Do I have to pay the suggested donation at NYC's museums?

Question

I know common courtesy says yes but I'll be starting at NYU soon and common courtesy also assumes you're not a poor college student

Answer 1

"Suggested Donation" is just that, dut they do feature a student's rate.  You really should pay it if you can.  There are legal complications from charging an "entrance fee."  It has to do with non-profit status and such.

Answer 2

For museums with "suggested donation" admissions, no, you don't have to pay that fee.  You can pay a penny and get in.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History fall under this description.

However, some museums have hard and fast admission costs.  For those, you must pay.  The Guggenheim is one of those.

Answer 3

Everyone's correct.  

I just want to add that I pay a dollar at the Met, and no one's ever batted an eyelash any of the dozens and dozens of times I've done it.  

It's not really about common courtesy, I don't think.  These couple of museums can afford to have a suggested donation.  There are many others that are so expensive (The Modern!) that you practically have to choose between looking at art and eating that day.  Though, in fairness, they, The Modern, do have student discounts ($12 instead of $20!) and Friday evening is free.

Answer 4

No, you don't, that's the whole point of it being a "suggested donation" rather than an "entrance fee".

Answer 5

I've heard tell that you can actually pay just a dollar at museums if the entrance fee is priced as a suggested donation. Museums rely on donations for their funds so I guess every little bit helps.