The Scholarships for Academic Excellence is open to students who have graduated from a New York State high school. The student must be matriculated in an approved undergraduate program of study in a New York State post-secondary institution and must not be in default on any State or federal student loan or any repayment of state awards. Recipients are selected based on their grades in certain Regents exams. The scholarship must be used within seven years commencing with the first academic year for which the scholarship was awarded. To apply for this award, students must see their high school guidance counselor.