New York State offers a number of special scholarships for students who excelled in high school or who may be pursuing particular academic objectives in special programs. Information about these scholarships may be obtained from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporations HESC NY State Scholarships.

The Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act

The DREAM Act opens the doors of higher education to thousands of students, providing access to the new Excelsior Scholarship, the Tuition Assistance Program, as well as other state‐administered scholarships that were not previously available to them. This program provides undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered grants and scholarships that support their higher education costs.

New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence

This program provides scholarship assistance to outstanding New York State high school graduates. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. See your high school guidance counselor at your high school for information on how to apply.

Each year, 8,000 scholarships are awarded up to 2,000 scholarships of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships of $500 to top scholars from registered New York State high schools. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Scholarships for Academic Excellence provide up to $1,500 per year for up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State.

Eligibility

  • Have graduated from high school
  • Study full time and be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program of study in a New York State post-secondary institution
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Not be in default on any guaranteed student loan administered by HESC
  • Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying non-citizen
  • Be a New York State resident

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

The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides a full CUNY tuition scholarship to the top 10 percent of students in each NYS high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field in NYS for five years after graduation.

For more information and how to apply click here

Regents Award for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans

Students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency and, as a result of service, died, suffered a 40% or more disability, was classified as missing in action, or was a prisoner of war. The veteran must currently be a New York State resident or have been a New York State resident at the time of death.

How to Apply

Complete the Children of Veterans Award Web Supplement. Be sure to print the Web Supplement Confirmation, sign and return it along with the required documentation according to the instructions.

Once you have established your eligibility you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), or call HESC at 1-888-697-4372 to request a Scholarship & Grant Payment Application by June 30 of each academic year you seek payment.

New York State Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS)

The NYS Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS) provides merit-based scholarships to NYS high school graduates who achieved academic excellence as a high school student, and enroll or plan to enroll in a public or private NYS college immediately after high school.

For more information and how to apply click here

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarships are being offered to increase the number of educators and adjunct clinical faculty teaching nursing education in New York State. Awards are made on a competitive basis to applicants who are registered professional nurses enrolling in graduate programs that will qualify them as nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty.

For more information and how to apply click here

Veterans Tuition Award

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated in an approved program at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.

NOTE: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. Those students who are attending an approved undergraduate or graduate program may apply for payment for the current academic year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then linking to the TAP on the Web application. For veterans who do not anticipate filing a FAFSA, complete a Scholarship Grant Payment Application. For a copy of the application call HESC at 1-888-697-4372

For more information click here

Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute – MERIT Scholarship, also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarship – MSRS

The Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship, also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS), provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.

For more information and how to apply click here

State Aid to Native Americans

Available to any enrolled members of a New York State tribe or children of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe. You may be eligible for an award through the Aid to Native Americans Program. Enrolled members of a New York State tribe and their children who are attending, or planning to attend, a college in New York State and are New York State residents are eligible for this award. Awards are made to all eligible applicants. There is no qualifying examination. Awards are available for 2, 4 or 5-year programs.

Awards for full-time students are up to $2,000 annually and $1,000 per semester. Part-time awards are approximately $85 per credit hour.

More Information (State Aid to Native Americans)

Specific eligibility criteria, information and applications can be found at the New York State Education Department, Native American Education Unit.

World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship

Available to the children and spouses of victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001, this program provides tuition, fees and living expenses for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study at CUNY. To receive this scholarship, a student, must be the child or the spouse of a victim of the attacks. The award also is available for victims who themselves have been severely and permanently disabled as a result of the attacks. To apply, complete and submit the NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship Web Supplement. Be sure to print the Web Supplement confirmation, sign it, and submit it, along with the required documentation, according to the instructions.

Memorial Scholarships (Police Officers, Peace Officers, Firefighters)

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) administers the Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Firefighters. The scholarship provides financial aid to children and spouses of deceased police officers, peace officers, firefighters, and volunteer firefighters of New York State who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Memorial scholarships provide funds to meet the costs of attending college. These awards are based on allowances for tuition and non-tuition costs, which include room and board, books, supplies, and transportation. The Memorial Scholarship award is available for four years of full-time undergraduate study (or for five years in an approved five-year bachelor’s degree program).

Students must:

  • Be matriculated at approved colleges or other post-secondary institutions in New York State.
  • Study full time in approved undergraduate programs.
  • Have a parent, spouse or were a financial dependent of a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer, peace officer or emergency medical service worker who died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York.

How To Apply (Memorial Scholarships)

Student must establish eligibility by submitting a Memorial Scholarship Supplement. Once eligibility has been established, the student must submit an application for payment by May 1 of the academic year for which payment of the scholarship is sought. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and a TAP application. Students do not have to submit a Memorial Scholarship Supplement every year, but must submit an application for payment each year.

Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship

Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 in Clarence, New York on February 12, 2009. This program helps families who lost loved ones cover the cost of attending college in New York State.

For more information and how to apply click here

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships provide financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of American Airlines Flight 587’s crash in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, New York on November 12, 2001. The Scholarship program will help the 266 families who lost loved ones cover the cost of attending college in New York State.

Who Is Eligible?

Children, spouses and financial dependents of those who died as a direct result of the American Airlines Flight 587 crash on November 12, 2001 in Belle Harbor, Queens, New York.

Additionally, students must:

  • Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State.
  • Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department.
  • Be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester.
  • Be matriculated in an approved program of study
  • Be in good academic standing.
  • Not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards.

How to Apply? (Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships)

Complete and submit the Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship Web Supplement. Be sure to print the Web Supplement confirmation, sign it, and submit it, along with the required documentation, according to the instructions. NOTE: You should complete an application for every member of the family that will use this scholarship (even if they are not old enough to attend college at this time, no matter what the age). This will save having to retrieve and send proof of eligibility at a later date when that child is old enough to attend college.

Once you have established your eligibility and are assigned an account number by HESC, you must do one of the following by June 30 of each academic year to request payment:

  • Current New York State residents: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and TAP on the Web application. FAFSA and TAP applications and instructions are available at www.hesc.ny.gov.
  • New York State Non-residents: Contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372 to request a Scholarship and Grant Payment Application.

Award Amount (Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships)

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships provide funds to help meet the cost of attending college. The award covers up to four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor’s degree program) and includes the following components:

  • Tuition: An amount equal to your actual tuition or the State University of New York’s (SUNY) in-state tuition, whichever is less.
  • Non-tuition Costs: These include room and board and allowances for books, supplies and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY Colleges. The Commissioner of Education sets the non-tuition cost allowances each year.
  • Residence: A student living on campus will receive a higher room and board allowance than a commuter student. If housing is not available for students on campus they will receive the same allowance as students living on campus.

The maximum total annual award for students living on campus for the 2015-16 academic year is $22,487; the maximum total annual award for total annual award for commuter students for the 2015-16 academic year is $15,037. NOTE: Students choosing to live in off campus when housing is available will be paid at the lower commuter rate.

Receipt of other grants and scholarships may reduce the Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship award. The total of all aid received cannot be greater than the student’s Title IV cost of attendance.

HESC will make payments to schools on behalf of students upon certification of eligibility and submission of appropriate financial aid applications.