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Scholarships for Seniors
Scholarships for Seniors
Important Scholarship Information
Scholarships will be posted below as they become available and emails will be sent periodically via Naviance indicating the scholarship list has been updated. Click on the scholarship name for instructions. Students are responsible for meeting the deadlines of the scholarships. Scholarship applications are also available through the Naviance. After signing in to Naviance, click on the "Colleges" tab, then scroll down and select "Scholarships." All of the available scholarships are listed with links to their applications. When supplemental materials such as transcripts and/or letters of recommendations are required, please submit these requests to the counseling office well in advance of the deadline to allow for processing.
Questions and/or concerns about scholarships can be directed to the Counseling Office or email scholarships@pearlriver.org.
New York State College Tuition Programs
Excelsior Scholarship Program
The Excelsior Scholarship provides free tuition to New York State students whose families earn up to $110,000 annually, to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college. It will extend to families making up to $125,000 annually. Apply or learn more at Excelsior. To find additional information on the benefits of the scholarship and how to apply, students and their families can visit Higher Education Services Corporation or Tuition-Free Degree Program: The Excelsior Scholarship, and text COLLEGE to 81336 for updates.
To apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including:
- Be residents of New York State
- Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college
- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study
- Graduate with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years
Family income requirements: This program is open to students whose annual household federal adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less.
To complete the application, you will need: IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s) for you and your parent(s), as applicable. The Excelsior Scholarship Program will open in late spring. Students eligible to apply through the NYS DREAM Act can apply at Account Login.
More information can be found at the the Excelsior Scholarship.
NYS Enhanced Tuition Award
Are you a high school graduate attending one of these private colleges or universities located in New York State next fall? If so, you may be eligible for the NYS Enhanced Tuition Award.
To apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including:
- Be residents of New York State
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a participating private colleges or universities located in New York State
- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study
- Graduate with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years
Family income requirements: This program is open to students whose annual household federal adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less.
To complete the application, you will need: 2019 IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s) for you and your parent(s), as applicable.
The Enhanced Tuition Awards Application is available here. Students eligible to apply through the NYS DREAM Act can apply at Account Login.
More information can be found at Enhanced Tuition Awards.
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
The New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence program provides scholarship assistance to outstanding New York State high school graduates. Each year, 8,000 scholarships are awarded - up to 2,000 scholarships of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships of $500 to top scholars from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on certain academic criteria. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
Selection Criteria: While past criteria has been based on Regents exam scores, due to the cancellation of Regents exams in 2020, the limited selection of Regents exams offered in June 2021, and the ability for students to be granted a Special Appeal in lieu of numeric scores in June 2022, exam results cannot be used as a consistent measure of achievement. Therefore, for this year and the next few years, Pearl River High School winners will be selected based on students' class rank at the end of their junior year.
Please click on the links below for more information on each scholarship.
(Links to additional scholarship resources are available below this list.)
27th Annual Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards: The Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including business, education, community service, and healthcare to name a few. Applicants must have maintained academic excellence, have dedicated service to the community and have demonstrated leadership. Students must be graduating seniors with a minimum unweighted average of 3.0 GPA, must enroll at an accredited higher education institution in 2026-2027 and be of Hispanic (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines) or Latino descent. Students must apply online. High School Seniors will receive educational grants up to $4,000 and will be celebrated as leaders in their communities. If selected, attendance at a virtual regional awards ceremony is mandatory. Applications must be submitted online before November 2, 2025.
Hagan Scholarship 2026-2027: The Hagan Scholarship is a need-based merit scholarship for goal-driven students in the high school graduating class. The scholarship criteria: Must have achieved an unweighted 3.5 GPA, enroll in a four-year college or university, in the 2026 fall semester, must work 240 hours form January 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026, and parents 2024 Adjusted Gross Income must not have exceeded $100,000. The deadline for the Scholarship is December 1, 2025. For more information on the scholarship please visit their website: HaganScholarship.
SOCIAL (Society of Irish-American Lawyers) Annual Scholarship: The Society of Irish American Lawyers offers a $2,500.00 scholarship to a junior or senior of Irish-American heritage from an accredited high school, as well as a $500 runner-up prize. Each student will be evaluated based upon the submitted scholarship essay, evidence of leadership and service to school and community, and the letter of recommendation. The applicant’s demonstrated academic ability, as well as any factors relating to the applicant’s character, may be considered by the scholarship selection committee. File a completed application, including the essay, transcript, and letter of recommendation, by midnight on December 1, 2025, via email to SocialStudentScholarship@gmail.com.