Parent and Family Resources for New Students

Completing the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid collects financial and other information to help calculate a student's eligibility for financial aid. When applying, be sure to include York College’s title IV Institutional Code: 003399

Tuition and Fees

We are a “College of Distinction” and a “Princeton Review Best Regional College,” which means you get high quality even though our tuition is half of what many other private institutions cost. 

To learn more about the cost of attending York, review our current tuition and fees and compare your costs using our net price calculator.

We provide clear and easy-to-read financial aid letters, but know that financial aid awards can be confusing. Feel free to set up a personal appointment with your Admissions Counselor who will be happy to walk through your financial aid award and speak to you about our convenient payment plan.

Scholarships and Grants

At York, we’ll help your student find the best fit of grants, scholarships, and scholars programs to enhance their college experience as well as earn free money toward tuition. To learn more about scholarships, grants, York’s Honor’s Community visit the Scholarships and Grants page.

Accepting Financial Aid

New students and returning students who will be first-time Federal Student Loan borrowers can accept their financial aid award, online, by completing the following steps:

• Go to studentaid.gov.
• Sign in using their username and password.
• Complete the Master Promissory Note (a legal document that commits you to paying back what you've borrowed from the U.S. Department of Education).
• Complete Entrance Counseling (provided by the federal government so they can ensure you know what you're signing up for).

Financial aid will be credited on their semester bill from the College (with the exception of any work-study award). York College makes available several affordable payment options including a monthly payment plan to assist with paying the balance of your tuition. For more information, contact the Business Office.

If your student was awarded a Federal Student Loan and wish to decline the award you must email financialaid@ycp.edu.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when they reach the age of 18 or attend a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

Eligible student have:

• The right to inspect and review the studentʼs education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Director of Records written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Director of Records will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
• The right to request the amendment of the studentʼs education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the studentʼs education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including security personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Notification of Student Records and College Matters

While federal law restricts the information we can share, we recognize the important role parents and families play in supporting their student’s education. Our mission is to encourage students to become careful, critical, and independent thinkers and decision-makers. And, like parents and families, we want to guide students toward good decisions. Ultimately, our primary relationship lies directly with the student, as they are responsible for their education, their choices, and for meeting their own graduation requirements.

So that we can be effective partners in guiding the student’s academic journey, York College encourages students to openly and candidly discuss their educational experiences with parents and families. Only with such open, honest dialog can parents and families fully support their student and help guide them to appropriate resources. While York College will not notify parents or legal guardians of student grades, academic actions, and financial matters or conduct violations, students are encouraged to disclose such issues in a timely manner. Students may opt to issue on-line proxy access to their educational and financial records.

Proxy Access to Online Records

Students may enable access to important information pertaining to grades, eBills, etc., using the YCPWeb for Parents portal. Once enabled, the student’s designee may develop their own proxy account and thereby access information including warning grades and final grades and access the College’s eBill system for on-line deposit and tuition payments. The student must set up the account using the designee’s email address and a PIN.  The student determines and authorizes what information is available to view by the designee.

Directory Information

Directory information is distributed without prior consent of the student. Directory information is defined as a student’s name, address, email address, telephone number, date of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, class year and degree, and awards received. However, students who do not wish such information to be released or made public may inform the Records Office.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by York College of Pennsylvania to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605

The York College community includes students who live at home locally and commute to campus, live in residence halls on campus, and live in other campus housing.

Residential Students

Location: Iosue Student Union (2nd floor)

Phone: 717.815.1281

The Residence Life program provides a comfortable, safe living environment that’s focused on supporting academic success, individual growth, and group interaction and development.

York College is a four-year residential college. All first-year, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to live on campus, unless they are enrolled as a commuting student. At York, commuters are those students who reside in the home of their parents/guardians within a 35-mile radius of the York College campus, or are over the age of 22. 

Within the residence halls, Residence Life staff (professional staff members called Area Coordinators and student leaders known as Resident Assistants) work as a team to manage the facilities and to provide programming geared toward students’ intellectual, physical, social, cultural, and professional development.

Commuter Students

Students whose permanent residence is within the local area can choose to commute from home. These students make up approximately 30 percent of the York College student body and are an important part of our campus community.

The College provides a variety of resources for students who regularly come and go from campus including:

• Designated commuter parking lots.
• Extensive campus resource hours. 
• Wireless computer access.
• Variety of meal plan and dining options.
• Commuter lounge in the Student Union.

Current commuter students note that becoming involved with campus life in their first semesters was an important part of their success:

• Join a student activity to continue an interest or start a new one.
• Work on campus.
• Play intramural sports.
• Spend time in residence halls with classmates and friends.
• Get to know your professors outside of class.

