Payment Questions

FAQs


Important Links - Students


You Can Pay Your Tuition and Fees Using ACCESS

Please note that payment is due by the deadlines listed Here. If full payment is not received by the deasdline, or you do not have Financial Aid/Scholarships available to cover the exact balance, all of your classes may be dropped. Please note that by Federal Law, a student account cannot have Financial Aid Awards paid until 3 days prior to a semester's beginning. However, the estimated totals can be verified by contacting the Financial Aid Office (435-797-0173) or Registrar's Office (435-797-1116). Please login to ACCESS to view the student's record.
***Please note that Student body fees are determined by the Student Fee Board and approved by the Board of Regents. These cannot be waived.***

Payment

What is the credit card policy at USU?

Effective April 12, 2004, the University implemented a policy regarding the acceptance of credit or debit card payment for tuition and fees. These are the primary changes that resulted from the new policy:

  • Visa-branded debit, credit, and check cards are no longer accepted for payments made for tuition and fees.
  • Students and parents may make payments directly from a personal checking account by paying online with an electronic check-webCheck.
  • The Registrar’s Office cannot process credit or debit card payments. Students may pay online via ACCESS web site.

How to pay online.

Why Does USU have this policy?

While credit card payments offer a convenient manner for students and parents to pay tuition and fees, the cost to the University for providing this convenience has grown dramatically to an unacceptable dollar-amount annually. Given the tightened budget situation, the University decided to require those who want the convenience of paying with a credit card to cover a portion of the University’s cost of providing the service. A 2% convenience fee will thus be added to each credit card transaction.This change benefits the University and all of its students by reducing the burden to the University’s budget to fund these charges.

How was the 2.00% rate determined?

The rate is based on an estimate of those direct costs. At this percentage rate, it is estimated that the University will continue to pay for a portion of the cost of accepting credit cards.

Why eliminate Visa debit and credit cards?

The University was unable to negotiate an acceptable method of assessing an appropriate convenience charge for tuition and fee payments. Unlike the other brands of cards, Visa will not allow the University to assess a convenience charge that varies with the amount of the tuition and fee bill.

Are other colleges and universities making similar changes?

Many colleges and universities throughout the country have already made similar changes to their practices of accepting credit cards. Institutions like Utah State University have attempted to negotiate changes in arrangements with credit card providers to avoid having to make these policy changes. However, those negotiations have had limited success.

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What should I do if all I have is a Visa card?

In addition to using DISCOVER and MasterCard on ACCESS (subject to a convenience fee), students and parents may make payments directly from a personal checking account by paying online with an electronic check—webCheck. (Refer to the Pay Online with Electronic Check page of this publication.) The University also continues to accept check payments by mail and payments made by cash or check at the Registrar’s Office. Payments made by credit or debit card will not be accepted in the Registrar’s Office.

What other payment options are available?

The student may consider a Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) where half of the balance, plus a one-time fee, is paid initially and the remaining amount is put into payments.

Why can’t I use a credit card at the Registrar Office if I am willing to pay the fee?

The complicated regulations are such that to charge a convenience fee for credit card transactions at the Registrar’s Office would also necessitate the same charge for payments made by cash or check. The University has several kiosks conveniently located near the Registrar’s Office for use by students who wish to pay with a DISCOVER or MasterCard, and are willing to pay the fee.

Can I use my Visa elsewhere on campus?

Yes, these changes only apply to payments made for tuition and fees on ACCESS and at the Registrar’s Office. Other services (such as the Bookstore or food services) are not affected by this new policy.

How is the money, collected from this fee, used?

The monies collected are used to defray a portion of the cost of providing convenient electronic payment options for those who wish to pay via credit card. This change will benefit the University and all of its students by reducing charges to the budget by nearly $350,000 each year.

Why can I still use Visa for other items?

Campus departments have the legal flexibility to set their prices to include recovery of all operating costs.

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How do I make my fee payment by mail?

Payment to the University may be made by personal check, traveler’s check, bank money order, or cashier’s check in U.S. funds only. DO NOT SEND CASH! To pay by mail, be sure to include your name and student number (A#) and send payment to the following address: Registrar’s Office, Utah State University, 1600 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-1600.

If payment is not made in full by the Fee Payment Deadline, all classes will be subject to the “PURGE.” Note: There are some students and courses that are not subject to the “purge.” Please check your registration and billing in order to ensure accuracy. Your registration and payment are YOUR responsibility.

Will my federal financial aid hold my classes?

If you have sufficient federal financial aid before the fee payment deadline, your classes will be saved. If there is insufficient aid to cover your entire obligation, you must make up the difference on your own (you may consider the Tuition Installment Plan option).

