New York City is stepping up for its workforce.
On Tuesday, March 30th, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei announced the launch of the City’s first undergraduate scholarship program for municipal employees, an expansion of the City’s decades-long commitment to professional development and higher education.
The new undergraduate program builds on the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, a fixture for over 60 years, and together they now form the Mayor’s Scholarship Program.
The program covers both undergraduate and graduate education for full-time City employees.
In a statement, Mayor Mamdani said:
Our city advances when our workers can too. By connecting city workers to undergraduate and graduate educations, we’re empowering the next generation of civil servants who act ambitiously, think creatively and believe firmly in government’s ability to improve the lives of working people.
Eligibility And Applying
Full-time employees across all New York City agencies are eligible to apply for scholarships at participating colleges and universities.
Applications for the inaugural undergraduate scholarships run from March 30th to April 27th, 2026, while graduate scholarships will open mid-September 2026.
Applicants must submit through their agency personnel offices and meet the admissions requirements of the institutions they choose. The scholarships themselves are funded directly by the colleges and universities.
Participating Schools
The program kicks off with an impressive lineup of undergraduate institutions, including:
- Adelphi University
- Albertus Magnus College
- Columbia University School of General Studies
- CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
- Fordham University
- Lehman College
- Montclair State University
- Marist University
- Metropolitan College of New York
- Purchase College, SUNY
Graduate scholarships continue through more than 30 institutions, from Adelphi and Columbia to Baruch and NYU, supporting employees looking to further their education and career growth.
Looking Ahead
Selected undergraduates will begin classes in Fall 2026, With this expansion, our favorite city continues to prove it’s a place where ambition, public service, and opportunity come together.
For more information, visit the program’s official website.
