year degrees | $4,350 |
| Tuition fee for four-year colleges at City University | $6,330 per year |
| Cost of the program | $163 million per year |
| Number of families with college-age children that will benefit | 940,000 |
| Number of full-time SUNY and CUNY in-state students that will benefit | 53% |
| Number of New York residents that will benefit | 210,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship
The Excelsior Scholarship is intended to address the issue of high student debt and the changing job market, which increasingly requires a college education. By making college more accessible, the governor hopes to improve graduation rates and reduce the overall debt burden for students. The scholarship also includes a "stepping out" provision, allowing students to pause and restart the program if needed.
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must be New York State residents planning to attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college. They must take 30 credits per year, including Summer and Winter sessions, and be on track to graduate on time with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years. The scholarship is means-tested, with the income threshold initially set at $110,000 per year for the 2018-19 academic year and increasing to $125,000 in subsequent years.
Recipients of the scholarship must plan to live in New York State for the duration of their award. The Excelsior Scholarship can be combined with other aid programs to cover the full cost of tuition. However, it does not cover additional expenses such as room and board, which can be significant.
The Excelsior Scholarship program has been praised as a step towards making higher education more accessible and affordable for New Yorkers. It has been described as a nation-leading proposal and a "dream come true" for those who once thought a college degree was out of reach.
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Tuition-free for families earning under $125,000
Governor Andrew Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship program aims to make college more accessible and affordable for middle- and working-class families in New York. The scholarship targets families earning under $125,000 annually, offering them the opportunity to attend New York's public higher education institutions, including four-year colleges and community colleges, without paying tuition fees.
The Excelsior Scholarship addresses the financial challenges faced by students and their families in pursuing higher education. By eliminating tuition fees, the program aims to reduce the overall debt burden on students and their families. This initiative is particularly beneficial for those who struggle to make ends meet, providing them with a chance to obtain a college education that might have otherwise been out of reach.
The scholarship is designed to bridge the gap between the state's existing tuition aid programs and the total cost of tuition for eligible families. It ensures that students from families with an annual income of up to $125,000 can attend New York's public colleges, such as SUNY (State University of New York) and CUNY (City University of New York), without incurring tuition costs. This makes higher education more inclusive and accessible to a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
Governor Cuomo's proposal for tuition-free college aligns with the recognition that a college education is no longer a luxury but a necessity in today's job market. By investing in the education of its residents, New York is empowering its workforce to meet the challenges and demands of the future. This initiative also underscores the importance of education in fostering a competitive advantage and enabling individuals to secure better career prospects.
The Excelsior Scholarship, with its focus on financial accessibility, sets a precedent for other states and educational institutions to follow. It challenges the notion that only private universities can provide a high-quality education and underscores the value of public higher education systems. By removing financial barriers, the program opens doors of opportunity for thousands of students, enabling them to pursue their academic and career aspirations without being hindered by financial constraints.
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Costing $163 million a year
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York proposed a free tuition plan for the state's public colleges for students from low- and middle-income families in 2017. The Excelsior Scholarship, as he called it, would cover tuition for any student from a family earning less than $125,000 a year by 2019. The program would benefit around 940,000 families with college-age children in the state.
Cuomo estimated that the Excelsior Scholarship would cost about $163 million a year. However, he did not specify how the state would cover this cost. The scholarship would work by closing the gap between the state's many tuition aid programs and the total cost of tuition for eligible families.
The Excelsior Scholarship was designed to make college more affordable for middle- and working-class families. It would apply to both four-year colleges and community colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) systems. The average tuition for a private school in New York is $34,000 a year, compared to roughly $6,400 at SUNY and CUNY four-year schools and $4,300 at community colleges.
The governor's proposal also included a "stepping out" provision, allowing students to pause and restart the program later if necessary. This initiative aimed to address the issue of timely graduation, as 61% of four-year students and 91% of two-year community college students in New York do not graduate on time.
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Benefitting 940,000 families
Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship program is a nation-leading proposal to make college tuition-free for New York's middle-class and low-income families. The scholarship would cover tuition fees for undergraduate students from New York who attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college. To be eligible, students must take 30 credits per year and be on track to graduate on time with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years.
The scholarship is means-tested, with a benchmark of $125,000 per year. This means that more than 940,000 families making up to $125,000 per year would qualify for the scholarship. In the 2018-19 academic year, the household federal adjusted gross income benchmark was $110,000, rising to $125,000 in 2019-20. This would allow students from families earning less than $125,000 a year to attend state-run schools without paying tuition.
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other aid programs, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The scholarship would cost about $163 million a year, although Governor Cuomo did not specify how the state would cover this cost.
The governor’s proposal also includes a “stepping out” provision, allowing students to pause and restart the program later. This provision recognizes that there may be circumstances that make it necessary for students to temporarily pause their education.
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Reducing overall student debt
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York proposed a plan to reduce student debt by offering free tuition for students from low- and middle-income families. The plan, called the Excelsior Scholarship, aimed to provide tuition-free college to New York residents attending SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year colleges. The scholarship would benefit students from families earning up to $125,000 per year, with a gradual rollout starting with families earning up to $110,000 annually.
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must be New York State residents, take 30 credits per year, and be on track to graduate on time with an associate's degree in two years or a bachelor's degree in four years. The scholarship would cover the cost of tuition, which is $6,470 per year at the State University of New York and $6,330 per year at the City University of New York's four-year colleges. Other expenses, such as room and board, would not be covered under the plan.
Governor Cuomo estimated that the Excelsior Scholarship would cost about $163 million per year but did not specify how the state would cover this cost. However, he argued that the program would help expand access to higher education for thousands of New Yorkers and reduce their overall debt burden. The governor also emphasized that a college education is no longer a luxury but a necessity to succeed in today's job market.
In addition to the Excelsior Scholarship, Governor Cuomo has also established a Student Protection Unit within the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to protect New York's students from misleading advertising, improper fees, and other consumer protection problems in the student debt relief industry. The unit serves as a consumer watchdog, investigating potential violations and distributing information to help students make informed financial choices.
By offering free tuition and providing consumer protection, Governor Cuomo's initiatives aim to reduce the overall student debt burden and make higher education more accessible and affordable for middle- and low-income families in New York.
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Frequently asked questions
Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship plan is estimated to cost about \$163 million a year, benefiting around 940,000 families with college-age children in the state. However, he did not specify how the state would cover this cost.
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must be New York State residents, attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college, take 30 credits per year, and be on track to graduate on time with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years.
For the 2018-19 academic year, the household federal adjusted gross income could total up to \$110,000 to be eligible. In 2019-20 and beyond, New York State families can earn up to \$125,000.
