Say Yes

Say Yes to Education has partnered with colleges and universities in Western New York aimed at making higher education a reality for Buffalo Public and Charter school students. Buffalo State is a proud participating university whose core value is to provide access to quality public higher education. Say Yes and Buffalo State both strive to inspire lifelong learning and to enhance and invest in the Buffalo community.

Say Yes Buffalo is a tuition-only guarantee. Eligibility for Say Yes is determined after all other grants and scholarships are applied to the tuition component of the student's bill. Books and supplies, housing, and meal plans are not covered by the Say Yes Tuition Scholarship. Please refer to the examples below which demonstrate how Say Yes awards are calculated.

If you are receiving Say Yes, then you are unlikely to also qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship. Please visit the Say Yes website for more information.

Fall Deadline: December 1st

Spring Deadline: February

1. Reside in the city of Buffalo.
2. Graduate from a Buffalo Public or Charter School.
3. Continuous enrollment in a Buffalo Public or Charter high school through at least 9th-12th grades. With proper documentation, the following students are automatically deemed eligible regardless of consecutive years of completion in a Buffalo public or charter school:
   1. Legally designated as having McKinney-Vento status
   2. Have refugee status on an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or be an otherwise eligible non-citizen
   3. Have documented Foster Care placement or are a ward of the court, or
   4. Enroll in and complete the Buffalo Public School Adult Education College Career Institute (CCI)
4. Enroll full-time at a Say Yes college within one year of high school graduation.
5. Apply for federal (FAFSA) and New York State financial aid (TAP), and remain eligible for financial aid each year.
6. Complete all financial aid paperwork, including financial aid verification (if applicable) by December 1 for fall semesters and February 15 for spring semesters.

More eligibility information is available on the Say Yes page.

Say Yes Buffalo will cover remaining tuition charges after all federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarship are applied. The amount of the tuition scholarship is dependent on the number of consecutive years a student has attended a Buffalo Public or Charter school through grade 12.

More information about the Tuition Scholarship is available on the Say Yes page

An Opportunity Grant may be awarded to students who receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant, live on-campus, and have a large amount of unmet need. The maximum Opportunity Grant is $2,600 per year and can be used toward books, fees, or room and board. The Opportunity scholarship may not cover all expenses.

More information about the Opportunity Grant is available on the Say Yes page

• Must enroll full-time (12+ credit hours per semester)
• Students are limited to 8 semesters, or 4 years of Say Yes funding. Therefore it is recommended that each student take a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester to complete their degree before Say Yes funding runs out.
• Must complete FAFSA and TAP applications each year and submit all financial aid documents, by deadline dates.
• Must confirm college choice with Say Yes by their deadlines for fall and spring semesters.
• Must meet certain academic minimum requirements.
• Must meet Say Yes' academic requirements each semester.
• Opportunity Grant Only:  Must reside on-campus and receive maximum the Pell Grant.

• Students must notify the Say Yes organization that they will be attending Buffalo State. Failure to notify Say Yes will result in a delay in your Say Yes payment or in a termination in your eligibility if you do not meet the deadline to notify Say Yes.
• Must complete FAFSA and TAP applications before Say Yes will calculate an award
• Must complete verification, turn in high school transcripts, etc.
• Failure to submit any outstanding documentation or applications could mean a forfeiture of the award until the next semester.

Example 1:  Entering a Buffalo Public or Charter School in 9th Grade

Malia began attendance in a Buffalo Public School in the 9th grade. They will graduate in June and plans to attend Buffalo State as a commuter student. They filed the FAFSA and TAP applications but did not qualify for grant aid. They received a $2,000 scholarship based on their high school GPA and SAT scores. Malia would first determine their expected Say Yes Tuition Scholarship and then determine their out-of-pocket cost.

Malia's out-of-pocket cost for the academic year would be $3,133 plus the cost of books. They willbe billed in August for the fall semester and in January for the spring semester. Each semester they will owe $1,566.50 ($3,133 ÷ 2).

Example 2:  Entering Buffalo Public or Charter School in Kindergarten

Isaiah attended Buffalo Public Schools continuously since kindergarten. They are accepted to Buffalo State for the upcoming fall semester, and will not live on campus. They completed the FAFSA and TAP applications and are eligible for a Pell grant of $1,000, a TAP grant for $965, and a SUNY Tuition Credit for $172. In total, they have $2,137 in grants and scholarships. 

