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Metro guide

Albany scholarships & local foundations

The Albany metro area covers Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County and Saratoga County in New York, with principal cities including Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga Springs. We haven’t confirmed a scholarship limited to this metro yet, so this guide leads with local foundations, statewide awards and state aid.

Updated

The IRS lists 1 community foundation with at least $1 million in assets based in the area’s principal cities; the largest is The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc in Albany ($120 million in assets). Community foundations hold hundreds of small donor-funded scholarships, often limited to graduates of specific high schools or residents of one county, and many use a single shared application each winter.

Statewide, 5 more open awards are limited to New York residents, and state aid includes Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Federal Pell Grants stack on top for students who file the FAFSA. 12 union apprenticeship application windows in the area are on our windows tracker.

Where local money hides: ask your school counselor for the local scholarship bulletin (many high schools keep one), check employer and union awards from your parents’ workplaces, and look at service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions) and credit unions near you. These awards rarely appear on national sites, which is why their applicant pools are small.

Scholarships naming the Albany area (0)

None confirmed right now. See the foundations and statewide awards below.

Community foundations in the Albany area (1)

The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
Albany, NY · $120 million in assets (IRS)
Find its scholarships ↗

State aid for Albany students

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
New York · NY Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

$1,000–$5,665 per year

Official page ↗

Statewide awards open to Albany residents (5)

109 days left

Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship

$500 to $6,000 per year · Jimmy Rane Foundation · High school senior

High school seniors no older than 20 on Aug 1, 2027, living in AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC; financial need is a major factor.

Application opens Dec 1, 2026; application and materials due Feb 5, 2027 (recommendations by Feb 10). No late applications.
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132 days left

Rochester Area Community Foundation Consolidated Scholarship Application

$250 to $40,000 (some paid as $10,000 a year) · Rochester Area Community Foundation · High school senior / college student

Students in the Rochester, New York area; one consolidated application covers many of the foundation's scholarships.

Consolidated application runs Dec 1 – Feb 28 each year (2027: Feb 28).
NY
133 days left

First New York Federal Credit Union Scholarship

$2,500 (four awards) · First New York Federal Credit Union · High school senior

Graduating high school seniors who are First New York FCU members in good standing, plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college and are active volunteers; transcript and 250-word essay required.

Applications due March 1, 2027; checks presented at the 2027 annual meeting.
NY
147 days left

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Scholarship Common Application

Varies by fund · Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley · High school senior / college student

Students in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster Counties, New York; one common application for the foundation's scholarships.

Scholarships open Jan 1, 2027; deadline March 15, 2027.
NY
147 days left

UNICO National Scholarships

$2,000–$3,000 · UNICO Foundation · High school / college

Mostly for residents of states with UNICO chapters (CA, CT, DE, FL, IL, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WI); the Southern Italy Scholarship is open to all 50 states.

CAFLNY

Full New York guide → · All community foundations

Frequently asked questions

Are there local scholarships in Albany?

We haven’t confirmed one that’s open right now, but the IRS lists 1 community foundations in the area’s principal cities, and most run local scholarships.

How do community foundation scholarships work?

Donors set up funds with rules such as a specific high school, county, major or need. The foundation advertises them together, usually with one online application each winter or spring, and matches applicants to every fund they qualify for.

What state aid can Albany students get?

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Most require the FAFSA.