Student-centric advice and objective recommendations
Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.
Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here.
Top New York Scholarships in 2021
New York is so large and diverse that students have plenty of opportunities to intern and network with professionals in a variety of fields including advertising, journalism, medicine, and law. No matter what your major is, there are New York Scholarships to help take a bite out of the cost of attaining your degree in the Big Apple!
Jump ahead to:
- Top New York Scholarships
- Resources for New York Students
- Summary of New York Scholarships
- Upcoming Scholarships
Top New York scholarships in 2021
Check out this list of fantastic scholarships for students pursuing a degree in New York.
Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: High school seniors with Long Island residency, 3.5 GPA, financial need, and plans to pursue a degree in the field of special education at a an accredited U.S. college or university
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March 30, 2021
John Lepping Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students with physical or psychological disabilities residing in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: May 1, 2021
PMI New York City Chapter Scholarship
- Eligibility: Enrolled in or applying for an accredited degree program in project management, with priority given to members of the PMI NYC Chapter attending or planning to attend college in the NYC Metropolitan Area
- Amount: Up to $2,500
- Deadline: May 1, 2021
Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from CT or the NYC metro area planning to attend an institution of higher education anywhere in the U.S., as well as residents of the U.S. planning to attend an institution of higher education in CT or NYC
- Amount: $20,000 (up to $5000 per year for four years)
- Deadline: May 3, 2021
Excellence in Accounting Scholarship
- Eligibility: Enrolled or accepted at an accredited New York State college or university with plans to pursue a degree in accounting
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: May 9, 2021
Regional Jean Degrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Migrant farmworkers or children of migrant farmworkers who are high school seniors in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester Counties
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: April 1, 2021
NYS Friends of Senator Jack Perry Migrant Scholarship
- Eligibility: New York State high school seniors with history of migrant farm working and need for financial support
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: April 30, 2021
NYS Patrick Crowley Homeless Migrant Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors with a history of migration to or within New York State who have been identified as homeless during their high school career
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: April 30, 2021
Virginia W. Smith Scholarship
- Eligibility: Long Island high school seniors with plans to study horticulture, conservation or environmental issues at the college level
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: April 30, 2021
NYS Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Full-time students at an approved New York State college or university who are family 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
- Amount: Up to $24,880 for on-campus residents and up to $15,890 for commuters
- Deadline: June 30, 2021
NYS Robert Apicella Good Samaritan Migrant Scholarship
- Eligibility: New York State high school senior with a history of migrant farm working and has demonstrated a caring and giving attitude toward another individual or community
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: April 30, 2021
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Eligibility: New York State high school graduates with good academic standing and plans to study at an approved New York State college or university
- Amount: Up to $1,500 per year for up to five years of study
- Deadline: June 30, 2021
World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school graduates enrolled in a New York State college who are children, spouses, or financial dependents of the innocent victims who died or were severely disabled as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
- Amount: Up to $24,250 for on-campus residents and up to $15,750 for commuters
- Deadline: June 30, 2021
Resources for New York students
New York State Tuition Assistance Program
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is designed to help eligible New York residents attending in-state colleges and universities pay for tuition. Annual TAP awards can be as high as $5,165.
NYS STEM Incentive Program
The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards for eligible New York residents pursuing a degree in STEM. To qualify, candidates must be high school seniors or recent high school graduates ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class at a NYS high school and enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree in STEM at a NYS college. Award amounts can be as high as $6,870.
Frequently asked questions about New York scholarships
Does NYU give a lot of scholarships?
New York University (NYU) offers very few exclusively merit-based scholarships, which students are automatically considered for upon applying to attend NYU. However, there are a variety of federal and state grant programs, state scholarships, and scholarships and grants from other organizations that can help cover the cost of tuition at NYU for students with financial need.
How do you qualify for free tuition in New York?
The Excelsior Scholarship allows eligible New York State residents to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have a federal income of $125,000 or less, attend a SUNY or CUNY undergraduate program, take 30 credits per calendar year, and plan to live and work in New York following graduation for the length of time they participate in the scholarship program.
Summary of New York Scholarships
- Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program
- John Lepping Memorial Scholarship
- PMI New York City Chapter Scholarship
- Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity
- Excellence in Accounting Scholarship
- Regional Jean Degrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship
- NYS Friends of Senator Jack Perry Migrant Scholarship
- NYS Patrick Crowley Homeless Migrant Scholarship
- Virginia W. Smith Scholarship
- NYS Memorial Scholarship
- NYS Robert Apicella Good Samaritan Migrant Scholarship
- NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship
Upcoming New York scholarships
Rose Biller Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Jewish students with financial need enrolled at undergraduate or graduate schools schools located in the New York Metropolitan Area
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: Opens April 1, deadline May 31, 2021
Jean and Albert Nerken Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Jewish international students (without U.S. citizenship) studying in the New York Metropolitan Area
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Opens April 1, deadline May 31, 2021
