Tuition-Free

TAP + Pell Grants

Live at home and qualify for Pell and TAP?

If you live at home and qualify for both the Federal Pell Grant and New York State TAP, your grants may cover all of your out-of-pocket Buffalo State tuition and mandatory fees.

Pell eligibility and award amounts vary, and TAP has its own eligibility requirements. The maximum Pell Grant is $7,395 per year, while TAP can provide additional assistance; the actual TAP amount depends on the student's circumstances.

Apply for TAP and other NYS grants. 

Excelsior Scholarship

Live in New York and earn $125,000 or less?

Eligible New York State residents with a household income of $125,000 or less may qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, which can cover SUNY tuition.

Requirements

• Residency: Must be a New York State resident for 12 continuous months prior to the term.
• Enrollment: Must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program and complete at least 30 credits per year.
• Post-Graduation Rule: Must agree to live and work in New York State for the same number of years the scholarship was received.

The Excelsior Scholarship application reopens in May 2027.  

Sign up to be notified when it reopens.

Say Yes Buffalo

Graduated from a Buffalo public or charter school?

Say Yes Buffalo provides scholarships to eligible graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools who attend State University of New York (SUNY) schools.

What it covers
Covered: Tuition ($7,070 a year).
Not covered: Fees (about $1,358), housing, meals, and books.

The Buffalo State University Say Yes Program is an undergraduate student support program committed to supporting students’ intellectual, personal, academic, and professional growth throughout their college career.

Stanley Simmons
Buffalo State University 
Say Yes Program Coordinator
520 South Wing
716 878-5937
simmonsd@buffalostate.edu
sayyesbuffalo@buffalostate.edu