Calculation of Tuition Charges

Office of Student Accounts and Accounting

Calculation of Tuition Charges

Students are charged tuition in accordance with regulations issued by the SUNY Board of Trustees. The factors which are used in the calculation of tuition are as follows:

Status as a matriculated or non-matriculated student.
Status as a New York state resident versus nonresident.
Status as an undergraduate versus graduate student.
Number of credit hours for which the student is registered.

There are different tuition rates for undergraduate versus graduate students. There are also different tuition rates for New York state residents versus nonresidents. For purposes of tuition calculation a matriculated student is one who has been formally admitted to a program leading to a degree at either the undergraduate or graduate level. A non-matriculated student is one who has been allowed to take courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level, but has not been formally admitted to a program leading to a degree.

For purposes of tuition calculation, a New York state resident is defined as follows:

An emancipated U.S. citizen or permanent resident whose domicile has been in the State of New York for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the time of registration for any period of attendance shall be considered a New York state resident for the purpose of determining the tuition rate payable for such period.
Generally, an unemancipated student's state of residency is considered the same as that of their custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
All other persons shall be presumed to be out-of-state residents for such purpose, unless domiciliary status is demonstrated in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Chancellor or designee. (NYCRR§302.1(a))
Certain holders of non-immigrant visas may qualify for in-state tuition.

Click here for information on establishing New York state residence for tuition purposes.

SUNY Board of Trustees policies contain a number of specific provisions related to calculation of tuition charges. The provisions most commonly affecting students are as follows:

Full time tuition rates apply to students taking 12 or more credit hours in a semester (except as noted elsewhere in this section).
No full time rates apply for summer or winter session study.

Undergraduate Students

Non-Matriculated Students:

a. Charge the appropriate tuition rate (New York state resident rate or nonresident rate) according to the course level (undergraduate or graduate).

b. The following rates apply when non-matriculated undergraduate students are registered for 12 or more credit hours:

	Per Semester	Per Credit
Courses comparable to a Baccalaureate Degree Program:
New York State Residents	$2,485	$207
Non-residents	$6,435	$536
Courses comparable to a Master's Degree Program:
New York State Residents	$3,940	$328
Non-residents	$6,625	$552

Regularly matriculated undergraduate full time or part time students who are taking undergraduate or graduate level courses:

Charge the appropriate undergraduate tuition rate.
Summer Session:

a. Regularly matriculated undergraduate summer session students are to be charged at the appropriate undergraduate tuition rate per credit hour.b. Non-matriculated students who attend a summer session are to be charged the appropriate tuition rate as determined by the undergraduate or graduate level of the course(s).
"Visiting" matriculated students enrolled in degree programs at a State-operated campus other than the "home" campus are to be charged the appropriate tuition as if they were matriculated students at the campus where the work is being taken.

Graduate Students

The credit hours for courses taken by graduate students enrolled in graduate degree programs but who are taking courses which will not be credited toward the graduate degree are to be included in determining whether the student is a full time student, i.e., taking at least 12 credit hours, or a part time student, and the appropriate graduate student rate will be charged.

a. A student enrolled as a graduate student either fully or conditionally and taking 9 graduate credit hours and 6 undergraduate credit hours will pay the appropriate graduate student rate.
b. A student enrolled as a graduate student either fully or conditionally and enrolled for 6 graduate credit hours and 3 undergraduate credit hours will pay the appropriate graduate special rate for all credit hours.
Non-matriculated students with a baccalaureate degree and not enrolled in any degree program:

a. Taking 11 or less credit hours:

(1) Undergraduate courses - Charge the appropriate undergraduate
baccalaureate per credit rate.

(2) Graduate courses - Charge the appropriate graduate per credit rate.
"Visiting" students enrolled in degree programs at a State-operated campus other than the "home" campus:

Charge the appropriate tuition as if they were matriculated students at the campus where the work is being taken (also see B.1. Above).
Students with a baccalaureate degree enrolled in teacher certification courses and programs:

a. Provisional certification - The rules and regulations of Section B.1. or B.2., apply to the matriculated or non-matriculated status of the student.

b. Permanent certification - The rules and regulations of Section B.1. will apply as if the student were enrolled in a graduate degree program whether or not the student is "matriculated" and without regard to the level of the course.