NY launches 2-year college scholarships to boost healthcare workforce

Orleans County designated as Medical Underserved Area

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the New York State Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship.

This new scholarship program provides a two-year full cost of attendance scholarship to approximately 500 New York State students seeking to earn their associate or bachelor’s degree as a Registered Nurse, Respiratory Therapist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Radiologic Technologist, or Surgical Technologist. The scholarship supports and empowers future healthcare workers who are committed to providing critical healthcare services in under and unserved communities throughout New York State.

“The Healthcare Workers for Our Future scholarship is an investment in New York’s future and a bold step toward ensuring every community has access to high-quality health care,” Governor Hochul said. “By providing hundreds of students with scholarships to pursue a degree in essential health care fields, we are addressing staffing needs in communities where it’s needed most while also opening doors to higher education for aspiring students.”

Selected recipients will receive a scholarship for up to two years of full-time study at any SUNY, CUNY, or New York State accredited college in an approved associate or bachelor’s degree program, which includes the following:

• Tuition: The cost of tuition, not to exceed the cost of in-state tuition at a SUNY college or the actual cost of tuition, whichever is less.
• Non-tuition Costs: Room and board and allowances for books, supplies, and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY colleges.
• Living Costs: Students living on campus will receive room and board up to the average cost at SUNY colleges. Commuter students will receive a commuter allowance.

The scholarships will be awarded to approximately 500 students randomly selected through a lottery drawing. To enter the Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship drawing, participants can complete an online entry form. Recipients of the scholarship must agree to work in an underserved area in NYS as Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Laboratory Technologists, Radiologic Technologists, or Surgical Technologists for two years upon graduation.

Editor’s Note: Orleans County is a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for Mental Health and Primary Care, and is designated as a “Medical Underserved Area.”

For the scholarship application, complete program rules and FAQs, visit ny.gov/healthcareworkers. The deadline to apply is June 24. Applicants must currently live in New York State and agree to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree in one of the approved fields of study.

Student awardees will be able to complete their programs with a flexible schedule, either part-time or full-time. Scholarships will cover tuition, room and board, and other fees at any New York State SUNY, CUNY, or NYS accredited college, equal to four full-time semesters and not to exceed the average cost of attendance equal to that of a state-operated SUNY college. Awards will be pro-rated for recipients attending less than full-time.