Support for DACA and Undocumented Students
Purchase College values diversity and is committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage all students, including undocumented and DACA students, to apply to Purchase College.
Accepted students can contact Barbara Washington, Associate Director of Student Success, to assist with a strategy for success as a Purchase student. Prospective students can contact the Admissions Office for questions regarding the application process or other admissions-related questions.
Qualifying for In-State Tuition
Undocumented immigrants are welcome to apply to Purchase College (SUNY) and should follow the same steps for admission as any other applicant.
All prospective students, including undocumented students, benefit from a 2002 New York State law that expanded who can qualify for in-state tuition. The law allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if any of the following applies:
- You attended an approved New York State high school for at least two years, graduated from an approved New York State high school, and applied for attendance at SUNY or a community college within five years of receiving a New York State high school diploma, or
- You attended an approved New York State program for General Equivalency Diploma preparation, received a General Equivalency Diploma issued within New York State, and applied for attendance at SUNY or a community college within five years of receiving the GED.
In addition, to receive in-state tuition as an undocumented immigrant, you must file an affidavit (a sworn, written statement signed by the applicant) stating that you will apply to legalize your status as soon as you are eligible.
New York Resident Tuition Policy
The residency determination is made based on the high school you graduated from and will be handled by Student Financial Services. If you graduated from a high school in New York State, you should be receiving in state tuition. If you are not receiving in state tuition, please review the New York State Residency Policy.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Undocumented students are ineligible for state (TAP) or federal (Pell) financial aid. However, you may qualify for certain private scholarships, depending on the requirements. You should look into the following:
- Ascend Education Fund
- Connecticut Students 4 a Dream
- Digital Marketing Scholarship
- Generation Progress
- Golden Door
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
- Lupe Foundation
- MALDEF
- Migrant Network Coalition
- My Documented Life
- Point Foundation
- Scholarships A-Z
- Scholarships.Com
- Study Soup
- SHPE Foundation
- Texas TASFA
List compiled by the Dream Educational Empowerment Program (DEEP), a program of the United We Dream National Network
Immigrant-Led Organizations
- United We Dream
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network
- The Undocumented & Black Network
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice
List provided by United We Dream National Network
PREP Housing (Purchase Residence Extension Program)
PREP housing is an option that provides housing over breaks when the college residential facilities are closed. There is an additional cost associated with all types of PREP housing. You do not need to fill a group roster, you may sign up by space. The PREP options and locations currently available are:
Alumni Village:
All spaces in Alumni Village are apartment singles. You can either sign up for full-year PREP (May–May) or academic-year PREP (Aug.–May). You will be assigned an apartment, matching academic-year PREP together and full-year PREP together. We cannot guarantee apartment-mate preferences.
Olde:
There are two types of housing types located within the Olde PREP option. There is a 4-person apartment option (comprised of one double and two single rooms) and also an 8-person duplex apartment option.
Wayback:
Wayback is our residence hall PREP option. The PREP housing type located within the Wayback residence hall consists of a 4 person junior suite option. This junior suite includes one double and two single rooms.
In order to indicate your interest in PREP housing, please make sure to indicate this on your housing application. Please also follow up with an email to ceg@purchase.edu.
Students should refer to the Room Rates in order to receive pricing for these options.