Eligibility Requirements
Applications for EOP are processed through the office of Admissions portal by completing the SUNY Online and Common Application. Applicants must check off they are interested in applying for EOP. If not, the Office of Admissions will not know if you qualify for the program.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
- A New York State resident for 12 months before enrollment.
- Ineligible for admission under traditional standards but demonstrate potential for completing a college program.
- The applicant must be academically and economically eligible within EOP guidelines (see below). In selecting students for the program, priority is given to applicants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- If in the year before enrollment, the income falls within EOP guidelines due to unemployment, separation, divorce, or death of a parent, you may still qualify for EOP if you are not from a historically disadvantaged background.
- Have received a New York State high school diploma or its equivalent.
SUNY Income Guidelines
Academic Year 2025-26
| Household Size (including head of household) | Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $27,861 |
| 2 | $37,814 |
| 3 | $47,767 |
| 4 | $57,720 |
| 5 | $67,673 |
| 6 | $77,626 |
| 7 | $87,579 |
| 8 | $97,532* |
*For families/households with more than eight persons, add $9,953 for each additional person.
Academic Guidelines
First-year EOP students must have an overall cumulative high school GPA of 80-88.
Fee Waiver
Both freshman and transfer (prior enrollment in similar program at previous college required) applicants to EOP may qualify for an application fee waiver.
Transfer students
You are eligible for EOP as a transfer student provided you have been enrolled in EOP, College Discovery, HEOP, SEEK, or a similar program at your previous college. If your previous college did not have EOP or a similar program, you may be considered for transfer eligibility and should notify the Office of Admissions.
EOP Financial Eligibility
The table above lists financial guidelines for EOP admission for students entering the Fall 2024 academic year. Any subsequent changes to these guidelines will be posted here. In order to be determined economically disadvantaged, a student’s household income must not exceed the amount shown for its size or the student’s circumstances must conform to one of the exceptions indicated.
Income guidelines do not apply:
- The student’s family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance; or
- The student lives in foster care as established by the court; or
- The student is a ward of the state or county.