Tuition and Fees

Residency Policy

Under SUNY and SUNY Niagara policy, legal residence means more than simply living in Niagara County and New York State.  More specifically, it means establishing a domicile as opposed to a temporary residence or physical presence incidental to enrollment in the College.

To be eligible for the resident tuition rate, a student must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Sponsor County Resident – Provide documentation of one year’s legal residency in New York State and six months in Niagara County prior to the start date of the term.  Documentation must clearly demonstrate New York State and Niagara County residency for the six (6) month time period prior to the start of the term.  The following are appropriate documentation of State and County legal residency.  Students are required to provide one item from each list:

List A:

• NYS income tax return (most recent filing year), on which the student is claimed as a dependent, and which also confirms a Niagara County resident address.  The return may belong to the student or a parent, depending on relevant filing status.
• Proof of ownership of New York State and Niagara County real property, in the student’s name.
• Residential lease for property in Niagara County. The student must either be the lessee OR listed as an additional tenant.

List B:

• New York State Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit or NYS non-driver identification card
• New York State voter registration
• New York State motor vehicle registration
• Other New York State issued identification, including proof of NYS automotive liability insurance, provided that it includes an issue date and your legal resident address, subject to approval.

2. Non-sponsor County Resident – Provide a Certificate of Residency from another county in New York State.  The Certificate of Residency is a form issued to the student by the county in which they reside verifying their place of residence.  To qualify for a Certificate of Residency, students must have lived in New York State for the past twelve (12) months.  Residency is verified by the county in which they have lived for the six (6) months prior to attending college.  If they have lived in more than one NY State county during those six (6) months, verification from each county will be required.

3.  Foreign Students – Permanent resident cards must be dated one year prior to the start date of the term in which the student wishes to register in order to be considered for eligible resident tuition.  You must also qualify under #1 or #2 above.

Students on F(student), B(visitor), J(exchange), C, D, H2, H3, M, o2, P, Q, R, or TN visas are not eligible for a resident rate of tuition.

Students who are holders of A1, A2, E1, H1, H4, and all G, I, and L visas are probably eligible to be considered as New York State residents if domiciled in New York State. However, an SUNY Niagara Residency Verification Form must be filed by the student and reviewed by the Cashier’s Office for students in this group.  Students who fail to complete and return this form in order to confirm residency status after enrollment will automatically be charged the out-of-state tuition rate.

Under Section 355 of New York Education Law, active members of the armed forces, their spouses, and dependents stationed in New York are eligible for the resident rate.  In order to attain the resident rate, the student must complete and return verification of active military status in New York.  After the initial enrollment of the student, the continuation of their eligibility for the in-state tuition rate will be verified.

In accordance with Governor George E. Pataki’s legislation amendment 7784, under Section 355 of New York Education Law, students who attend a New York State High School for at least two years, and earn an NYS high school diploma or GED, may be eligible to pay the resident rate, however, a residency application must be reviewed for eligibility by the Cashier’s Office.