When your aid arrives at the University, the funds will be applied first toward your University obligations (such as tuition, fees, and housing). If there are funds remaining after your obligations have been met, they will be available after the first day of classes. You can arrange to have these funds directly deposited to your bank or credit union. Otherwise, a check will be mailed to your “mailing” address listed in ACCESS. (Your mailing address can be changed in ACCESS or by contacting the Registrar’s Office or the Financial Aid Office.)

Note: Scholarship recipients should check to make sure their full tuition and fees are paid. Many scholarships do not cover fees. If payment is not completed by the fee payment deadline, you will lose your classes.

Is there an installment plan option?

The Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) is available. The nonrefundable service fee is $50. In addition, this note requires 1/2 of tuition and fees to be paid at the time the TIP loan is taken out. After that, 1/4 will be due on the 30th day of the session, and 1/4 on the 60th day of the session. The TIP may be applied for in the Registrar’s Office, TSC 246. This option must be initiated in person; please bring a picture ID with you. Withdrawing or dropping classes does not cancel the TIP! Terms and conditions can be found on the Tuition Installment Plan form.

What if I add courses after arranging my Tuition Installment Plan?

Please check with the Registrar’s Office to learn of additional funds that may be due.

What happens if my payment is late or incomplete at the Fee Payment Deadline?

If any payment made to the University is unauthorized, incomplete (at the time of the Fee Payment Deadline), or received after the due date, registration fees will be considered as unpaid and the student will not be officially registered. Courses previously scheduled may be dropped.

Note: Your registration is your responsibility. Do not rely on the “purge” to drop unwanted courses. There are some circumstances to which the “purge” does not apply.

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What happens if I have an unpaid balance?

All tuition and fees should be paid in full by the posted due dates. Any unpaid campus tuition may be assessed an interest charge of 1% per month (12% per annum). Students with an outstanding balance at the Tuition and Fee Payment Deadline will be subject to removal from classes for nonpayment.

Delinquent Financial Accounts

In the event collection efforts become necessary, USU may refer a past-due account to an outside collection agency. All referred accounts are subject to a collection fee, not to exceed 50 percent of the amount owed, plus all court costs and reasonable attorney fees. The collection agency and/or USU may report delinquent accounts to a credit-reporting agency.

Students with outstanding financial obligations may be refused all University services until such obligations are paid. Services which may be denied include the following: registration, transcripts, grades, transfer of credit, graduation, and activity card.

What happens if my personal check is returned by the bank?

Personal checks returned by the bank for any reason are automatically sent to a collection agency and will be subject to a service charge. At the discretion of the Controllers Office, this may result in the withholding of registration credit or immediate cancellation of the student’s classes. USU reserves the right to refuse personal checks for any transaction. Check cashing privileges and use of other University services using personal checks may be suspended for any individual who has a check returned to the University.

If I received verification of payment online, why didn’t my electronic check go through online?

The verification-of-payment window that appears, after submitting a payment online, is an automatic message which only indicates that the payment was entered online at that time. It is not a verification from your bank that the funds have been correctly transferred from your account to USU. You should monitor your checking account to verify that the funds transferred correctly. There is a fee charged for returned electronic checks; other penalties apply if the balance remains unpaid. Be especially accurate when entering routing and account numbers to avoid errors that may cause your electronic check to not go through.

What if I have some kind of sponsorship for my tuition and fee payments?

Students whose tuition and fees are paid by a sponsor must check in at the sponsored-students desk in the Cashiers Office (TSC 246-east end). A sponsored student must fill out a Sponsored Student Promissory Note for authorization to complete registration. This form needs to be filled out prior to registering each semester.

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When must I pay if I register after the fee payment deadline?

Fees for registration completed after the fee payment deadline are due daily to avoid associated penalties. Fees may be paid in person or on ACCESS.

What are special fees?

Special fees are assessed in addition to tuition and registration fees. Carefully review the University Schedule of Classes to determine which courses require special fees. Special fees are assessed on the Registration/Billing Statement.

What tuition is assessed for Continuing Graduate Advisement (6990 and 7990)?

Tuition is charged for 6990 or 7990 credits as per current student residence status. However, nonresident students may obtain a waiver in the Financial Aid Office.

How can I access my 1098T tax information online?

The 1098T tax information for 2006 is available now though the ACCESS system. Under the "Student and Financial Aid" tab, in the Student Records option, there is a link that reads "Tax Notification". Upon clicking on this link, you will be prompted to enter in the year for the tax information that you want to see. Only the 2006 tax information is accurate. If you wish to retrieve your tax information for earlier calendar years, feel free to contact the Registrar's Office at (435) 797-1116.

Other payment questions.