Spring 2024 Semester Deadline: February 15th, 2024

 

 

Eligibility

To determine if you are eligible for in-state tuition, please review the SUNY Guide to Resident Tuition Policy. If you meet the qualifications in the guide, please download and submit Purchase’s NYS Residency Application. 

Applications and supporting documentation should be submitted by one of the following methods: 

  1. Secure Document Upload: You can upload your information securely by logging into your MyHeliotrope account at https://apps.purchase.edu/SecureDocumentUpload/SDU/101/
  2. Mail: 

Student Financial Services
SUNY Purchase College
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577

 

Each individual SUNY campus is responsible for determining a student’s residency status and tuition charges, and the campus determination is final.

Residency guidelines for the purpose of receiving a New York State TAP grant are not affected by any college residency determination. Residency for TAP purposes is determined solely by New York State HESC.

Typically students who meet the criteria below are eligible for New York State tuition:

  • You are an emancipated U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Your domicile (a fixed, permanent home to which you intend to return) has been in the State of New York for a period of at least 12 months immediately preceding the time of registration.
    • Your domicile is that of your custodial parent(s) or legal guardian.
    • If your parents are divorced or legally separated:
      • The custodial parent is a New York State resident; or
      • You reside with a non-custodial parent who is a New York State resident and intend to continue to reside with that parent throughout your time at Purchase.

This is based on the information you provided during the admissions process. If you are classified as a non-resident (out of state), you can request reclassification by submitting a residency application and supporting request with documentation.

Completed residency applications should be submitted to the Office of Student Accounts prior to registration (the last day of add/drop) for the semester in which tuition is due. Residency applications received after the end of the add/drop period will be considered for the following term.

Applying for Residency:

In order to apply for residency you must complete the following:

  1. Review residency requirements: SUNY Guide to Resident Tuition Policy.
  2. Complete the Application for New York State Residency Status for Tuition Billing Purposes.
  3. Submit all required documentation from the residency checklist.

Acceptable Documents:   

Residency
  • Alien Registration Card or Visa (Non-U.S. Citizens only) Permanent Residents, Refugees and Asylees, including those with pending applications, certain visa holders* and some undocumented aliens may establish NYS residency in accordance with these policies.

* A1-A3, E1, E2, G1-G5, H1B, H1C, H4, I, K1-K4, L1 and L2, N8 and N9, O1, O3, S5-S7, T1-T4, U1-U4, and V1-V3.

Documents Used to Demonstrate Domicile (All documents must reflect a period of at least 12 months immediately preceding the time of registration in order to be considered)
At least three must be submitted, but more documents may be requested. If additional documents are requested, you must submit them within 30 days of the request in order for your application to still be considered.
  • NYS Driver License
  • NYS Identification Card (DMV Issued)
  • NYS Vehicle Registration
  • NYS Voter Registration
  • Signed New York State Residential Lease or Deed (At least 12 months prior to the start of the semester)
  • New York State Resident Income Tax Return (from prior year.)
  • NYS Bank Account (must be a currently held account: one current statement and one statement issued 12 months prior to the start of the semester.)
Documents Used to Demonstrate Financial Independence
In addition to documents used to demonstrate domicile.
  • New York State and Federal Income Tax Returns (from prior year)
  • TA/GA Departmental Offer Letter With Signatures (Graduate Students)
  • W-2 and 1099 statements

Exceptions to the Domicile Rule

Military Personnel

  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces while on full-time active duty and stationed within New York State, as well as their dependents, are eligible for the resident tuition rate.
  • Dependents of full-time active duty personnel who are stationed outside NY State qualify for resident tuition if the service member’s “Home of Record” is New York.
  • Civilian employees of the military are not included in these exceptions to the domicile requirements.

Immigrant, Non-immigrant, Undocumented Students and Other Non-residents

  • Students claiming to be immigrants must present proof of their status by providing the campus with a valid Permanent Resident Card. Once a student’s immigrant status has been verified, the student may then establish New York State residency by meeting the domicile criteria. See Proof of Domicile (above).
  • Non-immigrants are grouped in categories depending on the type of visa presented at the port of entry. Non-immigrants admitted to the United States in categories that prohibit them from establishing a United States residence are not eligible for resident tuition.
  • In general, the Federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act prohibits students who are unable to present valid documentation of their alien status from eligibility for the resident tuition rate.
  • Non-resident students, including undocumented students, who attend for at least two years and graduate from a New York high school may be eligible for resident tuition.

 

Appeals

If you wish to appeal your residency decision, you may do so by submitting additional information in support of your claim.  Written appeals should be sent to:

Purchase College Residency Appeals Committee
c/o Victoria Woisin, Director of Student Financial Services
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577

Or you can email, Victoria Woisin, your appeal at financialservices@purchase.edu

Your appeal will be reviewed by the Purchase College Residency Appeals Committee.  Upon review, you will receive a decision.  Decisions made by the Residency Appeals Committee are final.