NYS Residency

As a University center of the State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook University is bound by the State policy regarding eligibility for the New York State Resident tuition rate. A link to the State policy is available here:SUNY Policy 7810

A summary of the policy requirements is provided below. Students and families with questions regarding the residency policy should contact the Office of Student Financial Services at [email protected].

Students who are currently charged at the non-resident rate, and wish to be considered for resident tuition should review the eligibility requirements, and complete a residency application if they feel they are eligible.  Applications received after the posted deadlines will be reviewed for the following semester.

Residency Application Deadline Dates:
Fall: August 17
Winter: January 7
Spring: January 17
Summer 1: May 25
Summer 2: July 6

Campus Determination of Residency

The initial residency determination is made at the time of admission. Students with missing and/or conflicting information on their initial application are coded as non-resident, pending verification of their residency status.

Some students who indicate that they are residents of the state on their initial University application may be asked to complete a residency application to verify their status. Failure to complete this application can result in the student being charged at the non-resident tuition rate.

It is a student's responsibility to verify their tuition billing rate and follow up with the Office of Student Financial Services if they feel that it is incorrect. Residency determinations cannot be made retroactively.

Applying for New York State Residency for Tuition Billing Purposes

Residency Eligibility Basics

At SUNY's State-operated campuses (University Centers, University Colleges, and Technology Colleges), students are generally considered New York State residents if they have established their domicile in New York State for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the last day of the registration period of a particular term.

1. Generally, individuals who have maintained their domicile in New York for a period of fewer than twelve months prior to the end of registration are presumed to be out-of-state residents and are not eligible for the resident tuition rate.
2. Individuals who are financially dependent and whose custodial parent(s) lives in a state other than New York are generally not eligible for the resident tuition rate. However, students of divorced or legally separated parents may acquire a New York State domicile if the custodial parent is a New York State resident or if the student resides with a non-custodial parent who is a New York State resident and the student intends to continue to reside with that parent throughout their attendance at SUNY.
3. Individuals do not meet the twelve-month residency requirement if domiciled in New York State primarily to attend college.
4. Note: Non-resident students may be eligible for resident tuition if they have graduated from a New York high school or received a NYS GED within 5 years of application to the University. See below for details under "Exceptions to the Domicile Rule."

Determination of Domicile

Campuses rely on documents and circumstances such as, but not limited to, the following to determine if an individual's domicile is in New York State. For financially dependent students, the campus relies on documents relating to the parent(s) or legal guardian.

1. Duration of physical presence in NY.
2. State of residency of the student's family.
3. NY State voter registration.
4. NY State driver's license or non-driver identification.
5. NY State motor vehicle registration.
6. NY State real property ownership.
7. NY State residential rental lease.
8. NY State income tax returns.

Exceptions to the Domicile Rule:

Military Personnel

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. In-state tuition is afforded to veterans and dependents who meet the eligibility requirements for GI assistance, regardless of where they live.
4. Civilian employees of the military are not included in these exceptions to the domicile requirements.

Immigrant, Non-immigrant, and Other Non-residents

1. Students claiming to be immigrants must present proof of their status by providing the campus with a valid Permanent Resident Card or proof of refugee or asylee status. Students who have applied for permanent residency status can also present proof of a pending application. 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).
2. 
   Non-resident students, who attend for at least two years and graduate from a New York high school and apply to the University within five (5) years of receiving their high school diploma, may be eligible for resident tuition. Such students should complete theExpress Application for New York Residency. Non-Resident students should also complete the "Affidavit of Intent to Legalize Immigration Status" included in that application.

Glossary of Terms

Some terms used in this document have special meaning in the University's Resident Tuition policy:

1. Domicile - A fixed permanent home to which an individual intends to return whenever absent. Establishing a NYS domicile includes the abandonment of one's prior state of residence and the decision to adopt NYS as one's permanent home. It also includes the intent to remain in NYS permanently.
2. Emancipation, Financial Independence - Students under the age of 24 must provide evidence of one year of independent living in order to be considered emancipated. Emancipated students no longer receive any financial support from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and are completely responsible for paying all of their educational costs. Students claiming to be emancipated, or financially independent, must provide evidence of both one year of financial independence and domicile.
3. "Home of Record" - Part of an armed services record which indicates the state of residency upon joining the military.
4. Immigrant Students - Students who lawfully reside in the United States on a permanent basis and hold a valid Permanent Resident Card (green card).
5. Non-immigrant Students - Students who enter the United States on a temporary basis for a specific purpose.
6. Non-resident - a person whose domicile is not New York State.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: 3/29/22

• Q: Will the deadline be extended?
   A: No
• Q: Does the form need to be notarized?
   A: Yes, the form must be notarized in the state of New York
• Q: Can I email the information?
   A: Yes. The information can be emailed to [email protected], please redact any sensitive information such as account or social security numbers.
• Q: Can I fax the information?
   A: Yes. The information can be faxed to (631) 632-1308, please redact any sensitive information such as account or social security numbers.
• Q: I sent in my application, when will I get a decision?
   A: Applications are reviewed in order of receipt. You will be sent an email to your Stony Brook email once a decision has been made or additional information is needed.
• Q: The bill is due August 15th, what if I do not have a decision by then?
   A: You may make the payment at the in-state rate. If the application is not approved you will be responsible for the difference.
• Q: What is the next step if I do not agree with the decision made by your office?
   A: The decision can be appealed. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 14 days of the receipt of the initial decision email. Please include a letter explaining why you do not agree with the decision made by our office and any relevant documentation you feel will support your appeal. The Office of Student Accounts will forward your original application to the Appeals Officer. You do not need to submit documentation already included in your initial application. Appeals letters can be mailed to: Student Financial Services,  P.O. Box 619, Stony Brook, NY 11790-0619. They can also be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to (631) 632-1308.
• Q: I am an Undergraduate student and need an immediate decision to decide if I will be able to attend.
   A: Applications are reviewed in order of receipt.
• Q: Who can I contact with unanswered questions?
   A: If your question is not answered above, you can email [email protected].

 

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