What is CSTEP?
The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) is an academic enrichment program designed to foster students’ success as they prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This program prepares historically underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged undergraduate students to pursue graduate degrees, professional licensure and careers in STEM fields.
CSTEP is jointly sponsored by the University at Albany and the New York State Education Department.
What opportunities does CSTEP offer?
Students who participate in CSTEP have access to STEM-related academic enrichment and research opportunities during the summer and academic year, including:
Supervised training in research methods
Internships
Admissions counseling for graduate and/or professional school
Standardized test preparation
Discounts on graduate prep courses
Academic and career development
Peer mentoring and tutoring
Additional academic advising
Luncheons, symposiums, workshops and fairs
CSTEP statewide student conference
Additionally, CSTEP eligible students can participate in the University at Albany’s national Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.
CSTEP's Impact
- We serve more than 300 students each year
- 80% of CSTEP seniors complete their degree
- 50% of CSTEP seniors apply to graduate school
- 40% of CSTEP freshman remain active through their senior year
- The University at Albany Summer Research Program (UASRP) has assisted over 200 CSTEP students participate in scientific research
- 100% of CSTEP students utilize at least one of the services that CSTEP provides
- 87.5% of students use tutoring services provided by CSTEP
- 80% of CSTEP students plan to pursue graduate degrees and science careers
Last updated: July 2021
Annual CSTEP Conference
The annual CSTEP conference is a statewide event for students interested in pursuing STEM careers.
Attendees present research during poster sessions and oral presentations, compete for awards and network with students from other university’s CSTEP programs.
About 15 to 24 UAlbany students attend the conference each year. One student from each university is selected to be an ambassador, whose duties include greeting, hosting and moderating guests during the conference.
Who is eligible and how do I apply?
CSTEP participants must:
Be New York State residents (or permanent resident aliens)
Be economically disadvantaged and/or historically underrepresented in STEM careers and licensed professions
Demonstrate interest in pursuing STEM careers or licensed professions
Maintain at least a 2.7 GPA at UAlbany
Eligible UAlbany students can apply for CSTEP at any time.
apply
Defining Economic Disadvantage & Underrepresentation
To be eligible to participate in CSTEP and/or STEP, students must be economically disadvantaged and/or historically underrepresented in STEM careers or licensed professions.
The following groups are historically underrepresented in STEM:
- African American
- Hispanic/Latino
- American Indian/Alaskan Native
Economic disadvantage is measured through household income. Documentation is required.
| Number of dependents in your household | Eligible income for CSTEP/STEP (2024-2025) | Eligible income for CSTEP/STEP (2025-2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $26,973 | $27,861 |
| 2 | $36,482 | $37,814 |
| 3 | $45,991 | $47,767 |
| 4 | $55,500 | $57,720 |
| 5 | $65,009 | $67,673 |
| 6 | $74,518 | $77,626 |
| 7 | $84,027 | $87,579 |
| 8 | $93,536 | $97,532 |
If your household has more than eight dependents, please add $9,953 per dependent.
Questions?
Contact the CSTEP team: