EXCELERATE access to an exceptional education

On Binghamton University’s Admitted Student Day each spring, students come to see their dream university in person. Thrilled to be accepted at Binghamton, many are unable to make the dollars and cents add up to commit to enroll. Yet, they still come to the event, holding offer letters from other universities with better financial-aid packages, hopeful something can be done.

Right now, more than 450 students are facing this dilemma, says Amber Stallman, registrar and assistant provost for student success.

You can change that reality by funding scholarships based on financial need. The more flexible, the better.

This type of support makes Binghamton more competitive and nimble for students who have the greatest potential and may be considering offers from schools who can give more aid, says Krista Medionte-Phillips, assistant provost for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions.

It also makes it possible for top students to not only accept the opportunity to get in the door at Binghamton, but enables them to continue each year, focus on learning and complete their degrees on time, without financial stress. In addition, lifting financial barriers gives students the ability to pursue experiences they couldn’t otherwise afford, such as internships that are unpaid or come with cost-prohibitive travel and lodging expenses.

“We’re not short of great applicants. What we need is for great applicants to see themselves at Binghamton,” says Donald Loewen, vice provost for undergraduate education and enrollment management. “The enrollment competition in the Northeast is only going to get bigger.”

Truly the premier public

Binghamton students are, on average, at the 94th percentile of SAT scores with an average GPA of 3.7. Admitted Binghamton students often have the academic credentials to gain admission to other top-tier schools. However, two-thirds of Binghamton students cannot enroll without financial assistance.

Here are some ways Binghamton donors are assisting students:

* At Binghamton, about $3.1 million in donor-funded scholarships were awarded to approximately 1,250 students from July 2021-June 2022, the most recently completed fiscal year.

* Binghamton Fund Opportunity Scholarships became available starting in fall 2021, providing emergency support to more than 100 students so far, addressing unforeseen financial hardships they experience after already enrolling at Binghamton. Most receive around $2,000 each, but sometimes more, thanks to Binghamton Fund donors.

* It was announced in January 2023 that an anonymous family is providing $25 million in endowed, merit-based scholarships to attract the best undergraduate students to Binghamton. Starting in fall 2023, 25 incoming students will receive these Binghamton Achievement Scholarships per class year until the program reaches a steady state of 100 scholarships awarded per year. The scholarships will be divided into two groups, with 20 incoming first-year students receiving a scholarship of $10,000 per year for up to four years, and five incoming first-year students receiving a scholarship up to the in-state resident full cost of attendance (approximately $30,000) per year for up to four years. A minimum GPA threshold must be met by the recipients.

*The anonymous family also gave $12.5 million to endow Graduate Student of the Arts (GSA) scholarships that will support students pursuing a Master of Fine Arts. The GSA scholarships will cover full tuition for 15 incoming graduate students with exceptional skills in the performing, writing and visual arts until the program reaches a steady state of 30 scholarships awarded per year. The GSA scholarships will be awarded for two years unless the students fail to meet the expectations in their educational program.

*Additional new scholarships and other support to enhance the educational experience are emerging as part of the EXCELERATE campaign for Binghamton.