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Excelsior Scholarship Information

FREE TUITION Through the EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Excelsior Scholarship Program that started Fall 2017 will make college tuition-free for eligible in-state students within the SUNY system.

How to Apply:

The Excelsior Scholarship application is now available for the 2022-2023 academic year. This application will be available from May 24th, 2022- August 31, 2022 . For further information and to apply go to: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/excelsior

Note: Students currently receiving an Excelsior Scholarship do not need to apply every year. They must complete the FAFSA and TAP applications every year to receive the scholarship.

To receive the Excelsior Scholarship, you must first apply for admission to Herkimer College and federal and state financial aid:

Eligibility:

  • Family’s 2020 Federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be less than $125,000
  • Student must meet general NYS grant eligibility criteria:
    • A resident of New York State for one year
    • Citizen or eligible non-citizen
    • High School graduate, GED, High School Equivalency recipient
  • Attend full-time (12 credits or more per semester)
  • Earn 30 credits each year and make progress to graduate on-time (within two years)
  • Maintain good academic standing (according to HESC, recipients must earn a passing grade in their coursework)
  • Student must agree to live/work in New York State after leaving college for the number of years equal to the awards received (failure to meet the live/work requirement results in the scholarship’s conversion to an interest-free loan)

Current/ Continuing Students:

  • Must have started as a freshman in the 2022-2023 academic year or later
  • Must have attended full-time in consecutive semesters (no breaks in attendance)
  • Must have earned 30 credits (includes winter mini, summer session) per year and be progressing towards degree within 2 years form the start
  • Must be working on a first degree (students with a prior AA’s or BA/BS's are not eligible)