$5,500 Excelsior Scholarship 2019 and Eligibility Requirement

Filed in Scholarships Update by on September 19, 2019

$5,500 Excelsior Scholarship 2019 and Eligibility Requirement.

Excelsior Scholarship 2019 –WOW! a golden opportunity is up for grab. Do you wish to inquire in detail about the Excelsior Scholarship for 2019? If yes, this page will guide you through.

$5,500 Excelsior Scholarship 2019

New York State’s 2019 budget includes funding for a new scholarship program to help middle-class families pay for college.  Named the Excelsior Scholarship, it pays any remaining tuition charges after the student’s other grants and scholarships have been applied.

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

  • be a resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
  • have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
  • have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $110,000 or less;
  • be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;
  • be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;
  • if attended college prior to the 2018-19 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;
  • be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award;
  • be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a NYS award that you have previously received; and
  • execute a Contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS.

Catching Up on Credits

A student who is not on track to complete an Associate’s degree in two consecutive years or Bachelor’s degree in four consecutive years (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year) can catch up on missing credits to become eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship. If you successfully earn additional credits during a term or academic year and get back on track to completing your degree on time, you will be eligible to receive an Excelsior Scholarship for the remainder of your undergraduate degree program.

Opportunity Programs

If you are in an opportunity program, the Excelsior Scholarship program allows five years  to complete your degree on time (which requires completion of the equivalent of 24 credits each academic year).

Five-Year Undergraduate Programs

If you are in an undergraduate program of study normally requiring five-years, the Excelsior Scholarship program allows five years  to complete your degree on time (which requires completion of the equivalent of 30 credits each academic year).

Students with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

To be eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship, students with qualified disabilities under the Americans With Disabilities Act who attend less than full time must register with their college office for students with disabilities.

If you are a student with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Excelsior Scholarship program requires that you be continuously enrolled and complete the number of credits you attempted each semester to fulfill the requirement for on-time degree completion. If you have not earned credits for all courses attempted, you can catch up on missing credits if you successfully earn additional credits during a Summer and/or Winter session(s) and get back on track for credits that were not previously completed.

Students with disabilities determined to be ineligible who can demonstrate good cause for completing fewer credits than attempted and/or a break in attendance may appeal the decision by completing and submitting the Excelsior Scholarship Program Appeal Form to [email protected].

Appeals

Students whose current income or prior year adjusted gross income is $110,000 or below due to the disability, divorce or separation of a parent, spouse or the student or the death of a parent or spouse may appeal their disqualification by completing the Income Appeal Form and submitting it to [email protected].

Students who are determined to be ineligible for failure to meet the annual credit or continuous enrollment requirements and who can demonstrate good cause may appeal the decision by completing and submitting the Excelsior Scholarship Program Appeal Form to [email protected].

Award Amount*

A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship may receive up to $5,500.

To determine the award amount, the 2016-17 resident tuition rate charged by SUNY ($6,470) or CUNY ($6,330) will be reduced by the amount of certain other student financial aid awards which an applicant has or will receive for the academic year, including a NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award and/or federal Pell grant. The Excelsior Scholarship will cover any remaining tuition liability up to $5,500; and a tuition credit will cover any remaining tuition expenses not covered by the Excelsior Scholarship.

*Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Duration

A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate’s degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Payment

To receive award payments after the initial application year, an Excelsior Scholarship recipient must annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application each year.

How to Apply

The application deadline for the Excelsior Scholarship Program Spring 2019 term has passed.

Excelsior Scholarship FAQs

Will I be able to attend college at SUNY or CUNY tuition free?

Yes. If you are a NYS resident whose family household federal adjusted gross income (as filed on your 2016 New York State Income Tax Returns) does not exceed $110,000 for the 2018-19 academic year and you complete 30 credits per year, you will be able to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition free.

Will I be able to get an award for the fall?

Yes. Students can apply between March 26 and July 23, 2018 to receive awards to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition free this fall.

Can I get an award if I’m currently going to a public college?

Yes. Students who are currently attending college are eligible to receive an award, provided they are currently on track to complete their degree on time.

Can I get an award if I’m a transfer student?

Yes. A student who transferred between post-secondary schools is eligible for an Excelsior Scholarship if they are on track to complete on time based on the number of credits accepted by their current college.

Can I get an Excelsior Scholarship to pursue a second degree if I already have an undergraduate degree?

Applicants who have an associate’s degree can receive an award to pursue a bachelor’s degree, provided they immediately enroll in a four-year program upon completion of their two-year degree. You may not receive an award to pursue a second associate’s or a second bachelor’s degree.

Can I get an Excelsior Scholarship to pursue a degree if I already have a certificate?

Applicants who have earned a certificate can receive an award to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree, provided they immediately enroll in a two-year or four-year program upon completion of their certificate program, and provided all credits have been accepted by the receiving college.

Can I reenroll as a first-year student and receive an Excelsior Scholarship if I began college many years ago?

No. Students who began an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree who are not on-track to complete on time are not eligible to receive an award.Students who began or completed a certificate program and who had a break in attendance before pursuing their associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to receive an award.

I attend a SUNY campus with a higher tuition rate. Will the additional tuition be covered??

No. The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with all other awards, will only cover tuition up to $6,470 for the 2018-19 academic year.

CSN Team. 

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