Scholarships

ALERT: The Fall 2020 scholarship application season has ended. Look for Spring 2021 applications in CAPS in October.

CAPS (Campus Application Portal for Scholarships) is Buffalo State's centralized database for scholarships.
Get an early start on applying for campus scholarships! Complete and submit the General Application via the Campus Application Portal for Scholarships (CAPS)
Once you have completed the General Application you will be auto-matched to scholarships that you immediately qualify for – no further action is required. To see other scholarships that you may have to apply to, select “Ours” under “Opportunities” at the top of the page.
Prospective Students: In order to complete the CAPS general application and apply for scholarships, you must have been accepted to Buffalo State College, submitted your deposit, and received and activated your Buffalo State College network login credentials. Click here for more information.

Buffalo State offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for current, newly accepted first-year, and transfer students. These scholarships are based on specific criteria which includes; academic merit, financial need, field of study, or a combination of criteria. Scholarship funding is made possible through donations from alumni and friends of the college who value a Buffalo State education.

BSC Scholarships

Buffalo State offers the following scholarship opportunities:

First-year freshmen » Awarded to new freshmen; typically based on academic excellence.
Transfer students » Awarded to new undergraduate transfer students
Graduate students » Scholarships, assistantships and fellowships are available through the Graduate School.
Campus Scholarships » Awarded to new and continuing students for academic excellence, community service, field of study, and a variety of other factors. Application for most of these scholarships are available via CAPS (formerly AcademicWorks), or check with your individual Departments.

External Resources

Every year, Buffalo State students receive thousands of dollars in scholarships from outside organizations. Be sure to check out the tips below for beginning your scholarship search.

External Scholarships >> External, reputable scholarship opportunities are posted here.
Resources » Contains links to scholarship databases, community foundations, and other tips to help you with your scholarship search.
Say Yes to Education » Students that graduated from certain public city schools through New York State may qualify for a Say Yes Scholarship.

Start Early

Students are encouraged to begin thinking about scholarships early in high school. For example, if you know the requirements for a merit-based scholarship require a 90 GPA, you can work to achieve that in high school.

Many scholarships must be submitted in advance so students should begin the process in their junior year of high school.
Even if a deadline is missed, students are encouraged to add a reminder to their email or calendar to apply the following year.
Buffalo State Campus Scholarships - The majority of Buffalo State campus scholarships are awarded for the fall semester. Many application for fall will be available between January and May for the upcoming fall semester. Campus scholarships are viewable through CAPS.

Start Local

Consider the following local places to begin:

Your high school - check with your guidance counselor
Employers - Check with your and/or your parents’ employers to see if they offer scholarships. You might even consider a part-time job where you know scholarships are offered.
Faith Based Groups - many religious organizations offer scholarships to its members.
Community Foundations - these organizations exists to help give away money (e.g. scholarships) in local communities.
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation - Grants, Scholarships, and Awards

Go National

Once you have explored your local options, go national! Sign up for a scholarships matching database which will match your profile to millions of scholarships. A few reputable scholarships databases include

Check Back Often

Students should bookmark scholarship webpages and check back frequently to see if new applications have been posted. New scholarships are posted periodically throughout the year and you will need to actively seek these opportunities! If you miss a deadline for a scholarship, set a reminder in your phone so you can check back next year.

Keep Trying

Don't be discouraged if youare not selected after a first attempt. Keep trying—there are many opportunities out there.

Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship

Say Yes to Education has partnered with 20 colleges and universities in Western New York aimed at making higher education a reality for Buffalo public and charter school students. Say Yes promises that eligible students enrolling at a Say Yes participating college will receive a grant to cover tuition, after all federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarship are applied.

Buffalo State is a proud participating college 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.