NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
ListedScholarship
- Award
- $1,500 or $500 annually, subject to appropriations. Up to two years for an associate degree, four for a bachelor’s, or five in an approved five-year program. Full-time eligible New York college attendance and satisfactory academic progress required; cumulative C average after two full years of state-aid payments.
- Timeline
- Feb 26, 2027High schools must submit 2027 nominations through SEDMON
- Sep 30, 2026Students meet earlier school deadlines. Schools publish selection criteria by . A declined award may be reassigned under the bulletin rules by April 15, 2027. Begin eligible college study in fall 2027 unless an advance one-year delay is approved. No time zone stated.
- How to apply
- Ask your high school about its nomination process; students do not self-nominate. School submits nominees, personal contact details and academic documentation through SEDMON. After nomination, follow HESC acceptance/payment instructions and file annual FAFSA and TAP application, or applicable NYS DREAM Act application.
- Who can apply
- Graduate from an eligible New York high school in June 2027 and attend an approved New York college full time. Standard route requires 12 months of New York residency and U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; qualifying NYS DREAM Act applicants can include non-New York residents under its school-attendance and status rules. School selects using prescribed weighted Regents/approved exam results; junior-year class rank or local English/math assessments are allowed alternatives when the specified conditions apply. No universal GPA minimum.
- Good to know
- Only eligible New York colleges/universities, not trade schools. Selection methods must be applied consistently; tied nominees are selected by lottery. Attending out-of-state college forfeits the award and later return does not reinstate it. Approved advance one-year delay and limited final-semester/summer payment exceptions apply. Annual renewal requires academic progress.
- Details
- Permanent residents eligible