NYS Memorial Scholarship

The NYS Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers (including NYS Correction 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.

  • NYS Memorial Scholarship
  • DREAM Act Memorial Scholarship Applicants

Eligibility

An applicant must:

  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
  • be a child, spouse or financial dependent of deceased firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer (including NYS Correction Officers), or emergency medical service worker who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York;
  • have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma earned, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
  • study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State;
  • be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program of study;
  • be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester applicable toward the degree program;
  • be in good academic standing;
  • be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or or repayment of any NYS award; and
  • be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award.

Click here if you do not meet the above eligibility requirements.

Award Amount

For the 2023-24 academic year, a recipient will receive a maximum of $26,830 if living on campus and a maximum of $16,500 if commuting to college. Note: Students choosing to live off campus when housing is available will be paid a the lower commuter rate.

  • Tuition: an amount equal to your actual tuition or the State University of New York’s (SUNY) in-state tuition, whichever is less.
  • Non-tuition Costs: such as room and board, books, supplies and transportation up to the non-tuition cost allowances at SUNY colleges.
    • Type of housing affects the total amount, with an on-campus student receiving a higher room and board allowance than a commuter student; however, if housing is not available on campus, the student will receive the same allowance as students living on campus.

Receipt of other grants and scholarships may reduce the Memorial Scholarships award amount. The total of all aid received cannot be greater than the cost of attendance determined for federal Title IV student financial aid purposes.

Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Duration

Recipients are entitled to payment for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if enrolled in a bachelor degree program approved as a program normally requiring five years of study.

How to Apply

Complete and submit the NYS Memorial Scholarship Web Supplement. Be sure to print the Web Supplement Confirmation, sign, date and submit it, along with the required documentation.

If more than one member of a family applies for a Memorial Scholarships award, each family member must submit a separate supplement.

How to Request Payment

Award recipients must request payment by June 30 of each academic year:

  • Current New York State residents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the TAP on the Web application linked directly to the FAFSA.
  • Non-New York State residents must contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 888-697-4372 to request a Scholarship and Grant Payment Application.

HESC makes payments to schools upon certification of eligibility and submission of appropriate financial aid applications.

Questions?

Please contact the Scholarship Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions about this Program

Eligibility

  1. Your permanent home is in NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U-Visa
    2. T-Visa
    3. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    4. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    5. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      3. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.
  2. Your permanent home is outside of NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U.S. citizen
    2. Permanent lawful resident
    3. Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S.
    4. U-Visa
    5. T-Visa
    6. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    7. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    8. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma,and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      3. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.

Note: A student seeking New York State financial aid, including TAP, for the first time, must pass a federally approved ATB test identified by the Board of Regents if the student does not possess a U.S. high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

Award Amount

For the 2019-20 academic year, a recipient will receive a maximum of $13,045 per semester if living on campus and a maximum of $8,295 per semester if commuting to college. Note: Students choosing to live off campus when housing is available will be paid a the lower commuter rate.

  • Tuition: an amount equal to your actual tuition or the State University of New York’s (SUNY) in-state tuition, whichever is less.
  • Non-tuition Costs: such as room and board, books, supplies and transportation up to the non-tuition cost allowances at SUNY colleges.
    • Type of housing affects the total amount, with an on-campus student receiving a higher room and board allowance than a commuter student; however, if housing is not available on campus, the student will receive the same allowance as students living on campus.

Receipt of other grants and scholarships may reduce the Memorial Scholarships award amount. The total of all aid received cannot be greater than the cost of attendance determined for federal Title IV student financial aid purposes.

Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Duration

Recipients are entitled to payment for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if enrolled in a bachelor degree program approved as a program normally requiring five years of study.

How to Apply

Students newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for the NYS Memorial Scholarship. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to log into your account and add a new application to apply for the NYS Memorial Scholarship.

If you are newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act, you must apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for Enhanced Tuition Awards. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to add a new application to apply for Enhanced Tuition Awards. 

Monitoring the Status of Your Application

Once you have submitted an application, it is your responsibility to monitor the status of your application and to make sure your application is complete. You will be able to monitor the status of your application online after submitting your application and uploading any required documentation.

Award Notification and Acceptance

You will be notified by email when a determination has been made regarding your eligibility for each award for which you have applied. If you are determined to be eligible for an award, your next step will be to accept the award!

Payment

To receive award payments after the initial application year, a NYS Memorial Scholarship recipient who qualifies under the DREAM Act must annually complete a payment application. Recipients under the DREAM Act who are eligible for federal student aid must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

 

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