For most undergraduates, eligibility for a merit-based and/or need-based scholarship is determined upon entrance to the University based on prior academic strengths and, if you apply for financial aid, your demonstrated financial need. Typically you will continue to receive for subsequent academic years the amount of scholarship you received for your first year, as long as the following criteria are met:
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Descriptions of the specific scholarships at NYU for which you may qualify are included in your school bulletin and are also surveyed on the NYU Admissions web site. All admitted undergraduate students are automatically considered for these programs based on academic merit. Except where noted, no separate application form is required.
Graduate students are usually offered scholarships for each separate academic year as determined by their individual schools within NYU.
Note: If your eligibility for any federal aid you receive is jeopordized for reasons other than financial need or academic merit (e.g. if you are in default on a federal loan, or you did not respond to the University's verification requests), then your NYU scholarship may also be affected.
FEDERAL PELL GRANTS
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides assistance to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need according to economic criteria and program requirements established by the federal government. To be eligible, you must enroll in a degree or approved certificate/diploma program and be matriculated for your first bachelor's degree. (You are not eligible if you have already completed a bachelor's degree.) An estimated award will be listed in your award letter if we think you will be eligible. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) contains the official evaluation of your eligibility from the U.S. Department of Education. When you review your SAR, follow the instructions to make changes if necessary—including updating your record to reflect actual tax figures if you used estimated data in order to meet the NYU application deadline—and then save the final SAR for your records. You may also review and make changes to your SAR in the "FAFSA Follow-up" area of the FAFSA Web site.
FEDERAL ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) provides federal assistance to students who have financial need and are also eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Students must also be U.S. Citizens, be enrolled full-time, and be in a two- or four-year undergraduate degree program. They must not have previously enrolled in an undergraduate program, and must have been in a rigorous high school program or met the standard of rigor via other means as defined by the Department of Education. The amount of the award varies, depending upon whether the student is in his or her first or second year. For students receiving the ACG in their first year, they must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006. For students receiving ACG in their second year, they must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. Returning students must have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or above. Students will automatically be reviewed for ACG eligibility each semester.
FEDERAL NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS ACCESS TO RETAIN TALENT GRANT (SMART)
An incentive grant established to encourage the pursuit of particular majors, the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART) provides assistance to third and fourth year undergraduate students who meet the program requirements set forth by the federal government. Some eligibility criterion include the following: recipients must be U.S. citizens, be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, demonstrate financial need, be enrolled full-time in a B.A. or B.S. program, and have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or above. Students must be enrolled and attending classes in an approved eligible major as determined by the Department of Education. These are typically majors in computer science, physical science, life science, and critical foreign language. Students cannot have a prior earned bachelors degree. Eligibility is automatically reviewed each semester.
FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (FSEOG)
This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by New York University to provide assistance to students with exceptional financial need. All students who qualify are automatically considered for this grant. However, our funds from this program are very limited.
STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
New York State offers a wide variety of grants and scholarships to residents. Although application is made directly to the state and grants are awarded by the state, the amount each student is expected to receive is estimated and taken into account by NYU when assembling the student's financial aid package.
Some students from outside New York State may qualify for funds from their own state scholarship programs that can be used at New York University. Contact your state financial aid agency (call 1-800-433-3243 to get its telephone number and address) to ask about program requirements and application procedures. When you receive an eligibility notice from your state program, you should submit it immediately to the NYU Office of Financial Aid.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
In addition to the sources of gift aid described above, you may also be eligible for a private scholarship or grant from an outside organization or agency. Some sources to explore are employers, unions, professional organizations, and community and special interest groups. (The NYU Office of Undergraduate Admissions web site includes some examples of such outside scholarships available to undergraduates that can be used at NYU.)
A number of extensive scholarship search services are available free on the Web, and a representative sample is included on our site. The scholarships and information found through such services are not verified or endorsed by NYU. You must notify the Office of Financial Aid if you receive funds from any outside organization.
For more information:
| > | National Scholarship Competitions (application requires NYU endorsement) | |
| > | Scholarship Search Services | |
| > | September 11 |
Outside scholarships count as a financial aid resource and must be added to a student's financial aid award. The Office of Financial Aid first applies the outside scholarship to a student's unmet need that is not already covered by financial aid. In some cases, loans not based on financial need may be reduced (private loans, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford, Federal PLUS, Graduate PLUS). If the student's need is already met by need-based aid, then that aid is replaced with the outside scholarship. Need-based loans are first replaced. If the outside scholarship exceeds the loan amounts, work-study and need-based grants are the next to be replaced. In most cases it is not necessary to reduce an NYU scholarship. Total aid (including outside assistance) cannot exceed the cost of attendance.