Other NYS Scholarships & Awards

New York State offers a variety of other grants and scholarships administered through HESC. Keep in mind that some may require additional applications, require a service obligation, or may not be offered at OCC.

NYS Scholarships

Scholarship	Summary
Excelsior Scholarship	The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. For the 2025-26 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2023 are eligible to apply.
Enhanced Tuition Awards	This program enables students attending private colleges to receive financial assistance to complete their college degree. The program provides a maximum award of $3,000, requires private colleges to provide a match and freeze student tuition for the duration of the award – maximizing the financial benefit to the student.
New York State Part-time Scholarship (PTS) Award	The New York State Part-Time Scholarship Award Program provides scholarship awards to students who attend a SUNY or CUNY Community College part-time and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students can receive $1,500 per semester for up to 2 years.
NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program	The NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program grants awards for child welfare workers employed at voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Recipients must agree to live in NYS and work at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency licensed by OCFS for 5 years after graduation, and can use the award to get an associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree for not more than 2 years, 4 years, and 2 years, respectively.
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence	Awarded to outstanding graduates from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on student grades in certain Regents exams. For up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State.
New York State Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS)	The New York State Achievement and Investment in Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS) provides high school graduates who excel academically with $500 in merit-based scholarships to support their cost of attendance at any college or university located in New York State.
NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program	The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides awards for full-time study up to the annual tuition charged to NYS resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less, for the top 10 percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an associates or bachelor degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for 5 years after graduation.
NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship	Provides grants to eligible full-time undergraduate or graduate students in approved programs that lead to math or science teaching careers in secondary education.
NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship	Guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of the victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts.
NYS Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship	The New York State Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program provides 500 top undergraduate students full graduate tuition awards annually, to pursue their Masters in Education at a SUNY or CUNY college or university. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled full-time in a master's degree in education program and agree to teach in a NYS public elementary or secondary school for five years following completion of his or her degree.
Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship	The Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship program seeks to increase the number of educators and adjunct clinical faculty teaching nursing education in New York State.
Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute - MERIT Scholarship	Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who at any time, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not.
Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship	Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009.
American Airlines Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship	For the families and financial dependents of victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 on November 12, 2001.
NYS Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers	Provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. For study in New York State.

NYS Awards

Award	Summary
Veterans Tuition Awards	Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or other eligible combat veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State are eligible for awards for full or part-time study.
NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans	Provided to students whose parent(s) have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency.
NYS Aid to Native Americans	Provides aid to enrolled members of tribes listed on the official roll of New York State tribes or to the child of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe. For study in New York State.
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award	Provided to New York State residents interested in high quality opportunities in community service.