MERIT Scholarship — Full Cost of Attendance for Families of the Severely Disabled or Lost
The Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute scholarship covers the full cost of attendance for the child, spouse or financial dependant of a New Yorker who died or was severely disabled in service.
Verified August 18, 2026
What this benefit is
The Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute scholarship covers the full cost of attendance for the child, spouse or financial dependant of a New Yorker who died or was severely disabled in service.
What it's worth: The full cost of attendance at a SUNY or CUNY institution
- MERIT covers cost of attendance — tuition, fees, room and board — rather than tuition alone, which makes it far larger than the other New York awards.
- At a private institution the award is capped at the SUNY equivalent.
Who is entitled to it
- You are the child, spouse or financial dependant of the servicemember.
- The servicemember died in service.
- The servicemember was severely disabled in service.
- You are enrolled at or applying to a New York institution.
- Your home is in New York.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
Deadline: With your annual HESC application- 1Apply through HESC. MERIT is the largest of the New York education awards — start here before the smaller ones.
- File with
- NYS Higher Education Services Corporation
- Documents you will need
- dd214 ny · proof of relationship ny · va rating letter ny
- You must re-file every year
Sources
- authority · published policyNYS HESC — Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship
- operating · published policyNYS Department of Veterans’ Services — State Education and Scholarships
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.