Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content

Thrive On: The Campaign for Utica University →

Utica University Logo
  • Academics
    • Programs
      • Utica at Florida
    • Utica at Florida
    • Online Study
    • Graduate Study
    • International Ed & Study Abroad
      • Study Abroad
    • Exceptional Faculty
    • Research & Experiential Learning
    • Student Support and Success
    • Core Curriculum
    • Schedules and Resources
    • Institutes and Centers
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Understanding Financial Aid
      • Value
      • Excelsior, Explained
      • University Scholarships
      • Endowed Scholarships
      • Annual Awards
      • Utica Enhanced Tuition Award
    • Applying For Financial Aid
    • Tuition and Fees
      • Tuition and Fees - Undergraduate Campus
      • Undergraduate Online Tuition and Fees
      • Florida Programs Tuition and Fees
      • ABSN Program Tuition
      • Graduate Tuition and Fees
    • Net Price Calculator
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Admissions
    • Transfer Admissions
      • Articulation Agreements
    • Florida Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
      • International Inquiry Form
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visit
      • Utica University Campus
      • Virtual Tour
    • Apply Now
    • Contact Us
    • Accepted Student Info
    • High School Counselors
    • High School Bridge Program
  • College Community
    • Living on Campus
      • Student Living
      • Campus Engagement and Student Activities
      • Dining
      • Greek Life
      • Campus Safety
      • Utica University Campus
    • Satellite Locations
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Bias Incident Reporting
      • Community Connections
      • DEI Collaborative
      • DEI Events
      • Dialogue on Race and Equity
      • LACRELA
      • Our Staff
      • Pronouns
      • Readings on Race and the Black Experience
      • Utica University Stance Statement
      • Wilcox Center
    • The Utica Area
      • Hotels and Restaurants in the Utica Area
    • Utica Stories
    • About Utica
  • Athletics
  • News & Events
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Apply Now
  • Directory
  • About
  • Library
  • Logins
  • 75th
  • COVID-19
Utica University
Undergraduate Commencement at Utica College

Excelsior, Explained

  1. Tuition and Financial Aid
  2. Understanding Financial Aid
  3. Excelsior, Explained

Understanding Financial Aid

  • Value
    • Outcome Stories
  • Excelsior, Explained
  • University Scholarships
  • Endowed Scholarships
  • Annual Awards
  • Utica Enhanced Tuition Award

What you need to know about New York's Excelsior scholarship.

The Facts behind "Free" Tuition.

You may see many public higher education institutions talking about New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship. While some may refer to this as “free college,” it’s important to understand exactly what the Excelsior Scholarship does and doesn’t cover at state institutions in order to understand the value at a school like Utica University.

The Excelsior Scholarship, upon being awarded, covers the tuition at a state institution. Room, board, books, fees, etc, still remain the responsibility of the student, at times far outweighing the cost of the covered tuition.

In fact, Utica University's price for many students drops down to near a State University of New York (SUNY) price, even if they were to be awarded free tuition there. And when you factor in not only affordability, but also the quality experiences and successful results you get at Utica University, our value advantage is clear.

Utica UniversitySUNY with "Free" Tuition
Scholarships and grants can reduce tuition for families from all income levels.Free tuition eligibility only for New York families with annual income of less than $100,000 in 2017 (phased up to $110,000 in 2018 and to $125,000 in 2019.)
Scholarship and grant amounts average from $7,000 to more than $14,000 for families with income of $110,000 or less.The free tuition scholarship amounts to an average of $6,470.
95% of students receive financial aidAs few as 5% of eligible students are expected to receive the free tuition scholarship.
An endowment assures the availability of scholarship and grant funding.State funding may not be sufficient to award free tuition scholarships to all who qualify.
Students exceed the national on-time graduation rate even with freedom to vary their course loads.There is no flexibility in credit hours per year for students who wish to keep the free tuition scholarship.
Graduates can live and work anywhere without financial aid repayment consequence.Graduates must live and work in New York for the same number of years they received the scholarship, or else must repay it.

Contact Us

Center for Student Success

Center for Student Success

(315) 792-3179
finaid@utica.edu
Affordability + Quality + Results = ValuePlay Video

Tuition Myth Busting

Enjoy this brief whiteboard video debunking some popular myths about college tuition, value, and affordability.

Utica In The News

NYS Supreme Court Justice Janet Malone '86 speaks at the 2022 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.
Alumni

Making History - New York State Supreme Court Justice Janet Malone '86

In every respect, Justice Malone represents the values that define Utica University and its distinguished alumni. She is a true...
Audrey Cross
In the News

The Hayner-Hoyt Corporation to Offer Utica University Construction Management Scholarship

Jeremy Thurston, president of The Hayner Hoyt Corporation, and Dr. Laura Casamento, Utica University president, announced the establishment of an...
Utica University
In the News

Utica College is Now Utica University

Utica College is now Utica University. President Laura Casamento announced today that the New York State Board of Regents has...
All Stories
How To Apply Visit Campus Contact Us
Academic Quad at Utica College

I would like to see logins and resources for:

For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.

Utica University Logo
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Academics
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Admissions
  • College Community
  • Athletics
1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502
Map & Directions
(315) 792-3006
Contact Us
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Bookstore
  • Disability Learning Support
  • Student Right to Know
2021-2022 College of Distinction2020-2021 New York College of Distinction2021-2022 Business College of Distinction2021-2022 Education College of Distinction2021-2022 Nursing College of Distinction2021-2022 Career Development College of Distinction2021-2022 Equity & Inclusion College of Distinction2021-2022 Military Friendly School

US News Award for Social Mobility