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Scholarships
- Scholarships Find out how to get scholarship money for college that you don’t need to pay back.
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Scholarships
Top New York scholarships for you
Find New York scholarships that can help you pay for college.
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What are New York scholarships?
New York scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in New York or looking to go to school in New York. New York scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for New York scholarships
Before you apply for New York scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for New York scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are New York scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over New York scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find New York scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find New York scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for New York
The DeNise Scholarship Fund
Due: 4/15/2025
No min. GPA Required
$1,000
The DeNise Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Howard DeNise, longtime agriculturalists and Grange members in western New York. This scholarship may be used in any recognized accredited institution of higher learning. Both 2-year associate degree and 4-year baccalaureate degree programs may be pursued. Public and private institutions may be attended within or outside of New York State. Courses of study must entail a major within the field of agriculture. Strong emphasis in awarding these scholarships is placed on need and that the applicants must be agriculturally oriented. Membership or participation must be in the applicant's resume in at least one of the following: FFA, Skills USA, 4-H, FCCLA, or Grange. Applications may be submitted through mail or email. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship
Due: 1/10/2025
No Essays
No Recommendations Required
$1,000
The Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to those with a General Class License or higher. Eligible fields of study are bachelor's degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields. Transcripts must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. If the student is applying for graduate school assistance, high school transcripts are not necessary. The applicant must be holding an amateur radio license for at least one year. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
New York State Tuition Assistance Program
Due: 6/30/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$5,665
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program is available to students attending full-time, part-time, and in non-degree workforce credential programs. Applicants must be a legal New York State resident for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling or qualified under NYS DREAM Act. For academic year 2023-2024, the NYS net taxable income cannot exceed $80,000 for dependent students; $40,000 for married students with no dependents; and $10,000 for independent single students with no dependents. The scholarship will be awarded for 3 years to students pursuing their associate degree full-time; 4 years to students pursuing their bachelor's degree full-time; and 5 years to students in approved five-year degree programs. Applicants must have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test. Applicants must also attend an approved college, be enrolled in a degree-granting program of study and maintain good academic standing, and be charged at least $200 for tuition per year. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Program
Due: 7/12/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$20,000
The purpose of the Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Award Program is to increase the number of physicians practicing in areas of New York State designated by the New York State Board of Regents as having a shortage of physicians. Emphasis is placed on primary care. To be considered, (A) applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in New York State; (B) applicants must have completed a professional residency program within the five years immediately preceding the period for which the first award would be granted or will complete training in 2020 in an accredited residency program in family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine or obstetrics. Psychiatry is also considered primary care in certain State facilities. First priority will be given to applicants who are completing the second year of the service agreement and are reapplying for an additional two-year award. Second priority will be given to new applicants who agree to practice in an area determined by the Regents to have a severe shortage of primary care physician services. Please visit the award's website for more information.
New York Veterans Tuition Awards
Due: 6/30/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The New York Veterans Tuition Awards will be awarded to Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or other eligible combat veterans pursuing an undergraduate, graduate degree or vocational training program. The scholarship is available to students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or in an approved vocational training program in New York State. The scholarship will be awarded for 2 years to students pursuing their associate degree full-time and 4 years for part-time; 4 years to students pursuing their bachelor's degree full-time and 8 years for part-time; 5 years for students in five-year degree programs and 10 years for part-time; 3 years of graduate study for full-time students and 6 years for part-time students; and up to 2 years in an approved vocational training program for full-time students and 4 years for part-time students. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Caroline Guarini Memorial Scholarship
Due: 3/1/2025
No Essays
Amount Varies
The Caroline Guarini Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student majoring in music or a music-related field. Applicants must have an active NIAF Membership. Students may use their parent, guardian or grandparent's membership. Applicants must have Italian American ancestry. To be considered Italian American, the student must have at least one ancestor who has immigrated from Italy. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the National Italian American Foundation for more information.
New York State Aid to Native Americans
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
$2,000
Enrolled members of a New York State tribe or children of an enrolled member of a New York State tribe may be eligible for financial aid through the New York State Aid to Native Americans. Awards are made to all eligible applicants. There is no qualifying examination. Awards are available for 2, 4 or 5-year programs. This scholarship may be awarded for up to four years of full-time study. Students enrolled in specific five-year degree programs will receive funding for the full duration of their programs. Students registered for less than 12 credit hours per semester will be considered part-time and will be funded on a prorated basis. Applications and supporting documentation must be postmarked by July 16 for the fall semester, by January 4 for the spring semester, and by May 20 for the summer session. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,500
The Scholarships for Academic Excellence is open to students who have graduated from a New York State high school. The student must be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program of study in a New York State post-secondary institution and must not be in default on any State or federal student loan or any repayment of state awards. Recipients are selected based on their grades in certain Regents exams. The scholarship must be used within seven years commencing with the first academic year for which the scholarship was awarded. To apply for this award, students must see their high school guidance counselor.
Ann Gibson Scholarship
Due: 5/31/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
$1,000
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a person who has chosen to pursue graduate studies that will lead to New York State certification as a youth specialist in a public library or school media center. Applicants must be a regular or student member of NYLA/YSS at the time of submitting the application. They must not be an officer or employee, or relative of an officer or employee, of the New York Library Association, New York Library Association Council, or the Executive Board of the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association. Applicants must be a resident of (or employed in) New York State at the time of the award. Two supporting statements that document the applicant's competence and commitment to youth services librarianship must be submitted. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for New York scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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