NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

Deadline & Application Award Eligibility Help & Resources

Tuition award for students who graduate in the top 10% of their NYS high school class & pursue a degree in STEM at SUNY or CUNY.

  • Be in the top 10% of your NYS high school graduating class

  • Must apply in your high school senior year

  • Attend a SUNY or CUNY college immediately following high school graduation 

  • Pursue a degree in an approved STEM program of study

  • Enrolled in full-time study (at least 12 credits per term)

  • Live in NYS and work in an approved STEM occupation for five years 

Deadline & Application

Deadline

For the 2026-27 Academic Year

Be sure to complete your FAFSA before you apply for TAP.

Complete the FAFSA Apply for TAP

Award

Award

Amount

Covers tuition expenses at a SUNY or CUNY college.

  • Award is equal to the undergraduate resident tuition rate at a SUNY state-operated campus or actual tuition, whichever is less. 
  • Awards are reduced by the amount of other tuition assistance awards received, such as NYS TAP.
  • This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition at a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college.  Applicants seeking to apply for the NYS Excelsior scholarship OR the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program scholarship OR the NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Program scholarship should carefully review the requirements for all programs, including post-graduation requirements, and determine which scholarship they may be eligible and will apply for, and upon eligibility notification, will accept by completing a service agreement.  Applicants are not eligible to receive more than one full tuition-based scholarship in an academic year.

* Tuition does not include other components of the cost of education, such as fees.

Duration

Dependent on the 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

Non-New York State residents (including undocumented students): before submitting your Scholarship application, apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act.

There are no income limits for the NYS STEM Award.

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 legal resident of New York State? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application. 

High School

  • Must be a graduate from a high school located in NYS and be ranked within the top 10 percent of your high school graduating class.
  • Must enroll in college beginning in the fall term immediately following graduation.*

College & Program

Once in college, you must meet the following requirements: 

  • Be in good academic standing.
  • Be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics at a public college located in NYS.  
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
  • Be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits per semester in your program of study).

*An applicant must apply and be selected for this program for the fall term immediately following his or her high school graduation. Immediate enrollment may be deferred for circumstances as determined by HESC, including, but not limited to, maternity/paternity leave, death of a family member, or military duty.

  • Recipients must agree to reside in New York State for five years and be employed in an approved STEM occupation. 

  • If you move out of New York State before you complete your residency and work commitments, the sum of all of your STEM Incentive program awards made on your behalf will be converted to a 10-year student loan plus interest. Interest rate for the life of the loan shall be fixed and equal to that set annually by the U.S. Department of Education for federal undergraduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans at the time the Service Contract is signed.

    For more detailed information, please review the NYS STEM Incentive Program Service Contract.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, students with disabilities can take longer to complete their associate degree or bachelor’s degree if their disability requires them to attend less than full-time or if they need to pause their studies due to their disability.  

Learn more about your rights under the Americans with Disability Act of 1990.

Questions?

HESC is here to answer your questions or help you with a specific issue. 

Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Request an Appointment

New York State Higher Education

Services Corporation

99 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY 12255

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