SUNY Reports Rush of Applicants Seeking Free Tuition

New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship program has already begun to make its mark at some of the Rochester area’s public colleges. Signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 12, the Excelsior Scholarship program allows qualified students to attend state institutions of higher learning tuition-free. About 80,000 students could qualify for the aid, according to the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. Lawmakers budgeted $87 million to implement the program in the upcoming school year alone. It does not cover room, board, fees or the costs of textbooks.