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
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 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 Program will open in late spring. 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 certain academic criteria. 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.)
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International: Alpha Eta Chapter Scholarship The Alpha Eta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a female high school senior graduating in June 2025 with plans to enter college in September 2025 to pursue a career in the field of education. Candidates must have at least a B average, demonstrated good conduct, and performed community service. A 500-word essay and two (2) letters of reference are mandatory. For an overview of the organization please visit www.dkg.org. Deadline for submission is April 25, 2025.
Hudson Valley Magazine's Excellence in Nursing Scholarship $1,500 will be awarded to a motivated high school senior who plans to pursue a career in nursing. Transcript, two (2) letters of recommendation, SAT/ACT scores and a 500-700-word essay explaining why you want to be a nurse required. Applications must be postmarked by February 3, 2025.
Morning Music Club Scholarship Morning Music Club is holding its annual auditions for scholarship awards on Thursday, March 7, 2024 (snow date March 14) at the Rockland Conservatory of Music in Pearl River, 45 South Main Street. Auditions are open to seniors attending Rockland County high schools who intend to continue their music studies in college, university, or conservatory. Applicants do not have to major in Music to qualify. Please see application form for details. Applications must be postmarked to emailed no later than February 23, 2024. DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 4, 2024.
2025 Rockland Business Women's Network Scholarship Application A $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a candidate who identifies as female graduating from high school and enrolling in a certified undergraduate program in Fall 2024. A 500-word essay, one (1) recommendation letter, community service hours and official transcript required. A minimum of a “B” (3.0) average is also required for all applicants. Applications must be received by March 14, 2025. Official transcripts and teacher letters of recommendation will be emailed separately to RBWN by the PRHS Counseling Department. For this reason, all requests must be emailed to guidance@pearlriver.org by March 10, 2025 or we cannot guarantee your supporting documents will be submitted by the scholarship deadline.
Robert “Beans” Capello Educational Scholarship A $1,500 scholarship is available to an active member or a child or grandchild of an active member or previously active deceased member of a Rockland County Fire Department. (If relation is with a deceased member, the member must have been active at their time of death.) Completed application form, high school transcript, community service activities, list of school awards/honors, and a 250-word essay required. The winning candidate must attend a scholarship presentation at host fire department meeting. Application deadline is March 31, 2025.
United Women of Rockland Scholarship The United Women of Rockland is awarding five scholarships, each valued at $2,000, to assist students in pursuing higher education, whether at a college or trade school. This scholarship is uniquely dedicated to students whose mothers have faced a devastating health diagnosis or have passed away due to one. Key details are as follows: Eligibility: Graduating seniors residing in Rockland County / Award Amount: $2,000 per scholarship (five available; 1 to a resident of each town). Criteria: Grades are not a determining factor. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2025.