Residency Requirements

Why am I being charged non-resident tuition?

All students are initially charged non-resident tuition. Students must meet certain eligibility and proof requirements to have that charge removed.

Most students qualify for NY resident tuition rates if they maintained a permanent residence in NY State for one year and in their county for six months immediately preceding the first day of the semester. All students who do not prove their residency will be charged as a non-resident. Proof of residency must be submitted periodically.

Once you prove your residency, you MAY NOT receive another bill. Please submit payment by subtracting the non-resident tuition amount from your balance due.

See below for more detailed information and necessary forms.

Dutchess County Residents

Students are eligible for in-state tuition rates if they are a citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise eligible individual and can provide appropriate proof. Proof must show a residential street address; Post Office Box addresses are not acceptable. Proof must be legible. All documentation is subject to review and can be submitted to our office, Student Financial Services (contact information below).

If you are a resident of Dutchess County, and a(n):

(A) Citizen: Please complete the DC Residency Form and submit it to our office with the corresponding proof. For more information, please see Proving Dutchess County Residency at DCC.

(B) Permanent Resident (PR) and PR Applicant: Please complete the DC Residency Form and submit it to our office with the corresponding proof and copy of your current PR card (front and back) or proof of your pending PR status. For more information, please see Proving Dutchess County Residency at DCC.

(C) Immigrant and Non-Immigrant (Visa Holders): Immigrants are grouped into categories depending on the type of visa presented at the point of entry. Non-immigrants admitted to the U.S. in categories prohibiting them from establishing a U.S. residence are not eligible for resident tuition. Please click here to see a list of eligible and ineligible visas. If you have an eligible visa, please submit a copy of the visa with the DC Residency Form, your most recent I-94 Arrival/Departure record, and the corresponding address proof. For more information, please see Proving Dutchess County Residency at DCC.

(D) Undocumented Students and Other Non-residents: Please see the section below titled “Undocumented Students and Other Non-Residents.”

Out of County Residents

A student from a New York county other than Dutchess is required to submit a Certificate of Residence from their county of permanent residence covering 6 months prior to their first day of the semester. Most students must have resided in New York State for 1 year. To secure the required Certificate, follow the procedures below:

(A) Visit the website of your home county’s Treasurer’s Office or Chief Fiscal Officer for information on how to apply, including applications and lists of acceptable forms of proof. Click here for more detailed county information.

(B) Once accepted, your home county will issue you a Certificate of Residence. The Certificate must be submitted to the DCC Student Financial Services Office by the appropriate deadline.

**Please note that per New York State Education Law, Certificates cannot be dated more than 60 days before the start of the semester and 30 days after the start of the semester. Certificates are typically valid for one year but vary by county. If you fail to obtain and submit your certificate within this time frame, you will be responsible for paying the non-resident tuition.**

Undocumented Students and Other Non-Residents

Some undocumented aliens and other non-residents may be eligible for the resident tuition rate if any of the following applies:

The student attended a New York State (NYS) high school for two or more years, graduated, and applied to attend a SUNY institution within five years of receiving a New York State diploma; or
The student attended an approved New York State program for the High School Equivalency, received a HSE from New York State, and applied to attend a SUNY institution within five years of receiving the New York State HSE.

Individuals qualifying under these conditions are eligible for resident tuition even if they have not resided in New York State for one year.

In order for undocumented students residing in Dutchess County to have the non-resident charges removed, they must submit their official final high school transcript to the college, submit a DC Residency Form, and show a notarized affidavit (a sworn, written statement signed by the applicant) stating that they will apply to legalize their status as soon as they are eligible. At DCC, the Student Financial Services (SFS) office can provide you with the affidavit and free notary services.

For students that reside in a county other than Dutchess, they must visit their County Treasurer’s Office to obtain a Certificate of Residence (See section “Out of County Residents”).

If you still have questions about eligibility, please contact the Student Financial Services office to determine if you are eligible and to determine what forms and/or proofs are needed to prove residency.

Veterans

Out of respect for our nation's veterans, we will not have them bear the cost of non-resident tuition charges while attending our institution. Some family members may be eligible as well. Please see our Veterans Resources Coordinator, Stewart Dawes, to discover how we can remove the non-resident tuition charge. Please see our veteran services page here.

Contact Information

Dutchess Community College
Student Financial Services
Orcutt Student Services Center, Room 202
53 Pendell Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-8060 / Fax: (845) 431-8603
Email: financialservices@sunydutchess.edu