Excelsior Scholarship 2026, USA

United StatesExcelsior
United StatesInternshipFully Funded54 days leftundergraduate
4 min readUpdated Jul 8, 2026Opportunity Station

Program details

Key facts at a glance

Host country
United States
Region
North America
Institution
Excelsior
Study level
Undergraduate
Funding
Fully Funded

Program overview

Full description, requirements, and what to expect

The Excelsior Scholarship significantly lowers the expense of higher education while providing qualified individuals with the chance to obtain a college degree. The program helps lessen the financial load on families and frees up students to concentrate more on their studies and academic success by paying the leftover tuition costs after other types of financial aid have been applied.

One of New York State’s most well-known financial aid programs is the Excelsior Scholarship, which is run by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. It provides tuition reimbursement for qualified students from eligible families to attend State University of New York and City University of New York campuses.

Additionally, students enrolled at eligible private universities across New York State receive financial assistance through the Enhanced Tuition Award. When combined, these initiatives provide access to reasonably priced higher education, encourage student achievement, and aid in the creation of a highly qualified labor force.

Host Country: United States

Administered By: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

Institutions: State University of New York,  City University of New York

Opportunity Type: Associate and Bachelor’s

Eligible Applicants: International Students

Financial Coverage: Fully Funded

Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
  • Have lived in New York State for at least 12 consecutive months before enrollment
  • Attend a participating private college or university in New York State
  • Have a household income of $125,000 or less annually
  • Enroll as a full-time student
  • Earn a minimum of 30 credits per academic year
  • Commit to living and working in New York State for the same number of years they receive the award after graduation

Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Benefits

  • Up to $6,000 per year toward tuition expenses
  • Financial support for students enrolled at participating private colleges
  • Lower out-of-pocket educational costs
  • Greater choice and flexibility in selecting a college or university
  • Assistance in making private higher education more affordable
  • Reduced financial burden throughout the study period

Applicants should prepare the following documents

  • Completed scholarship application form
  • Proof of New York State residency
  • Household income verification documents
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Proof of enrollment at an eligible institution
  • Valid identification documents
  • Financial aid records, if applicable
  • Any additional supporting documents requested by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation during the application process

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Apply Now

Requirements & preparation

Review eligibility, benefits, and documents before you apply

Eligibility criteria

6 requirements to review

  • Have a household federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less per year.
  • Note — Be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college.
  • Also, Study as a full-time student.
  • Plus, Complete at least 30 academic credits each year.
  • Requirement: Maintain progress toward graduating within the standard program duration.
  • Meet all residency, enrollment, and academic requirements set by the program.

Benefits & funding

13 perks included · Fully Funded

  • Plus, Tuition fees covered at eligible SUNY institutions.
  • Requirement: Tuition support for students attending eligible CUNY institutions.
  • Reduced reliance on student loans and educational debt.
  • Note — Increased access to affordable undergraduate education.
  • Also, Additional financial support after federal and state aid is applied.
  • Plus, Opportunity to earn a college degree with lower overall education costs.
  • Requirement: Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Benefits.
  • Up to $6,000 per year toward tuition expenses.
  • Note — Financial support for students enrolled at participating private colleges.
  • Also, Lower out-of-pocket educational costs.
  • Plus, Greater choice and flexibility in selecting a college or university.
  • Requirement: Assistance in making private higher education more affordable.
  • Reduced financial burden throughout the study period.

Required documents

Prepare these before you apply

  1. 1Applicants should prepare the following documents:
  2. 2Completed scholarship application form
  3. 3Proof of New York State residency
  4. 4Household income verification documents
  5. 5Official academic transcripts
  6. 6Proof of enrollment at an eligible institution
  7. 7Valid identification documents
  8. 8Financial aid records, if applicable
  9. 9Any additional supporting documents requested by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation during the application process

Important dates

Deadlines and listing updates

  • Application deadlineAug 30, 2026
  • Published on Opportunity StationJun 11, 2026
  • Last updatedJul 8, 2026

Participating location

Where this opportunity takes place

United States · North America

internshipusfully-funded
Next step

Ready to apply?

Use the official application website to submit your application directly to the program organizer. The link opens in a new tab so you can keep this guide open.

https://glorno.com/index.php/2026/06/12/excelsior-scholarship-2026-usa-fully-funded/

Apply Here