The Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered grants and scholarships that support their higher education costs. The DREAM Act opens the doors of higher education to thousands of students, providing access to the new Excelsior Scholarship, the Tuition Assistance Program, as well as other state‐administered scholarships that were not previously available to them. Determine your eligibility: If you fit one of the descriptions below, you may be eligible for one or more NYS student financial aid awards under the DREAM Act Your permanent home is in NYS and you are or have ONE of the following: U-Visa T-Visa Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990 Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status) AND you meet ONE of the following criteria: You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR You did not attend or graduate from a NYS high school, did not receive a NYS high school equivalency diploma, but are charged the NYS resident in-State tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for any reason Your permanent home is outside of NYS and you are or have ONE of the following: U.S. citizen Permanent lawful resident Of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of aliens to the U.S. U-Visa T-Visa Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990 Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status) AND you meet ONE of the following criteria: You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for undergraduate study at a NYS college within five years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and are applying for an award for graduate study at a NYS college within ten years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR You did not attend or graduate from a NYS high school, did not receive a NYS high school equivalency diploma, but are charged the NYS resident in-State tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for any reason Completing the Application: Students meeting the NYS Dream Act eligibility criteria can apply for one or more HESC-administered grant and scholarship programs here. The application is simple and straight forward, and all information provided will be used ONLY for determining eligibility for and administering awards. Applicants without lawful immigration status will not be asked for their home address and will NOT have to upload financial records. To apply, please click here. For more information, please visit https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/ View commonly asked questions pertaining to the NYS DREAM Act. View the Step-by-Step User Guide to Completing the NYS DREAM Act Application for instructions on completing the application.