The starting point
Hunter is a very-low-cost CUNY senior college ($6,930/yr in-state tuition); its merit story is honors-cohort access, not big published dollar awards — Macaulay covers full in-state tuition for NY residents, and the Hunter Scholars cohorts give 'significant' four-year tuition awards whose exact dollar amounts Hunter does not publish.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 5 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Macaulay Honors College at Hunter — Tuition Scholarship
Full in-state undergraduate tuition for 8 semesters, excluding fees (NY State residents only) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Admission to the highly competitive Macaulay Honors College with Hunter selected as the Macaulay campus; tuition scholarship available ONLY to students meeting CUNY's New York State in-state residency requirements
Renewal: Funds 8 semesters of full-time undergraduate tuition within four years. Must complete FAFSA and TAP (or NYS DREAM Act) every year by May 15 and maintain good standing; failure to reapply by May 15 causes CUNY to rescind the scholarship and charge tuition retroactively for the entire year. Does NOT cover fees.
Other terms: This is a 'last-dollar' gap tuition scholarship: it covers tuition charges remaining AFTER other financial aid and scholarships (federal, state, local, and CUNY) are applied to tuition. Non-NY-residents are admitted to Macaulay but do NOT receive the tuition scholarship. Apply via the CUNY Macaulay application: Early Decision deadline Nov 3, 2025 (binding); Regular Decision deadline Nov 17, 2025.
https://macaulay.cuny.edu/admissions/tuition-and-merit-scholarship/tuition-information/
Hunter Scholars Program — Cohort Merit Scholarship (Athena, Daedalus, Muse, NextGen, Nursing, Roosevelt, Salud, Yalow)
Four-year tuition award / 'significant merit scholarships' — exact dollar amount not published · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who demonstrate high academic achievement; must first apply for admission to Hunter (General Freshman or Macaulay application), then submit the supplemental Freshman Honors / Hunter Scholars Program application to ONE cohort of choice
Renewal: Described as four-year / renewable for all four years. Specific renewal GPA and exact award dollar amount are not stated on the public pages.
Other terms: Eight cohorts: Athena (Humanities/Philosophy/Literature), Daedalus (Computer Science), Muse (Visual & Performing Arts/Film/Media/Creative Writing), NextGen (Education/Social Work/Advocacy), Nursing (Leadership in Nursing), Roosevelt (Public Policy/Social Sciences/Law/Civic Life), Salud (Public Health/Nutrition/Wellness), and Yalow (Scientific Research & Pre-Health). Benefits include 'Consideration for a merit scholarship,' priority placement into Hunter residence halls, priority registration, dedicated advisors, and small seminar classes. Athena explicitly receives a 'four-year tuition award'; Roosevelt a 'significant tuition award for four years.' Hunter does NOT publish a specific dollar figure for the cohort awards. Apply by Dec 15 (Priority Scholar Deadline) or Feb 15 (General Scholar Deadline); applications after Feb 15 are waitlisted; the supplemental application closes April 1.
https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/students/admissions/undergraduate/scholarships-and-honors-programs/freshmen/
Athena Scholars — Four-Year Tuition Award
Four-year tuition award — exact dollar amount not published · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Academically talented incoming freshmen interested in the Humanities (Classics, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Literature); supplemental Hunter Scholars Program application required
Renewal: Described as a four-year tuition award. Specific renewal terms and exact dollar amount not stated.
Other terms: One of the eight Hunter Scholars cohorts. The page explicitly states Athena Scholars receive a four-year tuition award plus priority housing and faculty mentorship, but gives no dollar figure.
https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/students/hunter-scholars-program/prospective-applicants/
