New York State has made an attempt to combat the much-debated higher education affordability issue via the Excelsior Scholarship. On April 12th, 2017, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo approved the Excelsior Scholarship program. So, what is it? How does it work? There are a plethora of requirements and steps to follow to receive the Excelsior Scholarship. First, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Student Aid Payment Application each academic year. Students’ families must be N.Y.S. residents for at least a year and must make a gross income of $110,000 or less. Students must also be enrolled in a SUNY or…