FREE TUITION for Eligible New York State Residents

For eligible New York State residents, your degree can be tuition free!

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Check Your Eligibility

Your tuition may be 100% covered through a combination of federal grants, state aid, and Excelsior institutional funding for qualified New York state residents. We’re excited to help you take the next step to find out what financial aid you qualify for so you move forward with your degree with confidence.

Have you lived in New York State for at least the past 12 months?*

Is your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) $60,000 or less?*

What is your dependency status?*

Are you a U.S. citizen or U.S. national?*

What level degree would you like to earn?*

You’re likely eligible for free tuition!

Ready to make it official? The fastest way to confirm your eligibility is to fill out the FAFSA using Excelsior University’s school code: 014251.

Here are your steps to free tuition:

Complete your FAFSA.
Complete your TAP application.
Apply to Excelsior University.

What happens next?

Provide a few more details and our Admissions team will review your admissions application for you to become a student at Excelsior, and our Financial Aid team will confirm your eligibility for free tuition.

Anything that these sources of aid don’t cover, Excelsior will.We guarantee it.  Questions? Admissions counselors are here to help.

You could be eligible for free tuition!

Let’s find out for sure. The fastest way to confirm your eligibility is to fill out the FAFSA using Excelsior University’s school code: 014251.

Here are your steps to find out whether you’re eligible for free tuition:

Complete your FAFSA.
Complete your TAP application.
Apply to Excelsior University.

What happens next?

Your eligibility needs review.

We want to make sure you take advantage of all the financial aid you can. Although you may not be eligible for free tuition at this time, that doesn’t mean you’re not qualified for financial aid.

Complete the FAFSA to unlock federal grants, low-interest student loans, state aid, and Excelsior scholarships that can help make your education more affordable.

To further help students to keep education costs manageable, Excelsior offers tuition discounts and access to a scholarship-matching platform that includes scholarships awarded by Excelsior and external sources.

Here are your next steps to understanding what aid you can receive:

Complete your FAFSA using Excelsior University’s school code: 014251.
Complete your TAP application..

Our admission counselors are ready to help you find ways to keep your education affordable.

Your name*

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What field of study interests you most?*

How did you hear about Excelsior’s Free Tuition for New York Residents?

By submitting this form, I agree to receive email, voice, and/or SMS/text communication from Excelsior University and its agents via the telephone number and email address I provide for purposes related to my education. I understand that my contact information will not be shared with third parties for other purposes, and I may opt out of this agreement at any time.

New York

Who Is Eligible?

If you’re an eligible New York state resident and your household makes $60,000 or less, Excelsior University guarantees you free undergraduate tuition.

Basic Requirements

Meet income requirements
Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at  Excelsior University
U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
New York state resident for at least 12 months

You can use federal and state grants to fully cover the cost of tuition and course fees. And if these grants leave a funding gap, Excelsior will make up the difference.

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Your Education—Without Debt

Earning your degree is a huge step and one that can change the course for your career and your family. At Excelsior, taking on a huge amount of debt to pay for your education doesn’t have to be part of your story.

Excelsior is one of the top 10 private, nonprofit colleges and universities in New York State by enrollment.

How free tuition works

It all starts by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so you can apply for financial aid.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) funds cover a base layer of tuition costs for eligible students based on financial need.

New York State TAP

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program provides state-funded grants for eligible New York residents.

Excelsior Funds the Rest

Excelsior University will fill any remaining tuition gap after a Pell Grant and TAP are applied. It will also pay for eligible fees.

Excelsior will pay any tuition and course-related fees that are not covered by Pell and TAP grants. 100%

It’s not a loan, it’s better way forward and just one more way we’re committed to making higher education accessible to all.

How to Start Your Degree Tuition-Free

Check Your Eligibility

See If You Qualify

Submit Your FAFSA

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Excelsior’s school code: 014251. Use the 2026–2027 application to start in Excelsior’s Fall Trimester!

Apply for New York State Financial Aid

Complete the New York State TAP application either through the FAFSA or through the HESC site directly. Use Excelsior’s HESC number: 0999.

Apply to Excelsior University

Submit your application for admission to Excelsior University. You must be admitted into an associate degree or bachelor’s degree program at Excelsior to receive funding. One of our admissions counselors can help you find the program that’s right for you.

What Happens Next

Financial Aid will review your applications and eligibility

Financial Aid will review your applications and eligibility. If you qualify for funding, you can register for courses for free!

Submit Required Documents

After you are admitted and Excelsior has received your FAFSA and TAP applications, you submit:

High school diploma or equivalent
Signed TAP Study Plan identifying the courses you intend to take toward your degree

Aid Is Applied

Once TAP and federal funding has been received, Excelsior will add scholarship funds to your account to cover any remaining amount!

FAFSA

TAP Application

Admission

Documentation

Enrollment

Tuition Covered

Anything grants don't cover, we'll cover 100%

Financial aid isn’t just funding. It’s the bridge between where you are and where you’re meant to be. Our free tuition initiative helps you cross that bridge with confidence —removing cost as a barrier and replacing it with possibility.”

Elizabeth Petroski, Executive Director of Student Financial Services

Don’t Wait —START NOW!

Fall Term courses begin August 31, 2026. Get started today!

See If You Qualify

FAQs

Do I have to repay the grants?

No. Federal grants, including the Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), grants awarded by the New York State Tuition Assistance Program, and grants from Excelsior University do not need to be repaid.

What happens if I'm part-time?

If you are a part-time student, you must take 3–11 credits within a term period and meet the other eligibility requirements for TAP.

Can I still qualify if I've already received TAP before?

If you’ve received TAP before, you must have remaining TAP eligibility (points) that will cover the duration of your degree program.

What is the TAP Study Plan?

The TAP Study Plan is a required Excelsior financial aid form that students receive after admission and complete, sign, and upload to confirm planned courses for TAP processing.

Is there a GPA requirement?

Students must maintain good academic standing and achieve a cumulative 2.0 grade point average to receive TAP.

Funding is based on your current eligibility. To qualify, you must be a dependent student or an independent student with at least one dependent, have an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less, and be eligible for both the Federal Pell Grant and New York State TAP.

You’ll also need to have enough remaining Pell and TAP eligibility to finish your degree.

Pell Grant and TAP funds will be applied to your account first. If there’s still an eligible balance for tuition and fees after that, Excelsior institutional funding may cover the rest.

Final eligibility and award amounts may change based on a review of your financial information, available funding, and state or federal requirements.