Scholarships

SUNY Cortland offers a wide range of scholarships funded by the Cortland College Foundation, SUNY Cortland Alumni Association, the university and other groups. These awards are made possible by the generous donations of alumni, faculty, staff, emeriti, philanthropic groups, corporations and friends of the university.

Each year, SUNY Cortland provides more than $1 million in scholarship assistance to more than 1,000 students. The financial aspects of scholarships are governed by rules and regulations administered by the Financial Aid Office.

View scholarships

New students starting in Fall 2024 who earn an award will be notified prior to the May 1 admission deposit deadline. To view scholarship opportunities, students must be accepted and they must log in to myRedDragon.

Scholarship Types

Endowed Scholarships: Students May Apply

Students may apply online for select scholarships that are based on academic performance, financial need or other criteria determined by donors. Visit the How to Apply page for application instructions.

Merit Scholarships: Automatic Selection

Merit scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and they do not require a supplemental application. These competitive scholarships are limited in number and they are awarded to top applicants. Meeting minimum academic requirements does not guarantee earning a scholarship.

Read more about merit scholarships

Other Awards: Automatic Selection

SUNY Cortland automatically considers students for some financial awards in addition to academic merit scholarships. No supplemental application is required. These awards include:

• SUNY Cortland Future New Yorker Grant
• SUNY Cortland International Student Grant
• SUNY Cortland Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Read more about these awards

New York State Excelsior Scholarship

SUNY Cortland is proud to participate in this program, which offers free tuition to eligible students from middle-class families in New York state.

Read more about the Excelsior Scholarship

Study Abroad Scholarships

SUNY Cortland awards thousands of dollars in study abroad scholarships each year.

Read more about study abroad scholarships

Non SUNY Cortland Scholarships

There are external and private scholarship funds available to students of all qualifications, abilities and interests. These external scholarships may be provided by private donors, foundations, businesses and many other sources outside of the university.

Read more about external scholarships