EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides access for New York State students who demonstrate academic potential and a desire to earn a college degree. The program assists students who are both academically and financially disadvantaged. Students enrolled in EOP receive additional services to support their success, such as:

• One-to-one personal and academic counseling
• Free individual tutorial assistance
• Opportunities for career and leadership development
• A four-week on-campus summer program (at both Auburn and Fulton campuses) and online pre-college summer program (for online students only) for fall-entering first-time students, which aids in student preparedness, accessing campus resources/services and successfully navigating college life. The summer program is mandatory and free.
• Financial assistance with non-tuition-related expenses (i.e., books, supplies, etc.)

The EOP office is located in the Learning Commons Academic Services Center on the Auburn Campus. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. For more information, contact the EOP Office at (315) 294-8567.

Eligibility Criteria for Acceptance into EOP

Admission to EOP is based on two criteria: academic and financial eligibility. To determine if you are eligible for admission to EOP, you must:

• Possess a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED);
• Be a New York State resident for 12 months prior to enrollment;
• Be in need of financial assistance based on the established economic eligibility guidelines;
• Apply using the SUNY or Common Application (link to Apply Now). Indicate your interest in EOP on the Admissions application. If you did not indicate your interest in EOP on the application but decide later that you might want EOP, contact our Admissions Office.
• Complete the SUNY EOP Financial Information Form and submit it to our Student Financial Services Office with the required documentation.

Space in EOP is limited. We encourage you to submit your documentation as soon as possible.

INCOME GUIDELINES

Students who request consideration for SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) on their application for admission must complete an EOP Financial Eligibility Review screening to determine whether they meet the financial eligibility requirements. You will be directed to the EOP Financial Eligibility Review portal after indicating your interest in consideration for EOP and having completed the application for admission, whether using the SUNY application, the Common application, or applying to a SUNY campus that uses their own campus application for admission.

The table below lists financial eligibility requirements for EOP admission for students entering the 2025-26 academic year. Any subsequent changes to these guidelines will be posted here. In order to be determined economically disadvantaged, a student’s household income must not exceed the amount shown for its size or the student’s circumstances must conform to one of the exceptions indicated.

INCOME GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY IF:

• The student’s family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance;
• The student is in foster care as established by the court;
• The student is a ward of the state or county.

REQUIRED RECORDS

As part of the EOP admission process, your high school record and test scores (if required) will be reviewed, as well as information about clubs, hobbies, jobs and any other experiences which made an impact on your education. This information will help college counselors evaluate your potential for success in a college program.

SUPPORT SERVICES

Educational Opportunity Program students may receive support services, such as academic, career, and personal counseling, tutoring and supplemental instruction. As part of a student’s overall financial aid package, the Educational Opportunity Program provides financial assistance for non-tuition related expenses (e.g., books, supplies, etc.).

EOP PRE-MEDICAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

The EOP Pre-Medical Opportunity Program launched in the summer of 2021. The program provides academic support, mentorship, clinical exposure, assistance with MCAT preparation, academic coaching, and workshops for qualified EOP students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. This will help students access and earn their advanced degrees from SUNY medical centers.

FOSTER YOUTH COLLEGE SUCCESS INITIATIVE

Under the Foster Youth College Success Initiative, foster youth are eligible for additional services and funding to assist with applying for, enrolling in and succeeding in college.

TRANSFERS

You are eligible for EOP as a transfer student, provided you have been enrolled in EOP, College Discovery, HEOP (Higher Education Opportunity Program), SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge), or a similar academic and financial support program at your previous college. If your previous college did not have EOP or a similar program, you may be considered for transfer eligibility and should notify the college to which you are transferring of your interest.

FEE WAIVER

Students submitting an application for EOP consideration may qualify for an application fee waiver for their first seven (7) campus choices. If a student does not meet both the academic and economic guidelines, or the campus to which the student is applying does not operate an Educational Opportunity Program, the student will be billed for the fee.

• Applicants who are deemed ineligible for EOP for financial reasons may still qualify for admission and for financial aid as traditional candidates.
• Contact the admissions or EOP office at your college choice before you apply.
• The following campuses do not operate EOP programs: Clinton, Columbia-Greene, Herkimer County, Jamestown, North Country, and Sullivan County.