And, of course, the MyYCP student portal, YCP App, and official social media pages are essential resources to know what’s happening throughout the York College community. 

Transportation

The York College campus, which spans approximately 190 acres, consists of Main Campus, West Campus, and North Campus. Although these areas are within two to three blocks of each other, campus shuttle service is available to transport students between them. Shuttle pickup locations are centrally located, with three stops on Main Campus and five stops on West Campus.

Students are permitted to have motor vehicles on campus, with certain parking restrictions in place. Students who operate a vehicle on campus must register with the Department of Campus Safety within two business days of the vehicle’s arrival on campus. A valid parking permit must be purchased and displayed in vehicles parked on campus. Parking permits are valid from September to August and are renewed at the beginning of each academic year in September.

Various types of public transportation options are available to students:

• Weekend Shuttles – Campus shuttles take scheduled trips every weekend to local shopping centers, movie theaters, grocery stores, etc. This is free of charge to all YCP students.
• Rabbittransit – public bus system of 12 routes serving York and surrounding suburbs.
• Regional Amtrak services – stations in Harrisburg, Pa., Lancaster, Pa., and Baltimore, Md. 
• Airports – 40 miles to Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) and 65 miles to Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI).
• Bus – York Capitol Greyhound Bus Station is located in downtown York. 

Campus Safety

Location: Manor Northeast
Phone: 717.815.1314

The Department of Campus Safety creates a safe and secure educational environment at York College. The Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with officers — both professional and student — patrolling the campus on foot, bicycles, Segways, and in vehicles.

Officers respond to calls for service and assistance; enforce college policies, traffic, and parking regulations; and investigate all reported criminal activity. A 24-hour-a-day escort program for students to all campus locations is available. In addition, the Department operates the Campus Shuttle system that transports students throughout Main, North, and West campuses.

More information about all of the services York’s Campus Safety Department provides can be found on the Campus Safety webpage.

A copy of York College’s Annual Safety and Fire Report is also located on our Campus Safety webpage.

York College ID Card

The Department of Campus Safety coordinates the York College ID card system. Students are expected to have their ID cards with them at all times. In addition to providing appropriate identification, the card provides entrance into residence halls and other campus facilities.

York College’s ID card also serves as the “Flex Card” with debit-card capabilities. The card may be used for purchases in the Bookstore, dining services, vending and laundry locations, computer lab printing, postal center, Schmidt Library, digital copier services, and several off-campus vendors. 

New student, student ID photos can be submitted using this link. ID’s can be picked up on move-in day during orientation.

Health Services

Location: Iosue Student Union (lower level)
Phone: 717.849.1615
 

Health Services provides a number of services to students of York College, including but not limited to:

• Injury evaluations 
• Throat cultures 
• Urinalysis testing 
• Tuberculosis screening and testing 

Health Services is open from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a nominal charge for some services. Full-time undergraduate students also have access to York’s TimelyCare app. TimelyCare offers 24/7 virtual health and well-being services for FREE. Students do not need health insurance to access TimelyCare services.

Services include:

• Medical Care: Both on-demand MedicalNow support and scheduled appointments with medical providers are available to address common health issues like colds, flu, or allergies.
• Counseling and Emotional Support: Reach out any time, 24/7, for on-demand TalkNow support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors. You may also make appointments for scheduled counseling, allowing you to choose the day, time, and mental health provider that best works for you. Access up to 12 sessions per year, free of charge.
• Health Coaching: Develop healthy lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition, sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness.
• Psychiatry: Appointments are available upon referral by York College Counseling Services.
• Self-Care Content: Visit the “Explore” page within TimelyCare for guided self-care content, including yoga and meditation sessions, as well as group conversations with our providers on a variety of health and well-being topics.

In addition, sending basic supplies for self-care (such as a thermometer, Motrin or Tylenol, Band-Aids, decongestants, etc.) can help students adjust to having to care for some common ailments. 

Counseling Services 

Location: Codorus Hall, 100
Phone: 717.815.6437

Counseling Services offers the following free, confidential services for York College students: 

• Individual and group counseling 
• Walk-in consultations
• Education and support
• Online mental health screenings
• Emergency psychological services
• Outreach programming
• Referrals to community resources

Throughout a student’s experiences in higher education, they will face many natural, developmental concerns, including meeting new people, forming relationships, experiencing new levels of freedom and responsibility, and furthering identity development. Professional counselors are available to assist students with these issues. 

Parents may call or visit Counseling Services for inquiries and/or guidance pertaining to a student concern. Although referrals are welcome, we have found that it usually works best to support the student in taking the initiative to access our services themselves.

All records pertaining to students are maintained according to American Counseling Association ethical guidelines.