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 website. 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
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 hesc.ny.gov/excelsior. To find additional information on the benefits of the scholarship and how to apply, students and their families can visit www.hesc.ny.gov or www.ny.gov/college, 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 Application is available here. Students eligible to apply through the NYS DREAM Act can apply at https://nysdream.applyists.net/.
More information can be found at 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 https://nysdream.applyists.
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 student grades in certain Regents exams. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
Selection Criteria
Due to the cancellation of Regents exams in 2020 and a number of Regents exams that were not administered in June 2021, for this year and the next few subsequent 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.)
Local scholarships for 2023-2024 have been awarded. Please check back in the fall for 2024-2025 scholarship opportunities for seniors.