Can you help me "read" this bullet point??

MyColonyNJ

Long story - but Colin is now thinking he might want to "go away" for school.  This is a change for him

I live in NJ, his father lives in NY.  NY has a ton of state schools.

I am trying to figure out if he could qualify for in-state tuition based on this bullet:

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 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.

I guess I am tripped up by "intends to"  Like, how to they prove intention?  Can he change his mind?

Not that it matters, but one of the schools that he is looking at is less than 1/2 hour from his father's house

craziheazo

I think he qualifies.  My guess is that IF he would change his mind, he might have to repay the difference between in-state vs out-of-state?!?

OscarQ

Is he planning to live with his father while at school?  That "if the student resides with a non-custodial parent..." is throwing me a bit - that makes me think he can't live on campus which doesn't seem to make sense to me.

MyColonyNJ

OscarQ:

Is he planning to live with his father while at school?  That "if the student resides with a non-custodial parent..." is throwing me a bit - that makes me think he can't live on campus which doesn't seem to make sense to me.

He would be living on campus.  I took "resides" as using his address and intending to reside there during breaks

naflmj

Does his father pay any child support? If so, I would say he definitely would qualify if say, he went to live with him (or changed his mailing address) the summer before entering. I know my friend, who grew up in MA but father paid child support and lived in NH was able to get state tuition in NH. She did move in with him the summer before entering school and that became her primary residence for the 4 years she attended.

naflmj

MyColonyNJ:

OscarQ:

Is he planning to live with his father while at school?  That "if the student resides with a non-custodial parent..." is throwing me a bit - that makes me think he can't live on campus which doesn't seem to make sense to me.

He would be living on campus.  I took "resides" as using his address and intending to reside there during breaks

You are right, he wouldn't need to live there except on holiday breaks.

preheatedoven

I would take it to mean that the student actually lives with (or plans to live with during their undergraduate career) the non-custodial parent. I would call the financial aid office of the university he plans to apply to and ask for clarification.

If he would indeed need to reside with his father to gain residency, it is typically for a full calendar year, but ask that, too.

I tried to gain residency in another state by living with family in order to go to school, I ended up not doing it, but learned a lot in the process...then I spent the last 10 years working as a college academic advisor, so I've seen a lot of wonky cases. Good luck to Colin, I hope it works out:)