Say Yes to Education, Inc.

• Reside in the city of Buffalo
• At minimum, complete grades 9-12, in consecutive years, at a public or charter school in the city of Buffalo. With proper documentation, the following students are automatically deemed eligible regardless of consecutive years of completion in a Buffalo public or charter school:
  • Legally designated as having McKinney-Vento status
  • Have refugee status on an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or be an otherwise eligible noncitizen
  • Have documented Foster Care placement or are a ward of the court, or
  • Enroll in and complete the Buffalo Public School Adult Education College Career Institute (CCI)
• Graduate from a public or charter school in Buffalo beginning in June 2013
• Enroll full-time at a Say Yes Buffalo partner college within one year of high school graduation
• Complete all financial aid paperwork, including financial aid verification (if applicable) by December 1 for fall semesters and February 15 for spring semesters
• Apply for all federal and state financial aid programs available (FAFSA and TAP), including Selective Service as required by law

Please note, students that are only eligible for a tiered award from Say Yes can also apply for Excelsior to cover the gap in tuition coverage. Please note, New York State’s Excelsior program has its own application process and deadlines.

The amount of a Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship for SUNY/CUNY schools is determined by the number of consecutive years a student has attended a public or charter school in Buffalo.

Refer to the chart below to determine the amount of tuition a student is eligible for:

• Reside in Syracuse during high school enrollment and at time of high school graduation
• Graduate from a Syracuse City School District high school or Syracuse charter high school
  • Students must complete grades 10 – 12 in a Syracuse City School District or Syracuse charter high school or grades 9 – 11 for early graduates. Continuous enrollment is required unless a student has a *continuous enrollment exception.
• Enroll as a Full-Time College Student
  • All eligible students must be admitted as a full-time student at a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university within a year of high school graduation.
  • Students must be enrolled at the college or university full-time (a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester unless otherwise indicated by the college or university) to be eligible for a Say Yes Tuition Scholarship. It is important that they work closely with their high school guidance counselor to ensure that they have taken appropriate courses, standardized tests (SATs and ACTs), and meet all college admission requirements and deadlines.
  • Students with a documented 504 Plan and IEP status: can contact Say Yes Syracuse for further information regarding eligibility and requirements.
• Apply and Qualify for Financial Aid
  • Students must apply and qualify for financial aid at a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university prior to every year they attend college by completing a FAFSA and a TAP application. Some private colleges, such as Syracuse University, also require that students complete a CSS Financial Aid Profile.
  • Say Yes Tuition Scholarships are considered “last dollar scholarships” and can only be determined after a student has applied and qualified for financial aid at the college or university they plan to attend.
  • The hard deadline to submit FAFSA and TAP applications is August 1 following a students’ high school graduation.
  • We recommend that students first complete their financial aid applications, both FAFSA and TAP well before the July 1 Say Yes Syracuse application deadline following their high school graduation.
  • Individual colleges and universities may have their own additional deadlines and forms that are necessary to complete.
  • To learn more about Financial Aid, you may visit our Financial Aid 101, Fin Aid’s SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.

*Continuous enrollment exceptions: With proper documentation provided to Say Yes Syracuse, the following students are automatically deemed eligible regardless of consecutive years of school completion:

1. Have refugee status on an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or be an otherwise eligible noncitizen.
2. Legally designated as having McKinney-Vento status.
3. Have documented Foster Care placement or are a ward of the court.

Please Note:

• If students meet the eligibility criteria listed on the above, they may apply for a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship.
• Students may be considered if they do not meet the above eligibility criteria and they have extenuating circumstances. If they would like to be considered for a tuition scholarship but do not meet the above eligibility criteria or believe their eligibility was calculated incorrectly, they may appeal their eligibility.