New York Excelsior Scholarship (Free College)

Summary

New York was the first state to offer a tuition-free, four-year public college education to middle-class and low-income residents, but it comes with strict postgraduate residency strings attached.

Rights & Rules

01.
If your family's adjusted gross income is under $125,000 per year, your tuition at any SUNY (State University of New York) or CUNY (City University of New York) college is completely covered.
02.
You must take at least 30 credits per year and be on track to graduate on time.
03.
The scholarship covers TUITION only. It does not cover room, board, textbooks, or other university fees.
04.
THE CATCH: You are legally required to live and work in New York State for the same number of years you received the scholarship after you graduate.

Penalties

01.
If you fail to complete your degree, or if you move out of New York State before finishing your residency requirement, the scholarship immediately converts into a 10-year, zero-interest student loan that you MUST pay back to the state.

Verified Citations

New York Education Law Section 669-h

Source

"An applicant... shall agree to reside exclusively in New York state, and shall not be employed in any other state, for a continuous number of years equal to the duration of the award received... If such conditions are not met, the award shall be converted to a student loan..."