Undergraduate Bulletin, 2002-2003

2002–2003 Estimated Costs

The following is a schedule of estimated expenses for full-time undergraduate students for the 2002-2003 academic year. Tuition and fees are prorated for part time students. Please note that tuition and fee charges are subject to change by official action of the State University of New York. Questions concerning these charges should be referred to the Student Accounts Office.

The amounts include direct expenses billed by the Student Accounts Office (e.g., Tuition, Fees, Room, Board) and also indirect expenses that are not billed by Student Accounts (e.g., Books, Travel). Although indirect costs do not appear on the Student Accounts invoice, both direct and indirect costs are used by the Financial Aid Office in developing a student's budget and in making financial aid commitments. The total cost (direct and indirect) for one semester of full-time undergraduate study for a typical New York State Resident student living on campus is approximately $7,000 of which approximately $6,000 will be billed by the University.


Payment Policies

Following registration, students are billed by mail at their permanent addresses. To avoid late payment fees, payment should be made by return mail at least five business days prior to the due date printed on the invoice. Students must have proof of approved aid, waivers, or scholarships in order to defer payment. Without satisfactory evidence to defer, students are expected to pay charges up front and wait for reimbursement when the aid, waiver or scholarship funds are actually received.

Students with unpaid financial obligations will have a "hold" placed on their records, and will be unable to receive grades or transcripts, register for future terms, or receive diplomas. In addition, the University assesses a Late Payment Fee of up to $30 each time an invoice is issued and not paid or not covered by approved financial aid by the invoice due date. Invoices are issued on a monthly basis to students with outstanding balances. Students with outstanding charges from any SUNY unit are not permitted to register at the University at Albany.

Delinquent accounts are transferred to private collection agencies and/or the New York State Attorney General's Office for collection. Delinquent accounts are subject to interest and collection fee charges.


Residency for Tuition Rate Purposes

Students are charged in-state or out-of-state tuition rates based on their residency status. The Student Accounts Office follows SUNY Board of Trustees policies in determining residency for tuition rate purposes. Generally, students are not considered in-state until they have completed 12 months of residency in New York. Please note, however, that the domicile (permanent home) of an unemancipated student is considered to be that of the parent or other legal guardian regardless of the length of the student's residency in New York. Students who wish to appeal their out-of-state designation should contact the Student Accounts Office for an application and copy of the Board of Trustees Guidelines. Applications for New York State residency status for tuition billing purposes must be received in the Office of Student Accounts no later than the close of business on the midterm date of a semester in order to be considered for residency status for that semester.

Failure to submit an application by the midterm date will result in full liability for tuition at the out-of-state tuition rate.

Estimated Cost Information*

TuitionFall 2002Spring 2003
N.Y.S. Residents$1,700.00$1,700.00
Out-of-State Residents4,150.004,150.00

Mandatory FeesFall 2002Spring 2003
University Fee12.5012.50
Student Activity Fee80.0080.00
Intercollegiate Athletic Fee150.00150.00
Comprehensive Service Fee467.50467.50
International Student Insurance
(mandatory for international students only)		258.25258.25
Room Rental2,144.002,144.00
Board (19 meals/week non Kosher)1,382.001,382.00

Other ExpensesFall 2002Spring 2003
Class Dues (optional)3.003.00
Alumni Assoc. Member (opt.)15.0015.00
Five Quad Contribution (opt.)5.005.00
Accident/Sickness Insurance (opt.)470.00470.00
Late Registration Fee30.0030.00
Late Fee Payment (per invoice)30.0030.00
Books400.00400.00
Personal, Travel, etc.775.00775.00


Tuition Charge Adjustments/Refunds

Students who officially depart from the University or reduce the number of credits for which they are registered may be entitled to a proportionate refund of tuition paid or proportionate adjustment of tuition charges according to the schedule below. Refunds or adjustments of charges are based on the date the departure form is officially received by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (LC 30) or the date the drop is officially processed by the Registrar's Office, not on the date of the last class attended. Students who register for courses and who do not file the appropriate form or do not drop before the end of the fourth week of classes are liable for their full charges. Please refer to the "Withdrawing from the University" and "Dropping Courses" sections of this bulletin for additional information.

For refund purposes, the first week of classes shall be deemed to have ended when seven calendar days, including the first day of scheduled classes, have elapsed. The first day of classes as scheduled by the campus shall be deemed to be the first day that any classes are offered. Refund schedules are subject to change by official action of State University of New York.

Official Withdrawal or DropPercent of Tuition Adjustment/Refund
First Week100%
Second Week70%
Third Week50%
Fourth Week30%
Fifth Week0%


Example of refund to a student whose program drops below 12 credits:

Tuition charge for student taking 13 credits $1,700.00

Student drops a 3-credit course during fourth week:
Tuition charge as a part-time student for the remaining 10 credits (10 cr. at $137.00) $1,370.00
Difference between amount originally charged as a full-time student and reevaluated charges as a part-time student $330.00
Adjustment/Refund percentage as provided by schedule of tuition during fourth week 30%
Adjustment/Refund $99.00


Refund Policy for Recipients of Title IV Financial Aid

Eligibility for aid earned is based on the date of the student's withdrawal from the University. Withdrawing students with federal Title IV aid may have a portion of their aid returned to the individual aid program, thus reducing the original amount of aid awarded. Federal regulations determine the amount to be refunded and the order in which the programs are repaid. Concurrently, federal regulations require that refunds be made in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford, Subsidized Stafford, PLUS, Perkins, Pell, and SEOG.

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