Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026 for Undergraduate in USA | How to Apply
Here is an outstanding opportunity for New York City government employees who are ready to take their education to the next level. The Mayor’s Scholarship Program (MSP) 2026 is now open for applications, offering undergraduate scholarship opportunities to full-time NYC government employees who wish to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree at participating colleges and universities in New York while remaining employed by the city.
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This scholarship is exclusively available to full-time New York City government employees across all agencies, with no minimum length of employment required to apply. Furthermore, all scholarship awards are fully funded and determined by the participating colleges and universities, covering a wide range of degree programmes across some of New York’s most prestigious institutions.
The Fall 2026 application period is open now, and all applications must be submitted to your Agency Personnel Office by April 27, 2026. Do not miss this chance to advance your academic career while continuing to serve the city. Read on for full eligibility requirements, benefits, and how to apply.
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Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026 for Undergraduate Summary
- Host Country: United States
- Study Abroad: Study in USA
- Host: Mayor’s Scholarship Program (MSP), New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
- Category: Undergraduate Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: USA (Full-time New York City government employees only)
- Reward: Scholarship funding determined and provided by participating colleges and universities
- Deadline: April 27, 2026
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Mayor’s Scholarship Program for Undergraduate Details
Building on the success of the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, the Mayor’s Scholarship Program has been expanded to now encompass both undergraduate and graduate scholarships. This initiative gives New York City civil servants the opportunity to pursue undergraduate bachelor’s and associate degrees while receiving financial assistance from participating institutions.
All scholarship awards are determined and funded solely by the participating colleges and universities — not by DCAS or the MSP office. Each institution makes its selection based on scholastic ability, leadership potential, range of knowledge, and experience. Therefore, meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award, as all scholarships are competitive.
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The application approval process runs from March 30, 2026 to April 27, 2026. Applications must be approved by your Agency Personnel Officer (APO) and agency head before being forwarded to the MSP office and then to each participating school.
Participating Colleges and Universities for Academic Year Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 include:
- Adelphi University — College of Arts and Sciences, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, College of Nursing and Public Health, Robert B. Willumstead School of Business, College of Education and Health Sciences, School of Social Work
- Albertus Magnus College — Division of Professional and Graduate Studies
- Columbia University — School of General Studies
- CUNY/Lehman College
- CUNY/School of Labor and Urban Studies
- Fordham University — School of Professional and Continuing Studies
- Marist University
- Metropolitan College of New York
- New York University — School of Professional Studies
- SUNY/Purchase
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For the full list of participating schools and programmes, refer to the Mayor’s Scholarship Offering Guide – Undergraduate Programs (PDF).
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Eligibility Requirements for the Mayor’s Scholarship Program for Undergraduate
- Must be a full-time New York City government employee at the time of application
- Must be actively employed by the City of New York throughout the entire course of study
- Must have completed a high school diploma or equivalent by the start of the Fall 2026 semester
- Must remain a student in good standing throughout the programme
- Must attend all classes on their own time — not during working hours
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- No minimum length of employment is required to apply
- Awardees are not obligated to remain in city service after completing the undergraduate programme
- Must be applying to or currently enrolled at a participating college or university listed in the Mayor’s Scholarship Offering Guide – Undergraduate Programs
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Mayor’s Scholarship Program 2026 for Undergraduate Benefits
Selected students will receive:
- Scholarship funding fully provided and determined by participating colleges and universities
- Covers associate and bachelor’s degree programmes across a wide range of disciplines
- Available at multiple prestigious New York institutions including Columbia University, NYU, Fordham University, CUNY, Adelphi University, and more
- No minimum employment period required — all full-time NYC government employees are eligible
- No post-programme service obligation — awardees are free to pursue any career path after completing their degree
- Opportunity to advance academic qualifications while maintaining full-time employment with the City of New York.
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Required Documents for the Mayor’s Scholarship Program for Undergraduate 2026
- Completed Mayor’s Scholarship Program undergraduate scholarship application (one original per school applied to)
- Three separate essays, each on a separate sheet of paper (originals required for each school):
- Essay 1: Describe your roles and responsibilities in your current job/position (narrative format, maximum two pages — job posting format is not acceptable)
- Essay 2: Why is undergraduate study important at this time in your life? (maximum two pages)
- Essay 3: What professional benefits do you hope to gain from undergraduate work and how will you apply this to government and your agency specifically? (maximum two pages)
- Copy of enrollment letter (for current students) OR acceptance letter from the college/university (for applicants starting Fall 2026)
Note: A complete application package — including the application form, three essays, and enrollment/acceptance letter — must be submitted for each school you are applying to.
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How to Apply for the Mayor’s Scholarship Program for Undergraduate
- Visit the official NYC DCAS undergraduate scholarships page to obtain application materials.
- Review the Mayor’s Scholarship Offering Guide – Undergraduate Programs to confirm that your chosen school and degree programme are participating in the MSP for the 2026–2027 academic year.
- Contact your chosen college or university directly for information on admission requirements, transcripts, test scores, and programme curriculum — the MSP staff only handles scholarship application questions.
- Complete a separate scholarship application for each school you are applying to — do not submit scholarship applications directly to the school.
- Write all three required essays in narrative form, each not exceeding two pages, and prepare originals for each school.
- Attach your enrollment letter (current students) or acceptance letter (new applicants starting Fall 2026) to your completed application package.
- Submit your complete application package to your Agency Personnel Office (APO) — not to the school or the MSP office — before the deadline of April 27, 2026. Note that some agencies may have an earlier internal deadline, so confirm with your APO.
- Your APO will review your application, verify your employment status, and forward the approved application to the MSP office, which will then send it to the participating schools for selection.
- In May 2026, follow up with your agency to confirm whether your application was forwarded to the MSP office.
- Await notification from the participating school regarding your award status — DCAS does not participate in the award decision process.
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Deadline
April 27, 2026








