NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence

Deadline & Application Award Eligibility Help & Resources

Awards scholarships of $500 or $1500 per year to students achieving academic excellence while in high school.

  • Receive $500 or $1,500 per year 

  • For high-achieving students graduating from a NYS high school and attending college full-time in NYS

  • Students are nominated by high schools

  • Must be a legal NYS resident for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling or qualified under NYS-DREAM Act

Deadline & Application

Deadline

Students are nominated by schools.  Check with your high school for deadline dates

No Signup ID provided. Please contact us for information on deadline information.

Award

Amount

$500 or $1,500

Amount determined by:

  • Scholarships of $1,500 and $500 are provided to high-achieving students at registered New York State high schools. 
  • Awards are based on student grades on certain Regent's exams. 
  • Students are nominated by high schools.  Talk to your high school counselor for more information how you can receive this award! 
  • Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
Frequency

Annual

Must complete the FAFSA and TAP application or Dream Act application each year for payment.

Duration

Dependent on length of program

2 years for students pursuing their associate degree full-time.

4 years for students pursuing their bachelor’s degree full-time.

5 years for approved five-year degree programs.

 

Any award payment received may have tax implications. Please direct any questions to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Eligibility

Undocumented and other immigrant students: before submitting your application material, apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act.

To receive the Scholarship, you must meet the following residency requirements: 

  • You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
  • You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application.

High School, GED, or Ability to Benefit

  • Graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test.
  • Students are nominated by schools.  Talk to your high school counselor for more information how you can receive this award! 
  • Must attend a NYS college full-time in the fall term following your high-school graduation. 
  • Students who do not attend a NYS college forfeit the award going forward.

College & Program

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements: 

  • Be matriculated in an approved program of study a public or private college in NYS. 

  • Be in good academic standing.

  • Be enrolled full-time.

There are no income limits for this Scholarship.

Help & Resources

Have Questions? 

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New York State Higher Education

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