NYC Expands Worker Scholarships to Include Undergrad Degrees

New York City just made college more accessible for the people who keep the city running every day.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that the city's scholarship program for municipal workers will now include undergraduate degrees for the first time. The expanded Mayor's Scholarship Program opens applications this week for full-time city employees pursuing associate and bachelor's degrees, not just advanced degrees like before.

The program has quietly supported city workers for 60 years, awarding between $360,000 and $530,000 annually in scholarships. But until now, it only covered graduate degrees, leaving many workers without bachelor's degrees on the sidelines.

Ten colleges and universities are partnering with the city for the undergraduate launch, including Columbia University School of General Studies, the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and Fordham University. More than 30 schools already participate in the graduate program, with additional partners expected to join.

Here's what makes this program special: the city doesn't actually fund it. Instead, participating colleges and universities provide the scholarships directly, meaning no taxpayer dollars are spent while workers still get real financial help.

City employees interested in applying need to submit applications through their agencies and meet standard admissions requirements for their chosen schools. The application window runs from March 30 through April 27 for programs starting this fall.

The Ripple Effect

This expansion could transform thousands of lives across New York City's massive workforce. When municipal workers gain education, everyone benefits from more skilled civil servants making better decisions for their communities.

The move recognizes a simple truth: many talented city employees started working right after high school or never finished their degrees. Now they have a pathway forward without sacrificing their livelihoods or going into debt.

Mayor Mamdani framed it as investing in the future of public service itself. "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," he said.

Graduate scholarship applications will open in mid-September for those already holding bachelor's degrees.

This is what opportunity looks like when barriers come down and institutions work together to lift people up.