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First-year and transfer scholarships

We invest millions in institutional scholarships each year to help make a SUNY Oswego education more affordable. Eligible Fall 2027 first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for renewable merit scholarships as part of the admissions process.

First-year scholarships

ScholarshipAnnual AwardTypical high school GPA
Presidential Scholarship$6,00096 or higher
Dean Scholarship$4,00093–95
Merit Plus Scholarship$2,50090–92
Merit Scholarship$75085–89

GPA ranges reflect the typical academic profile of scholarship recipients and do not guarantee an award. First-year scholarships are available to eligible students who live on campus and continue to meet all eligibility and renewal requirements.

Transfer scholarships

ScholarshipAnnual AwardCumulative college GPA
Transfer Achievement Scholarship$1,5003.50 or higher
Transfer Merit Scholarship$1,0003.00–3.49

Transfer scholarships are renewable for up to three years or until graduation, whichever comes first. Renewal requirements apply.

SUNY Oswego Happy Student in front of Rick Hall

Laker Visit Award

Visit campus and receive a $500 award.

Attend an eligible campus visit and enroll as a first-year student to receive $500, awarded as $250 per semester. Eligible visits include Admitted Student Days and select admissions events.

Plan your visit

Additional scholarship opportunities

Possibility Scholars

Possibility Scholars

Scholarship support, research and global experiences for future STEM leaders

Possibility Scholars provides coordinated scholarship and grant support for tuition, fees, housing and dining, along with faculty-guided summer research and support for an international experience.

Eligible students must be New York State residents pursuing an approved STEM major, complete the FAFSA and be nominated by an educator.

Learn more

Scholarships for online students

First-Year Online Merit Scholarship

$1,000 per year

This scholarship provides $500 per semester to eligible first-year students accepted into a fully online undergraduate major.

Students must enroll in at least 12 credits per semester. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first. Recipients must maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA for renewal.

Students who receive this award typically have a high school GPA of 90 or higher.

First-Year Online Horizon Scholarship

$500 per year

This scholarship provides $250 per semester to eligible first-year students accepted into a fully online undergraduate major.

Students must enroll in at least 12 credits per semester. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first. Recipients must maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA for renewal.

Students who receive this award typically have a high school GPA between 84 and 88.4.

Scholarships for out-of-state and international students

Go Oswego Award

$4,000 per year

The Go Oswego Award provides $2,000 per semester to eligible full-time first-year and transfer students from outside New York State or international locations.

The award is renewable for up to eight semesters for first-year students or six semesters for transfer students with 24 or more college credits, or until graduation, whichever comes first.

The Go Oswego Award may be combined with an eligible first-year, Transfer Merit or Transfer Achievement Scholarship.

The Go Oswego Award is available to eligible out-of-state and international students who live on campus. Recipients must continue to meet residency and renewal requirements.

Scholarships for students from The Bahamas and Washington, D.C.

Up to $15,000 per year

SUNY Oswego makes a respected New York public education more affordable and accessible for eligible students from The Bahamas and Washington, D.C.

Students are automatically considered for:

  • Destination Oswego Scholarship: $9,000 per year
  • Merit scholarships: Up to $6,000 per year
  • Total scholarship value: Up to $15,000 per year

No separate scholarship application is required.

Destination Oswego recipients must live on campus and continue to meet all eligibility and renewal requirements.

New York State financial aid

The NYS Excelsior Scholarship covers SUNY tuition for New York State residents whose family household adjusted gross income does not exceed $125,000.

Learn more about Excelsior 

Eligibility and renewal details

Apply by January 15 for fall admission or November 15 for spring admission to receive priority scholarship consideration.

Scholarship policies and eligibility requirements may vary by term of entry. 

See SUNY Oswego’s Scholarship Policy and your signed commitment form for terms and details.