Governor Kathy Hochul declared October as College Application Month, waiving application fees at nearly 130 colleges statewide, including SUNY, CUNY, and private schools. Fee waivers save students $50–$90 per application and are available mostly from October 1 to early November, with some schools offering them year-round.
In addition, applications are open for 2026–2027 financial aid:
FAFSA: Federal aid and eligibility for state programs
TAP: Now open to more students, including part-timers
STEM Scholarship: Covers SUNY/CUNY tuition for top 10% graduates who work in STEM in NY
Excelsior: Makes SUNY/CUNY tuition-free when combined with other aid
FAFSA completion is up 12% statewide since new legislation, ranking NY 6th in the U.S.
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