Center for Student Success
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Excelsior, Explained
What you need to know about New York's Excelsior scholarship.
Free vs. "Free"
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 ... and now, with Pioneer Passport, qualified first-year students can attend Utica tuition-free. 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 University | SUNY with "Free" Tuition |
|---|---|
| Scholarships and grants can reduce tuition for families from all income levels. First-year students who meet eligibility requirements for Pioneer Passport attend tuition-free. | 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 aid | As 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. |
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Free Tuition for Qualified Applicants
With Pioneer Passport, qualified first-year students can attend Utica University tuition-free. Opportunity meets affordability - how easy is that?
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Tuition Myth Busting
Enjoy this brief whiteboard video debunking some popular myths about college tuition, value, and affordability.
Utica In The News
Utica University's Dr. Luke Perry Honored as Fulbright Distinguished U.S. Scholar
Dr. Luke Perry, distinguished professor of political science at Utica University, has been selected by the U.S. Department of State...
Utica University to confer honorary degree on Akira Armstrong ’05
During its 76th undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 9, Utica University will confer an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts...
Utica University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Achieves Prestigious 10-Year Re-accreditation
As National Physical Therapy Month comes to an end, Utica University proudly announces the re-accreditation of its Doctor of Physical...
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