The City University of New York (CUNY) is not "automatically" free for all NYC students, but it is tuition-free for many through the Excelsior Scholarship and the CUNY ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs). To qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship in 2026, a student's family must earn less than $125,000 annually, and the student must be a New York State resident who attends full-time and plans to live and work in the state after graduation for a period equal to the duration of the scholarship. For those who don't meet these specific criteria, Pell Grants and New York State TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) often cover a significant portion of the cost. Furthermore, CUNY's ASAP and ACE programs provide "gap-funding" to cover any remaining tuition after financial aid is applied, along with free MetroCards and textbook vouchers. While the "sticker price" for CUNY remains relatively low (approx. $7,000/year for senior colleges), the combination of state and city initiatives ensures that roughly two-thirds of CUNY undergraduates attend with zero tuition out-of-pocket, making it one of the most accessible urban university systems in the world.