A: New York is the first state in the country to provide tuition-free college at New York’s public colleges and universities to New York students pursuing undergraduate degrees full-time and whose families make $110,000 for 2018-19, or $125,000 for 2019-20 and later academic years.

A:The scholarship covers tuition at SUNY Canton and other SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities.

The scholarship does not cover other costs of college, such as room and board, books, fees, transportation, etc.

Students enrolling in a two-year program are eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship for up to two years; students enrolling in a four-year program are eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship for up to four years (this may be extended to five years in cases where the program typically takes five years to complete).

Excelsior does not cover one-year Certificate programs.

A: For the 2019-20 academic year and beyond, students and families earning $125,000 or less (as reported on the 2018 federal taxes and beyond) will be eligible.

A: In order to be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must reside in New York State for twelve continuous months prior to the term for which the scholarship is being sought. This is the same requirement for TAP.

A:Students that have earned an associate’s degree are not eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship for an additional associate’s degree.

Students that have earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship for any additional coursework.

Students who have successfully completed a two-year degree are eligible for an additional two years of funding to complete a bachelor’s degree, as long as the college to which the student transfers accepts all of the credits from the two year program, there has been no break in attendance and they meet all other eligibility requirements.

A: Students must enroll full-time in a New York public college or university.

For any student receiving the Excelsior Scholarship they must enroll in a minimum of 12 (non-remedial) credits per semester applicable to the student’s degree program and to continue to be eligible, he/she must continue to successfully complete 30 credits per year (including winter and summer terms) toward their degree program. Remedial credits cannot count toward full time or the 30 credit hours.

Exceptions exist for students meeting ADA (American with Disabilities Act) definitions and students in EOP (Educational Opportunity Program).

A: Yes. Current students, must be enrolled full-time and have successfully completed 30 college credits toward their major each year (including winter and summer terms) prior to applying for the Excelsior Scholarship.

A. For any student receiving the Excelsior Scholarship to continue to be eligible, he/she must continue to successfully complete 30 credits per year toward their degree program (including winter and summer terms) and must enroll for at least 12 credits per semester toward their degree program.

Students who do not successfully complete at least 30 credits per year (including winter and summer terms) can lose this scholarship.

However, the program has built-in flexibility that allows students to interrupt their scholarship benefits and re-enter the program in extenuating circumstances, including but not limited to the death of a family member, medical leave, military service, and parental leave.

Students considered disabled as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act will not be subject to the 30-credit yearly requirement or the 12-credit semester requirement. These students may be part time but need to successfully complete all credits they enroll for.

A: There is not a GPA requirement for new students to be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship.

Once the Excelsior Scholarship is awarded, the student must maintain a GPA sufficient for continued progression toward on-time graduation in the student’s program of study.

A: Students whose tuition is covered in full by TAP and Pell Grants are not eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship.

This is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning that for eligible students, the State will cover the difference between full tuition minus all other grants and scholarships which can apply toward tuition.

A: Excelsior Scholarship recipients must agree to live in New York after completing their degree for the length of time equal to the awards received. For example, a student receiving the Excelsior Scholarship for two years must commit to living in New York – and not working in any other state – for at least two years following completion of the degree.

Students may defer this requirement if they go out of state to finish their undergraduate education or pursue a graduate degree, but upon completion of that degree they must return to New York for the specified time.

Failure to meet this requirement converts the award from a scholarship to a student loan which must be repaid in full.

A: The Excelsior application is available prior to the Fall and Spring semesters. Check the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) website for availability.

To apply for the Excelsior program, you must have already filed your Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) and a NYS TAP application for that academic year.

A: You can contact our Admissions Office (admissions@canton.edu) at (315) 386-7123 or Financial Aid (finaid@canton.edu) at (315) 386-7616. You may also call either office toll-free at 1-800-388-7123.

Additional information can be found on the SUNY website and the HESC website.