The NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026-2027 offers undergraduate scholarship opportunities to full-time New York City government employees seeking to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree at participating colleges and universities. Administered through the Mayor’s office, this program enables eligible city employees to advance their academic credentials while continuing full-time employment with the city. Notably, participating institutions provide all funding and independently determine award recipients. The submission deadline to the Agency Personnel Office is April 27, 2026.
Program Highlights
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Opportunity Type | Undergraduate Scholarship |
| Organising Body | NYC Mayor’s Office / Participating Colleges and Universities |
| Mode | Offline (Agency Personnel Office Submission) |
| Duration | Duration of the Degree Program |
| Location / Platform | Participating Colleges and Universities — New York City |
| Last Date to Apply | April 27, 2026 |
About the Program
The NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026-2027 functions as a structured academic advancement initiative designed specifically for individuals already serving the public as full-time employees of the New York City government. Consequently, it creates a formal pathway for city workers to pursue higher education without relinquishing their employment status — a significant structural advantage for working professionals whose schedules and financial circumstances make conventional degree pathways challenging to access.
Funding for the scholarships is provided entirely by the participating colleges and universities, not by the Mayor’s office directly. Each institution lists its available offerings through the Undergraduate Scholarship Offering Guide, which identifies participating schools and the specific degree programs each one makes available under this initiative. Furthermore, each college and university retains full autonomy over the selection process, evaluating applicants based on its own academic and professional criteria.
The program carries particular value for city employees who have delayed higher education while building public service careers. By integrating scholarship access with existing employment structures — with applications routed through Agency Personnel Offices — the NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026-2027 removes administrative friction and positions municipal employers as active partners in workforce education.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
- Must hold a high school diploma or equivalent, completed by the start of the scholarship year
- Must be seeking to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree at a participating college or university
- Degree must be available through the Undergraduate Scholarship Offering Guide listings
Experience & Other Conditions
- Must be a full-time New York City government employee at the time of application
- Must remain a full-time NYC government employee throughout the entire course of study
- Must maintain student good standing status at the enrolled institution
- Must attend all classes on personal time — not during city working hours
- No minimum length of prior employment is required to apply
- Awardees are not obligated to remain in city service after completing the degree program
Selection Process
- Application package submitted to the Agency Personnel Office by April 27, 2026 (some agencies may enforce an earlier internal deadline)
- Agency Personnel Office forwards eligible applications to the Mayor’s Scholarship Program
- Participating colleges and universities independently review forwarded applications
- Each institution evaluates applicants on scholastic ability, leadership potential, range of knowledge, and professional experience
- Applicants are advised to complete required examinations early enough for scores to be available to institutions during their review process
- Successful applicants receive notification of award directly from the awarding college or university
How to Apply
- Review the Undergraduate Scholarship Offering Guide to identify participating schools and degree programs aligned with your academic goals.
- Complete the official MSP application form — available via the link provided in the Important Links section.
- Prepare three separate original essays, one set for each school to which you are applying.
- Obtain a copy of your current enrollment letter (for students already enrolled) or your acceptance letter from your intended institution for Fall 2026 entry.
- Compile the full application package — completed form, three original essays, and the enrollment or acceptance letter — for each school.
- Submit the completed package to your Agency Personnel Office no later than Monday, April 27, 2026.
- Follow up with your agency in May to confirm whether your application was forwarded to the Mayor’s Scholarship Program.
No application fee is required for this scholarship program.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | April 6, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Agency Submission) | April 27, 2026 |
| Follow-Up with Agency | May 2026 (to confirm forwarding status) |
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Form | Click Here to Download |
| Official Website | NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies to apply for the NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026-2027? Full-time New York City government employees who hold a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible to apply. Notably, there is no minimum length of employment required — employees may apply regardless of how long they have worked for the city, provided they maintain full-time status throughout the course of study.
Which institutions provide funding under this scholarship program? Funding is provided entirely by the participating colleges and universities — not by the Mayor’s office. Each institution determines its own scholarship recipients. Furthermore, the Undergraduate Scholarship Offering Guide lists all participating schools and the specific associate or bachelor’s degree programs each institution makes available under the NYC Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026-2027.
How are scholarship recipients selected? Selection decisions rest solely with each participating college or university. Institutions evaluate applicants based on scholastic ability, leadership potential, breadth of knowledge, and professional experience. Consequently, applicants are strongly advised to complete any required entrance examinations early enough for scores to reach institutions before the selection process concludes.
Can city employees attend classes during work hours? No. A stated condition of the program requires that all classes be attended on the employee’s own time, not during official city working hours. Employees must therefore plan their academic schedule independently of their city employment obligations.
What documents are required to submit the application? Each application package must include a completed application form, three separate original essays (one set per school applied to), and either a current enrollment letter or an acceptance letter for Fall 2026 entry. The complete package must reach the applicant’s Agency Personnel Office by April 27, 2026, though some agencies may set an earlier internal deadline that applicants should verify directly.