NYC Launches Undergraduate Scholarship Program for City Employees

The new initiative expands a longstanding graduate-level program to help municipal workers earn bachelor's and associate degrees.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:18pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a city street at night, with blurred streetlights and silhouettes of people walking, conveying a sense of urban energy and possibility.The new undergraduate scholarship program aims to open doors for New York City's municipal workforce, investing in the next generation of public servants.NYC Today

New York City is opening applications for its first undergraduate scholarship program aimed at municipal employees, expanding a graduate-level initiative that has operated for more than six decades. The program will give full-time city government workers access to bachelor's and associate degree opportunities at participating colleges and universities across the region.

Why it matters

The undergraduate track joins the longstanding Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program, addressing growing demand from city workers, with graduate program applications jumping more than 30% over the past two years. The expansion is intended to help remove financial barriers for city employees and create pathways to professional growth and development.

The details

Ten colleges and universities will participate in the initial undergraduate cohort, including Adelphi University, Albertus Magnus College, Columbia University School of General Studies, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, Fordham University, Lehman College, Marist University, Metropolitan College of New York, Montclair State University and Purchase College, SUNY. The graduate program has grown to include more than 30 schools. Participating institutions award and fund all scholarships directly, with the Mayor's Scholarship Program not providing direct funding.

  • Applications for the first undergraduate cohort will run through April 27, 2026.
  • Selected participants are expected to begin studies in fall 2026.
  • Graduate scholarship applications will open in mid-September.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who announced the new undergraduate scholarship program.

Yume Kitasei

The Commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which oversees the Mayor's Scholarship Program.

Julia Kerson

The Deputy Mayor for Operations, who said the undergraduate scholarships will help remove financial barriers for city workers.

Shannon Clarke

The chief enrollment officer at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, who said the partnership represents an investment in workers, communities, and a stronger, more just and inclusive city.

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What they’re saying

“For more than 60 years, this program has shown that when you make education accessible, working people seize the opportunity. By expanding it to include undergraduate degrees, we are investing in a new generation of public servants who act ambitiously, think creatively and believe firmly in government's power to deliver for the many.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“The undergraduate scholarships will help remove financial barriers for city workers, creating pathways to professional growth and development.”

— Julia Kerson, Deputy Mayor for Operations

“This partnership represents more than a scholarship opportunity; it is an investment in workers, in communities and in a stronger, more just and inclusive city.”

— Shannon Clarke, Chief Enrollment Officer, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

What’s next

City employees must apply through their agency personnel office and meet admissions requirements of participating institutions.

The takeaway

The expansion of the Mayor's Scholarship Program to include undergraduate degrees demonstrates New York City's commitment to investing in its municipal workforce and creating pathways for professional development and growth. By making education more accessible, the city aims to cultivate a new generation of public servants who are ambitious, creative, and dedicated to serving their communities.