• The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to students who are New York State residents attending a public degree-granting college or university located in New York State. Recipients must be in the top 10 percent of students of their high school graduating class, pursue an approved, two or four-year STEM degree program and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field in NYS for five years after graduation.

    Eligibility

    An applicant must:

    • be a NYS resident and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the fall college term;
    • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
    • be a high school senior/recent high school graduate who will be enrolled full time at a public college located in NYS, beginning in the fall term following his or her high school graduation;
    • be ranked in the top 10 percent of his/her high school graduating class at a NYS high school;
    • be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics at a public college located in NYS;
    • maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher;
    • execute a Service Contract agreeing to reside and work in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics in NYS for five years.  View the terms and conditions of the service contract.

    Students matriculated in these programs of study may be eligible for a STEM Incentive Program award. The program of study must result in an approved occupation.

    Award Amount

    A recipient receives an annual award for full-time study up to the annual tuition charged to NYS resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. For the 2022-23 academic year, the standard tuition rate is a maximum of $7,070 per year.

    The STEM Incentive Program award will be reduced by the amount of any other tuition-only assistance award, such as the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), received.

    Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

    Duration

    A recipient is entitled to annual award payments for not more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study while matriculated in an approved program leading to a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics or five years if the program of study requires five years.

    How to Apply

    Complete and submit the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program Application.  Be sure to print the Application Confirmation, sign and submit it, along with the required documentation, according to the instructions. You must also submit the FAFSA and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application.

     

    Payment

    A recipient is not required to submit another NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program Web Application once awarded this scholarship, but must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application each year to receive payment.

    Awards will be paid directly to the colleges on behalf of students upon the successful completion of each term. Successful completion of a term means the applicant meets all of the eligibility requirements for the award.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    View commonly asked questions pertaining to STEM.

    Questions?

    Please contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at scholarships@hesc.ny.gov with questions about this Program.