Billing and Payments

Rights and Responsibilities

Upon admission to or registration with the University, the student and/or his or her parent(s) or legal guardian, agrees to accept responsibility and the legal obligation to pay all tuition costs, room and meal fees, and any other fees incurred or to be incurred for the student’s education. In addition, the student and/or his or her parent(s) or legal guardian is required to complete and submit a Payment Contract to the University each academic year. The University agrees to make available to the student certain educational programs and the use of certain university facilities, as applicable and as described in this catalog. A failure to pay when due all university bills shall release the University of any obligation to continue to provide applicable educational benefits and services, including, but not limited to, the right for further registration, statements of honorable dismissal, grade reports, transcripts or diplomas. The student shall also be denied admittance to classes and the use of university facilities in the event of default.

Payment Information

Students may choose to make student account payments in the following ways as shown at the following website: www.plu.edu/payments/.

All students must have their account paid in full (less any financial aid accepted and/or completed) by August 25th for Fall Semester and the 25th of December for J-Term and Spring Semester. Payment for summer is due the first day of Summer Term. If you are signed up for the TMS Monthly Payment Plan, your plan must be current.

Billing Questions

Questions regarding the student bill should be directed to the Student Services Center. If you believe an error has occurred, the University must be contacted in writing within 60 days of the statement date of the first bill on which the error appeared. After 60 days it is presumed that there were no errors and the billing was correct.

Lute Discount

A $100 discount, per semester (Fall and Spring), from tuition and other costs will be applied to the student account if the specific criteria for eligibility of the discount is met and a Lute Discount Form is submitted. The Lute Discount Form is mailed with the Fall Student Pre-Bill Statement in July and the Spring Student Pre-Bill Statement in December.

Graduation and Your Student Account

All students who have applied for graduate must have their student account paid in full before they can be cleared for graduation. Students with an owing balance are required to contact the Student Services Center for assistance.

Payment Options

• Payment in Full: Must be made by the 25th of August for Fall Semester and the 25th of December for J-Term and Spring Semester. Payment for summer is due the first day of Summer Term.
• Financial Aid and Other Resources Cover Costs: Student grants, scholarships, loans and other resources listed on the Offer of Financial Aid exceed total university charges for the academic year.

Monthly Payment

• Interest-free monthly payments made to Tuition Management Systems (TMS), our third-party administrator
• Enrollment fee for the eight or ten month annual plan is $60
• Enrollment fee for the four or five month semester plan is $42.

The University reserves the right to cancel a TMS payment plan after a monthly payment is missed. A 1.5 percent monthly interest charge or a minimum of $2.00 will be assessed by the University on the canceled plan amount and payment plan hold may be placed on the student account.

The University also has the right to prohibit the student from further participation in the monthly payment plan for any other academic year the student is enrolled. The student would then be limited to either Option 1: Payment in Full or Option 2: Financial Aid and Other Resources Covers Costs to pay for future semesters.

Missed Payments

• Past due balances are subject to a 1.5 percent monthly interest charge or a minimum of $2.00.
• Failure to make payment as agreed upon in the payment contract will result in a financial hold being placed on the student account.
• It is the student’s responsibility to see that all financial aid accepted on the Offer of Financial Aid is credited to their student account. Financial aid includes but is not limited to loan applications, verification forms, entrance counseling, etc. All financial aid and other resources must be applied to your student account by September 30 for Fall Semester and February 28 for Spring Semester.
• All tuition and fees charged to a student’s account after September 25 for Fall Semester or February 25 for Spring Semester will be due and payable immediately. Financial Holds will be placed on all accounts with owing balances after these dates for the applicable term.
• Student accounts that are 60 days delinquent may be referred to a third-party collection agency.
• Students currently enrolled who have been sent to a collection agency will be withdrawn from the University effective immediately. Students will receive a W grade on their transcripts.
• All collections costs and fees, attorney fees, and interest incurred and allowable under federal and Washington state statutes and laws will be charged to the student by the collection agency and are the responsibility of the student to pay.
• A student account that has been sent to collections will have a permanent Collection Hold, even after the account is paid in full. If the student wishes to return to the University, he/ she must pay in full all of their estimated charges prior to registration. Clearance to return to the University is issued by the Accounts Receivable Department.

Advance Payment

A $200 advance payment is required of new undergraduate students to confirm their offer of admission. The payment is refundable until May 1 for Fall Semester, December 1 for the January Term, and January 1 for Spring Semester. Requests for a refund must be made in writing to the Admission Office.

Returning students wanting to reserve a room for the following year must sign a Master Housing & Meal Agreement. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Residential Life Office. Traditional hall housing cancellations received before June 1 will not be subject to a penalty. Cancellations received between June 1 and June 30 will be subject to a $200 penalty charge. Cancellations received after July 1 will be subject to a $400 penalty charge. South Hall penalty dates and rates differ, see Residential Life for details at www.plu.edu/residential-life/.

Credit Balances

If a credit balance occurs on a student account, the University calculates and issues refunds according to pertinent federal, state, banking and University regulations. Title IV, HEA program funds are refunded according to the Code of Federal Regulations 34 CFR Ch. VI Section 668.164. Bank card payments are refunded, to the extent of the original payment(s), back to the bank card that made the original payment(s). All other refunds will be issued via check or ACH. Refund requests are processed by the Student Services Center.

Student Holds

There are 34 types of holds that are placed on student accounts and records for different circumstances. Each hold prevents basic University privileges, such as, but not limited to the right to register, add/drop classes, cash checks or receive copies of unofficial/official transcripts or a diploma. Listed below are the types of holds that are placed on accounts and the offices to contact regarding them.

For description on holds not listed, contact the Student Services Center for assistance.

Academic Hold

The Office of the Registrar can place an account on academic hold. Registration for classes is precluded until any pending matter with the office is settled.

Collection Hold

The collections holds will permanently remain on a student account. Any student wishing to return to the University must pay in full all of their estimated charges prior to registration. Clearance to return to the University is issued by the Accounts Receivable Department.

Credit Balance Hold

Any student with a credit balance on their student account who is not registered for a future term or is listed as a graduating senior will be placed on a Credit Balance Hold. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 63.29 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act requires the University to forward all unclaimed student account balances to the Washington State Department of Revenue unless the student requests a refund or donates their credit balance to the University.

Financial Hold

If a student account is past due, a financial hold will be placed. If tuition and fees charged to a student’s account after September 28th for Fall Semester and February 28th for Spring Semester are not paid immediately, a financial hold will be placed. If a student withdraws with an owing balance, a financial hold will be placed.

Medical Hold

A medical hold prevents a student from registering if Health Center has not received the Medical History Form or if the student does not have the necessary immunizations.

No Address Hold

All students are required to keep a current permanent address with the University. If mail becomes undeliverable, an address hold will be placed.

Non-Sufficient Funds Hold

Any student who has written two non-sufficient funds checks or has had checks returned for other reasons will be permanently placed on a Non-Sufficient Funds Hold. Any student with this hold is prohibited from writing checks to any University department.

Payment Option Hold

All students are required to electronically sign a payment contract and select a payment option for each academic year they attend.

Pre-Collection Hold

Any student with a delinquent student account balance who is not registered will be placed on a Pre-Collection Hold and assessed a $25.00 pre-collection fee.

To view the definitions of student holds, go to the Student Services website: www.plu.edu/student-services/holds/