how long do you have to live in NY before you can pay instate tuition for college?

One year. Yes it does qualify for both. It does not vary from school to school. This is state mandated.

The best way to do this is contact the school you are interested in and ask what thier guidelines are for determining state residency. Most schools will require you live in the state for at least a year..and dorms or school lodging will not count..and you will be asked to prove this with a copy of your lease or mortgage. You will also have to have a driver’s liscens for that state (the only possible exemption being if you are military) and your car registered there as well. Some states are more lenient, but in general these rules have gotten tighter as more and more students go to state schools for the tuition savings.