Visiting Students
Purchase welcomes you to continue your studies here as a visiting student.
Taking Classes as a Visiting Student is Easy.
Students from other colleges and adults with a high school diploma or its equivalent are welcome to take classes for credit at Purchase College. Tuition is affordable and credits are easily transferrable.
Satisfy Core Requirements or Your Curiosity.
Whether you hope to fulfill general education requirements or delve into a couple of unique electives, you can rely on Purchase for rigorous and creative coursework with fantastic instructors.
Choose from hundreds of courses in subjects ranging from psychology, ecology, biology, and psychology to economics to math and computer science to race, gender, and politics. Browse the classes offered here.
Just follow the simple steps “How To Become a Visiting Student” below.
The Details…
Visiting students, also known as “non-matriculated,” are responsible for the college’s tuition, fees, and other applicable charges and are bound by all college policies, including our refund policy.
For financial aid, please contact the financial aid office at your home institution. Veterans should visit our Veterans’ Services page to learn more about services available to them.
Please reference the Academic Calendar for information regarding registration schedules and deadlines.
Who is Considered a Visiting Student?
Visiting students:
- are undergraduates who are matriculated at another college and wish to take courses at Purchase during the academic year;
- remain matriculated at their home institution and are considered non-matriculated students at Purchase;
- may take courses upon availability and may require permission from instructors to enroll in courses not typically open to non-majors;
- are prohibited from enrolling in internship courses and may not become learning assistants;
- may not register for more than 18 credits in a semester and may be dismissed if they do not meet academic standing requirements;
Please note: Some campus services may be available to visiting students. Please check with individual offices to determine availability.
Interested in Transferring?
Another option is to transfer and matriculate here fully. You’ll need to apply, but you can submit an application until July 31. Visit our Transfer page or email admissions@purchase.edu for more information.
How to Become a Visiting Student
Course descriptions and schedule information are available on the myHeliotrope course search. Once you’ve selected your class, you’ll want to register via the Add/Drop link in myHeliotrope. For more help, review the Registration User Guide.
Students must meet any course prerequisites. Visiting students from other colleges are responsible for obtaining approval from their college to transfer Purchase College credits back to their college before registering for credit courses.
Now that you’re a current student, when you need to access your information visit the Current Student portal. This will also keep you informed of campus announcements.
For visiting students, bill payment is due within 24 hours of registration to ensure your spot in the course. You can pay through the secure payment portal on myHeliotrope. Be sure to review the Student Financial Services site for refund and tuition policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are waitlisted for a course and a spot becomes available for you, you will receive an email to your purchase.edu email account letting you know that you have 24 hours to register before the spot goes to the next person in line.
You will not be billed for courses in which you’re on the waitlist.
Yes, and for more information, visit our Premedical Studies page.
Additional Requirements
The College requires multi-factor authentication to secure your account. You will receive information about set-up from no-reply@duosecurity.com. Directions are available (login required).
If you have any questions, contact Campus Technology Services at helpdesk@purchase.edu or visit their website for additional contact information
COVID Vaccination is required to attend classes. Your registration will be canceled for non-compliance. Follow these steps to upload your vaccination :
- Go to Health Services
- Click the Login button for Patient Medicat Connect Portal
- Log in with your Purchase credentials
- Click the Uploads button
- Click on the Choose document you are uploading to and choose the appropriate document type
- Click the Select File button and choose the document from your file
If you have any questions, contact Health Services at hse@purchase.edu or visit their website for additional contact information.