• Each scholarship winner must graduate from a New York State high school by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

• If the scholarship candidate is a U.S. citizen, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or an individual of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general of the United States under the parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the United States then the student must:

  • have graduated from a New York State high school;

  • be a full-time, matriculated student in an approved undergraduate program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution;

  • be in good academic standing;

  • not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards; and

  • be a New York State resident.

• DREAM ACT CRITERIA: The Senator Jose Peralta NYS DREAM Act (DREAM Act) allows undocumented and other eligible students to apply for New York State financial aid programs provided they meet the following eligibility requirements. 1. If the student’s permanent home is in NYS, and the student is or has ONE of the following:

  • U-Visa

  • T-Visa

  • Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990

  • Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)

  • AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:

    • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR

    • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR

    • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR

    • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR

    • You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

  • The student’s permanent home is outside of NYS and the student is or has ONE of the following: a. U.S. citizen b. Permanent lawful resident c. Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S. d. U-Visa e. T-Visa f. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990 g. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status) h. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:

    • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR

    • You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR

    • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR

    • You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR

    • You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

•  To utilize the benefits of the scholarship, the winner must be in attendance as a full-time, matriculated student at an approved New York State postsecondary institution by the Fall 2025 semester. Winners who enroll in an out-of-state institution in Fall 2025 are not eligible and forfeit the award.

• If a winner is not accepted as a full-time, matriculated student at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State by the Fall 2025 semester, the scholarship may be accepted and enrollment postponed for a period of one year.

A high school shall use uniform criteria for the selection of scholarship nominees.

Regents Test Scores:
The high school shall select their winner(s) by computing a weighted average of the scores on the Regents examinations. Exams to be included are comprehensive English, global studies, US History/government, mathematics B and two or more of the following sciences: earth science, living environment/biology, chemistry and physics.

 APPLY OR FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE NYS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM