Act Now to Receive Free Tuition (NYS Excelsior Scholarship)
Fall 2024 Excelsior Scholarship is now open and accepting applications through August 31, 2024.
How to Apply
- To receive the Excelsior Scholarship, you must first apply for:
- Admission to RCC, if you have not done so already
- 2024/25 FAFSA
- 2024/25 NYS TAP
NOTE: The FAFSA and TAP applications must be completed 5 days prior to the August 31, 2024 closing date to ensure that NYS can process your Excelsior Scholarship application.
Eligibility
- Family’s federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be less than $125,000. Student must meet general NYS grant eligibility criteria:
- A resident of New York State for one year
- High School graduate, GED/HSE recipient, or gain acceptance into RCC’s 24-credit program
- Attend full-time (12 credits or more per semester)
- Earn 30 credits each year and make progress to graduate on-time (in two years)
- Student must agree to live/work in New York State after leaving college for the number of years equal to the awards received
- Failure to meet the live/work requirement results in the scholarship’s conversion to an interest-free loan
Continuing RCC Students
- Must have started in Fall 2023 or later
- Must have attended full-time in consecutive semesters (no breaks in attendance)
- Must have earned 30 credits per year and be progressing towards degree within 2 years from start
- Must be working on a first degree (students with prior AA’s or BA/BS’s are not eligible)
Learn More
- Contact Financial Aid
- For more information visit www.hesc.ny.gov