Scholarships for New York Students
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- Scholarships are a form of financial aid that students do not have to pay back.
- Most scholarship awards are used towards tuition. Some may be used to cover room and board.
- There are many scholarship opportunities available to New York students.
- Several resources are available to help New York students find scholarships.
For the 2018-19 academic year, the average cost of in-state tuition at a four-year public university in New York was $8,180. When you also factor in the cost of room, board, and other fees, your total cost of college can increase substantially.
Students interested in attending college in New York can offset the costs of tuition by applying for scholarships and grants. Scholarships are a form of financial aid granted from colleges, government, or other organizations like nonprofits and foundations.
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Scholarships for College Students in New York
New York State (NYS) Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) Tuition Assistance Program
Eligibility: Legal residents of New York State for at least one year prior to the start of the term are able to apply for this scholarship through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent diploma and must maintain at least a C average while completing at least 12 credits.
First Responders Children's Foundation General Scholarship
Eligibility: Children of first responders who have a minimum of a 2.7 GPA are eligible for this general scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic merit, and other achievements, including volunteer efforts or advanced abilities in sports or the arts.
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Eligibility: Applicants who have graduated from a New York state high school with good academic standing and who enroll in any college in New York state are eligible to receive up to $1,500 in scholarship money a year for five years.
NYS Aid for Part-Time Study
Eligibility: Part-time students who have lived in New York state for at least a year and are enrolled in a New York-based university or college are eligible for up to $2,000 a year. Applicants must be in good academic standing and meet income requirements.
The Leopold Schepp Foundation
Eligibility: New York State residents who will be enrolled in a New York college full-time are eligible for a Leopold Schepp Foundation scholarship. Applicants need at least a 3.3 GPA and must demonstrate a financial need, as well as excellent character.
Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Eligibility: These state-based scholarships are available to any high school junior planning on attending an undergraduate program who have experienced challenges and are in financial need.
Ascend Educational Fund Scholarship
Eligibility: New York State high school graduates who are immigrants or children of immigrants who are planning on attending a public or private college are eligible to apply.
Juan Lafuente Leadership Scholarship
Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduate students from a Dutchess County high school are eligible to apply. Applicants must have community involvement, financial need, and attend a college in New York State.
University-Specific Scholarships for Students in New York
The Excelsior Scholarship
Eligibility: Full-time students enrolled at the State University of New York (SUNY) or the City University of New York (CUNY) are eligible to have tuition costs covered. Students must be a New York State resident, have a combined gross income of less than $125,000 a year, and be enrolled in at least 12 credits. Recipients must be willing to live and work in New York for the length of time the scholarship is received.
Cunniffe Presidential Scholarship
Eligibility: Full-time students who are one of the 20 to 25 top-performing students enrolled at Fordham University are eligible. This scholarship is renewable for four years and covers tuition, fees, room, and board.
SUNY Potsdam Merit Scholarship
Eligibility: SUNY Potsdam students who earned at least a 3.1 GPA in high school are automatically qualified to earn scholarship money. The amount awarded varies based on GPA.
Kaye Scholars Program
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled as an arts and humanities major at the City College of New York to be eligible. Applicants must also take at least 12 credits and must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
Clifford and Siegfried Upton Scholarship
Eligibility: Columbia University students who are children of the employees of Houghton-Mifflin Company, its subsidiaries, or successor companies are eligible. Amount varies based on need.
September 11 Scholarships
Eligibility: New York University students who are spouses or dependents of emergency response workers who died at the World Trade Center are eligible to have all tuition and costs covered through five different scholarships.
Jesse Moore Urban League Scholarship
Eligibility: Students at University of Rochester are eligible for this scholarship based on personal and academic achievements, as well as life circumstances.
Our Time Has Come Scholarship
Eligibility: This scholarship is a needs-based scholarship for Syracuse University students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Subject-Specific Scholarships for Students in New York
The Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program
Eligibility: High school seniors from Long Island who plan on pursuing a special education degree are eligible for the Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program. Applicants must be in the top 20% of their class and have at least a 3.5 GPA. Students must also demonstrate financial need and have at least 80 hours of volunteering in the area of special education.
NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program
Eligibility: Graduates of New York high schools who enroll in an approved science, technology, engineering, or math program at a college located in New York state are eligible for this scholarship program. Students must graduate in the top 10% of their class and be willing to commit to five years working in the field in New York State upon graduation.
New York Water Environment Association Scholarships
Eligibility: The Environmental Career Scholarships awards scholarship money to applicants who are New York State residents studying at a college located in New York State. Students must be enrolled in an environmental-based program like environmental engineering.
NIADA Foundation Regional Scholarships (Region I)
Eligibility: High school seniors who are New York residents and are interested in pursuing a career in auto mechanics are eligible for one of four available NIADA Foundation Scholarships. Applicants must be in good academic standing and must write an essay to be considered.
