Say Yes Buffalo is a last-dollar scholarship for graduates of Buffalo's public and charter high schools. After federal, state, and institutional aid is applied, it covers your remaining tuition at a SUNY, CUNY, or private partner college. For SUNY/CUNY schools the coverage tier depends on which grade you first entered a Buffalo public or charter school: 100% from kindergarten, 95% from grades 1-3, 80% from grades 4-6, and 65% from grades 7-9; families with an adjusted gross income above $125,000 currently have their award capped at $7,070/year (the current SUNY tuition level). You register with Say Yes staff during senior year, enroll full-time at a partner college within a year of graduating, and keep at least a 2.0 GPA each semester to stay eligible.
Eligibility
DemographicsMust reside in Buffalo, NY and attend a Buffalo public or charter school continuously from the start of 9th grade through graduation (exceptions for documented McKinney-Vento, foster-care, or refugee status); private-school students do not qualify.
Applying
Tuition-coverage tier (65%-100%) depends on the grade you first entered a Buffalo public/charter school; families with AGI above $125,000 currently have awards capped at $7,070/year (current SUNY tuition), moving to a tiered structure starting with the Class of 2030.