Understanding Excelsior Scholarship Eligibility and Award Amounts in New York State
The Excelsior Scholarship is a New York State program designed to make college education more accessible and affordable. It aims to cover tuition costs for eligible students pursuing associate's or bachelor's degrees at SUNY (State University of New York) and CUNY (City University of New York) institutions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Excelsior Scholarship, including eligibility requirements, award amounts, and conditions for maintaining the scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements for the Excelsior Scholarship
To be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must meet several criteria:
- Residency: Applicants must be citizens or eligible non-citizens and have resided in New York State for at least one year prior to enrollment.
- Income: The family's adjusted gross income must not exceed $125,000 in the tax year 2022.
- Enrollment Status: Students must be enrolled full-time, taking at least 12 credits per semester.
- Credit Completion: Students must complete thirty (30) credits per year toward their major, including any credits earned during summer and winter terms. The 30 credits must be degree applicable and completed within 365 days.
- Degree Pursuit: The scholarship is available for up to 2 years for students pursuing an Associate’s degree and up to 4 years for students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree.
- Academic Standing: According to HESC (Higher Education Services Corporation), recipients must earn a passing grade in their coursework to maintain the scholarship.
It's important to note that students can enroll at any age and don’t have to be recent high school graduates to be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship.
Excelsior Scholarship Award Amount Calculation
The Excelsior Scholarship covers the remaining tuition costs after other financial aid is applied. The calculation works as follows:
- Tuition Freeze: The frozen tuition amount is set at SUNY $7,070 or CUNY $6,930.
- Subtract Other Aid: TAP (Tuition Assistance Program), Pell Grants, and any other grants or scholarships not specifically designated for non-tuition expenses are subtracted from the frozen tuition amount.
- Excelsior Award: The remaining amount is the Excelsior Scholarship award, up to a maximum of $5,500. In some cases, the maximum can be $7,070.00.
For example, if a student's tuition is $7,070 and they receive $2,000 in TAP and $1,000 in Pell Grants, their Excelsior Scholarship award would be $4,070.
Read also: Eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship
Maintaining Eligibility and Potential Loss of Scholarship
To continue receiving the Excelsior Scholarship, students must maintain their eligibility throughout their college career. This includes:
- Continuous Enrollment: Students must enroll full-time and successfully complete thirty (30) credits toward their degree in each academic year.
- Credit Requirements: Recipients must complete a total of 30 degree applicable credits over the course of a year (defined as 365 days) and be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits in a semester.
- Passing Grades: According to HESC, recipients must earn a passing grade in their coursework to maintain the scholarship.
If a student does not meet the certification requirements, their eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship program and associated awards will be rescinded. Students are responsible for all monies owed as a result of a loss of eligibility, regardless of when the loss is determined.
However, there are exceptions for students who experience certain hardships. Current recipients who do not meet the annual credit or continuous enrollment requirements due to specific conditions may be able to retain their Excelsior Scholarship awards. These conditions may include death, disability, divorce, or separation of a parent or spouse. In such cases, students should fill out the Excelsior Eligibility Determination Form and provide the required documentation.
Impact of Transfer Credits on Excelsior Eligibility
Students who have earned college credits prior to applying for the Excelsior Scholarship may wonder how those credits affect their eligibility. If a student is transferring from an associate's degree program to a bachelor's degree program, they may still be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, provided that the college they are attending accepts all of the credits they earned while completing their Associate’s degree and they meet all other requirements for the Excelsior Scholarship.
Additionally, a student who is not on track to complete an Associate’s degree in two consecutive years or Bachelor’s degree in four consecutive years (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year) can catch up on missing credits to become eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship.
Read also: Learn About the SUNY Excelsior Scholarship
Post-Graduation Requirements
Recipients of the Excelsior Scholarship have a post-graduation requirement to live and work in New York State for a specified period. The length of this period is equivalent to the number of years they received the scholarship. For example, if a student received four Excelsior Scholarship awards while getting their bachelor’s degree, they must live in New York state for four years after college. In addition, if they are working during those years, they must work in New York state.
Application Process and Important Notifications
To apply for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must complete the Excelsior Scholarship application. Current Excelsior Scholarship recipients do not need to complete this application.
Excelsior applicants may notice that the scholarship is not reflected on their bill initially. Students who are determined Excelsior-eligible will receive a notification from New York State. Once the college is notified, students will be able to view their revised awards using the Financial Aid Dashboard. Here, they will see their actual Excelsior award amount.
At the end of the fall and spring semesters, HESC will require the college to confirm final award eligibility for each student. This includes confirmation of minimum credits earned and certification of other grants and scholarships factored into the estimated Excelsior Scholarship award calculation. If a student does not meet the certification requirements, eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship program and associated awards will be rescinded.
Managing Bills and Payment Plans
To manage their bills while awaiting Excelsior Scholarship confirmation, students have a couple of options:
Read also: A Legacy at Excelsior University
- Payment in Full: Pay the bill in full by the due date.
- Installment Plan: Enroll in the college's installment plan and pay the first installment. For example, Geneseo offers an installment plan where students pay the first installment (1/4 of the balance due), while Oneonta offers a plan where students pay the first installment (1/3 of the balance due).
Financial Circumstances Review
Incoming students who have had a change in their financial circumstances due to death, disability, divorce or separation of a parent or spouse may request an eligibility determination review based on current circumstances. This ensures that the scholarship accurately reflects their current financial situation.
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