Frequently Asked Questions

Say Yes Tuition Scholarships are full-tuition scholarships for eligible students accepted to more than 100 Say Yes Syracuse partner colleges and universities across the country.

View more details about Say Yes Syracuse’s different types of scholarship and funding opportunities here.

Students graduating from a Syracuse City School District or Syracuse Charter high school are eligible for Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarships if they meet the following criteria.

All students who meet the eligibility criteria automatically qualify for a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship; however, they must:

1. Apply and Qualify for Financial Aid
   

   All eligible 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.

2. Create a Say Yes Syracuse Student Account and Submit a Say Yes Syracuse Application
   

   Once eligible students have applied and qualified for financial aid at the college or university they plan to attend, they must create a Say Yes Syracuse account and submit a Say Yes Syracuse application.

3. Enroll as a Full-time Student
   

   All eligible students must be admitted as a full-time student at a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university.

View more details about how to apply for a Say Yes Tuition Scholarship here.

SUNY/CUNY Tuition Scholarships for eligible students accepted to Say Yes Syracuse partner SUNY/CUNY colleges and universities cover the tuition balance that remains after state, federal and tuition specific institutional aid are subtracted. Say Yes Syracuse does not consider family income when determining scholarship amounts.

Private College Tuition Scholarships for eligible students to Say Yes Syracuse partner private colleges and universities cover the tuition balance that remains after state, federal and tuition-specific institutional aid are subtracted. Eligible students with annual family income of $75,000 or less are eligible. Some private institutions may consider families with income of over $75,000.

Please Note: Syracuse University and Cooper Union do not have income restrictions. Eligible students whose family incomes are greater than $75,000 per year may be eligible for a Private College Choice Grant.

In order to remain eligible for a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship once a student is admitted to and enrolled in college, they must adhere to the following Say Yes student responsibilities:

• Complete 12 credit hours (or full-time status) for two consecutive semesters
• Maintain a GPA of a 2.0 or higher for two consecutive semesters
• Complete a FAFSA and TAP application each year and complete the financial aid process at their institution

View more details about eligibility details here.

Students’ academic records will be reviewed at the end of each semester. If students do not adhere to the student responsibilities listed above for two consecutive semesters, they will not be eligible for Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship the consecutive third semester. Students can regain eligibility by meeting the Say Yes Syracuse student responsibilities during the third consecutive semester, however will not receive a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship during that semester. Students that lose their eligibility can appeal by contacting Say Yes Syracuse.

Say Yes Tuition Scholarships are available for four semesters at community colleges or eight semesters at 4-year colleges. It is highly recommended that students complete at least 15 credit hours a semester in order to earn their degrees during the four-year time requirement stipulated by Say Yes Syracuse.

Eligible students who decide not to go to college right after graduation will remain eligible for consideration for a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship for one academic year after their high school graduation. Therefore, if a student graduated in June 2023, the student would still be eligible if they enrolled in a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university by September 2024.

All eligible students attending a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university need to follow the same transfer process as all other college students. For most colleges, the student will find the transfer admissions procedures on the college’s website. Students should review the list on this website of Say Yes Syracuse partner colleges and universities because not all of the private colleges will provide the Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship to transfer students. If a student has questions regarding the transfer process, they should call or visit the college’s admissions office. Say Yes Syracuse students also need to follow the regular financial aid process and meet all of the college’s financial aid deadlines.

Please Note: Once a student has decided on the college or university they will transfer to; the student needs to either update their Say Yes Syracuse account, create a new account or contact Say Yes Syracuse.

Please Note: Students must inform Say Yes Syracuse of their transfer. Say Yes Syracuse will contact the college the student has been accepted to transfer to and determine the student’s Say Yes Syracuse eligibility with the college.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. If you are over 18 and would like the status of your application shared with a parent or guardian, you must choose to release the information at the time you apply.