Isaiah's out-of-pocket expenses for the academic year would be $1,358 plus money for textbooks. They will be billed in August for the fall semester and in January for the spring semester. Each semester they will owe $679 ($1,358 ÷ 2).

Say Yes Syracuse offers full-tuition scholarships for eligible students. Buffalo State is a proud participating university whose core value is to provide access to quality public higher education. 

Say Yes Syracuse is a tuition-only scholarship. The Say Yes Scholarship amount is determined after all other grants and scholarships are applied to the tuition component of the student's bill. Books and supplies, housing, and meal plans are not covered by the Say Yes Tuition Scholarship.

Say Yes Syracuse

To ensure fairness among all students and colleges in the Say Yes Compact, Say Yes Syracuse has hard deadlines for financial aid and Say Yes applications.

You must adhere to the following hard and steadfast deadlines to receive Say Yes Syracuse scholarship awards.

Application Deadlines

July 1 – Say Yes Syracuse application deadline

August 1 – FAFSA and NYS TAP applications deadline
 

Transfer Deadlines

July 1 – Notice of intent to transfer for fall semester

November 1 – Notice of intent to transfer for spring semester
 

Withdrawal Deadlines

Students must contact the Say Yes Syracuse office with their intent to withdraw.

September 1 – Notice of intent to withdraw from fall semester

February 1 – Notice of intent to withdraw from spring semester
 

Gap Year Eligibility

August 15 – 4-year school request of gap year eligibility for fall semester

December 15 – 4-year school request of gap year eligibility for spring semester

If you reside in the city of Syracuse, please visit the Say Yes Syracuse website for more information at: https://sayyessyracuse.org/

1. Reside in Syracuse during high school enrollment and at the time of high school graduation
2. Graduate from a Syracuse City School District high school or Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School
   • Students must complete grades 10 – 12 in a Syracuse City School District or Syracuse charter high school or grades 9 – 11 for early graduates. Continuous enrollment is required unless a student has a *continuous enrollment exception.
3. Enroll as a Full-Time College Student
4. Apply and Qualify for Financial Aid
   • Students must apply and qualify for financial aid at a Say Yes Syracuse partner college or university prior to every year they attend college by completing a FAFSA and a TAP application.
   • Say Yes Tuition Scholarships are considered “last dollar scholarships” and can only be determined after a student has applied and qualified for financial aid at the college or university they plan to attend.
   • The hard deadline to submit FAFSA and TAP applications is August 1 following a student’s high school graduation.

*Continuous enrollment exceptions: With proper documentation provided to Say Yes Syracuse, the following students are automatically deemed eligible regardless of consecutive years of school completion:

1. Have refugee status on an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or be an otherwise eligible non-citizen.
2. Legally designated as having McKinney-Vento status.
3. Have documented Foster Care placement or are a ward of the court.

SUNY/CUNY Tuition Scholarships for eligible students accepted to Say Yes Syracuse partner SUNY/CUNY colleges and universities cover the tuition balance that remains after state, federal and tuition-specific institutional aid are subtracted.

• Tuition does not include the cost of room, board, fees, books or supplies.
• If state, federal and tuition-specific institutional aid covers the cost of tuition, no Say Yes Syracuse SUNY/CUNY Tuition Scholarship will be needed and therefore will not be disbursed.
• Say Yes Syracuse does not consider family income when determining scholarship disbursements.
• Students and families should not expect a zero balance for the total costs to attend.

SUNY/CUNY Opportunity Grants provide up to $3,000 per year to be used for the cost of room, board, fees, books, or supplies. Students must reside on campus, in campus-affiliated housing or apartments, and show proof of lease.

Additional information about the Opportunity Grant can be found on the Say Yes Syracuse website.

In order to remain eligible for a Say Yes Syracuse Tuition Scholarship once a student is admitted to and enrolled in college, they must adhere to the following Say Yes student responsibilities:

• Complete 12 credit hours for two consecutive semesters
• Maintain a GPA of a 2.0 or higher for two consecutive semesters
• Complete a FAFSA and TAP application each year and complete the financial aid process at their institution

• Students must notify the Say Yes organization that they will be attending Buffalo State. Failure to notify Say Yes will result in a delay in your Say Yes payment or in a termination in your eligibility if you do not meet the deadline to notify Say Yes.
• Must complete FAFSA and TAP applications before Say Yes will calculate an award
• Failure to submit any outstanding documentation or applications could mean a forfeiture of the award until the next semester.