Ontario County Casella Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants who are residents of Ontario County, New York and in good academic standing are eligible for the Ontario County Casella Scholarship. Students must be accepted to a college program in environmental studies, agriculture, environmental engineering, agricultural business, or waste management.
Scholarships for Women in New York
New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) Scholarship
Eligibility: For women pursuing a communications major, such as journalism, advertisement, and marketing, NYWICI sponsors multiple scholarships, including the Ann Liguori Foundation Sports Media Scholarship. Each scholarship holds specific requirements, but all applicants must be New York residents and in good academic standing.
ATHENA Adult Scholarship
Eligibility: Women who are Dutchess County residents and work or volunteer in Dutchess County are eligible for the ATHENA Adult Scholarship. Applicants must have graduated high school five or more years ago and be pursuing education at a New York college.
Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship
Eligibility: The JMK Women in Business Scholarship is available to women who are entering at least their second year of an undergraduate degree program in a business field, including accounting and marketing. Applicants must live in a Zonta district or region, several of which are located in New York state.
Young Women in Public Affairs Award
Eligibility: Women ages 16-19 who live in a Zonta district or region are eligible to apply for the Young Women in Public Affairs award. Applicants need a history of volunteer experience and experience in local government, student government, or other leadership.
Young Women in STEM Scholarship
Eligibility: High school seniors and undergraduate women who come from low-income families and are studying STEM are eligible to apply.
Where Can I Find Scholarships in New York?
Funding a college education can be challenging. Maximizing the amount of scholarships you earn can help offset the cost of tuition. Finding scholarships for college students can feel overwhelming. Here are places where New York students can find scholarships.
Top Places to Find New York College Scholarships
- School counselor: The school counselor at your high school has resources for searching for and finding scholarships.
- State resources: New York State has resources like the Higher Education Services Corporation that consolidates state scholarship and financial aid information.
- College websites: Most universities have a page on their websites dedicated to scholarship information, including specific college scholarships and other financial aid resources.
- Local organizations: Many local organizations, especially large businesses and nonprofits, offer scholarships. Search online or ask around to find out which organizations award scholarship money.
- Websites: Several online websites compile scholarship information. For instance, the U.S. Department of Labor has a scholarship finder.
Scholarship Applications
Many scholarships in New York are needs-based. Students who fill out a FAFSA may automatically be considered for some scholarship opportunities. For New York-specific scholarships, you may be asked to prove residency of 12 or more consecutive months in the state through tax records or property tax information.
Depending on the scholarship, you may also be asked to send proof of a GPA minimum requirement. You may also be asked for college entrance exam scores, an application essay, or letters of recommendation.
Tips for Applying to Scholarships
- Apply for small awards: You may be tempted to shy away from small scholarships, but small scholarships tend to have less competition. Those small amounts can add up.
- Create a scholarship folder: Many scholarships ask for similar information. Keeping your scholarship information organized in a folder can help you quickly get through scholarship applications.
- Save everything: Some scholarships require an essay. Saving your scholarship materials can allow you to tweak and cater your essay to each opportunity without completely rewriting each essay.
- Stay organized: Create a calendar of scholarship deadlines and prioritize them. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of the scholarships you have applied for already and the ones you are still working on.
- Start early: Start your scholarship process early. Request letters of recommendation well in advance. Give yourself plenty of time to assemble and submit all the necessary materials.
Additional Financial Aid Resources
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in New York
How do I get a full scholarship in New York?
There are a few ways to earn a full scholarship for a New York college. Students who excel academically could earn a full scholarship to a college in New York. Typically these students are at the very top of their graduating class.
New York also offers scholarships like the Excelsior Scholarship that pays for any uncovered tuition costs allowing students to attend college tuition-free. This scholarship comes with the stipulation that the recipient will live and work in New York for at least the equivalent amount of time they received the scholarship.
Do New York residents have more in-state scholarship options?
New York residents have access to many scholarship awards set aside specifically for residents of the state or specific counties. Out-of-state residents are not eligible to apply for these in-state scholarship options.
Along with offering several scholarships that cover parts or all of a student's college tuition, New York also has state-specific grant programs like the New York State Tuition Assistance Program to provide affordable college options for New York residents.
What types of scholarships do New York colleges offer?
New York colleges offer many need-based scholarships for students who may not be able to afford the cost of tuition. A large majority of these scholarships are designated for New York residents, and some come with stipulations.
Other scholarships are awarded for academic performance, like graduating at the top of your high school class. Many New York colleges offer scholarships for specific programs of study like STEM or performing arts.
What New York colleges give students the most scholarships?
Students in any New York college have scholarship opportunities. Two universities that give students the most scholarships are SUNY and CUNY. Both these colleges offer the Excelsior Scholarship, which pays for any uncovered tuition costs. Recipients must reside in New York for a certain amount of time.
Many SUNY and CUNY schools and affiliated colleges offer additional scholarships for students.
