Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a New York State-sponsored program designed to assist students who show promise and potential for academic success at the college level yet demonstrate both an academic and historical financial need for assistance in order to attend college. EOP is not a financial aid or scholarship program.

EOP Admission Criteria

General Requirements

• You must be a legal resident of New York State.
• You must attend and graduate from a New York State-recognized high school.
• You must be eligible academically and financially to be reviewed for EOP admission.

EOP Freshmen Information

Freshmen Academic Eligibility Requirements

The Office of Undergraduate Admission will make a determination on your academic eligibility for EOP admission.

You must have a minimum of a 75.0 cumulative high school average in the following college preparatory program:

• 4 units of English
• 3-4 units of social studies/history
• 3-4 units of mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II/Trigonometry)
• 3-4 units of science (three units of lab science)
• 2-4 units of a language other than English

Academic Eligibility Decision

If you are found academically eligible, your application will be forwarded to the SUNY New Paltz Financial Aid Office for a review of your family financial eligibility for EOP.

If you are found academically ineligible (your high school average and SAT or ACT score, if applicable, exceed the maximum allowed for EOP at SUNY New Paltz), you will be notified by the Office of Undergraduate Admission and your application will be reviewed under the admission criteria for General Freshman Admission.

Freshmen Family Financial Eligibility

The Office of Student Financial Services will make a determination on your financial eligibility for EOP admission.

• The most recent EOP financial eligibility guidelines can be found online.
• Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Submit your completed Financial Eligibility Form electronically.
• Print the EOP Documentation Cover Sheet and submit with your required financial documents to SUNY as instructed.

If you are found both financially and academically eligible for EOP admission consideration, your application will be forwarded to the SUNY New Paltz EOP Office for a final admission decision.

If you are found financially ineligible (your family income and assets exceed the allowed income/assets level), your application will be removed from EOP consideration and will be reviewed under the criteria for General Freshman Admission by the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

EOP Transfer Information

Transfer Academic Eligibility Requirements

If you are attending or have attended another college, have been enrolled in an EOP, HEOP, or SEEK program, and are a New York State resident, you may apply for EOP transfer admission. You must meet the following:

• Minimum 2.75 GPA in all your previous college work.
• Specific transfer requirements.

Transfer Family Financial Eligibility

The EOP Office and the Office of Student Financial Services will make a determination of your financial eligibility for EOP admission.

• Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Send in the New Paltz EOP Transfer Verification Form, which must be completed and signed by the EOP Director at the college you attended most recently. (Applicants can send the EOP Transfer Verification Form to the EOP Director at their most recent college.)

Apply to the Educational Opportunity Program

Use one of these applications:

• SUNY Application
• The Common Application

Freshman Applicants: What to Submit with Your Application

• Your official high school transcript
• Your essay as part of the Common Application or as part of the SUNY Application.
• Recommendation letter from your guidance counselor/college adviser or teacher.

• Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Submit your completed Financial Eligibility Form electronically.

Freshman Application Due Date

• Fall Admission: May 1

SUNY New Paltz does not have a spring EOP freshman class.

Transfer Applicants: What to Submit with Your Application

• All official college transcripts
• Your official high school transcript (to verify your New York State residency).

• Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Send in the New Paltz EOP Transfer Verification Form, which must be completed and signed by the EOP Director at the college you attended most recently. (Applicants can send the EOP Transfer Verification Form to the EOP Director at their most recent college.)

Transfer Application Due Dates

• Fall Admission: May 1
• Spring Admission: December 1

Important Information for All Applicants

• SUNY New Paltz reserves the right to change application due dates without notice to applicants.
• The Offices of Undergraduate Admission, EOP, and Student Financial Services at New Paltz use e-mail as our official method of communication. In order to ensure that you receive all communications related to your application, please make sure the e-mail address provided on your application is correct, and add SUNY New Paltz (@newpaltz.edu) to your address book to avoid e-mails being sent to spam/junk folders.
• The requirements published here are for SUNY New Paltz only. Other SUNY, CUNY, and New York independent colleges will have different requirements for EOP, SEEK, or HEOP.