More than 1,500 UB students took advantage of the New York State Excelsior Scholarship this year, according to The Buffalo News.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the Excelsior Scholarship in April of 2017, as a “last-dollar” initiative to help lower-income students attend college and universities tuition-free. The Excelsior Scholarship covered up to $5,500 for students in 2017-2018, according to the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation website.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must be New York State residents whose family household federal adjusted gross income is equal to or less than $100,000. Students must take 30 credit hours per academic year and are required to live and work in New York State after they graduate for the amount of years they received the scholarship.
The scholarship does not cover fees or other indirect costs. Students attending SUNY campuses with higher tuition and fees do not receive additional coverage through the scholarship. UB estimates one academic year for a NYS resident will cost $26,230; leaving Excelsior recipients to cover a $20,730 gap.
Of the 22,000-plus students who received the Excelsior Scholarship this year, one-fifth attend colleges and universities in Western New York.
Sarah Crowley is the senior news editor and can be reached at sarah.crowley@ubspectrum.com
