NYS Memorial Scholarship

About this scholarship

The NYS Memorial Scholarship is a year-round New York State award for the child, spouse, or financial dependent of a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer, peace officer, New York State correction officer, or emergency medical service worker who died from injuries sustained in the line of duty while serving New York. The award can cover the recipient’s actual cost of attendance up to the average cost of attendance at a state-operated SUNY, although other grants and scholarships may reduce the final payment. Eligible students must attend an approved New York postsecondary institution, matriculate in an approved undergraduate program, remain in good academic standing, and normally enroll full time in at least 12 degree-applicable credits per term. The program has no income limit. Applicants must meet the state’s citizenship or eligible-noncitizen rules; non-New York residents, including undocumented students, must first qualify through the NYS DREAM Act pathway. Initial applicants submit the official NYS Memorial Scholarship Web Supplement, with a separate supplement required for each family member who applies. They must also complete the FAFSA and TAP application, or the applicable DREAM Act route. Once HESC establishes eligibility, recipients request payment in each later academic year and continue filing the required financial-aid applications. Funding may continue for the normal length of an eligible two-, four-, or approved five-year degree program.

Eligibility

• Be the child, spouse, or financial dependent of a qualifying New York firefighter, police or peace officer, correction officer, or emergency medical service worker who died from line-of-duty injuries
• Be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State
• Enroll full time in at least 12 credits per term that apply toward the degree, unless an approved disability accommodation applies
• Be in good academic standing and have a U.S. high school diploma, GED, or approved Ability to Benefit result
• Meet the program’s U.S. citizenship or eligible-noncitizen requirement, or first establish eligibility through the NYS DREAM Act pathway
• Be in good standing on NYS and federal student loans and comply with service conditions attached to prior NYS awards
• Submit the official NYS Memorial Scholarship Web Supplement; each applicant from the same family must submit a separate supplement
• Complete the FAFSA and TAP application, or the applicable DREAM Act application, and renew the required payment applications each academic year