Billing and Payments

Rights and Responsibilities

Upon admission to or registration with the University, the student and his or her parent(s) or legal guardian (if the student is under 18 years of age), 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 his or her parent(s) or legal guardian (if the student is under 18 years of age) is required to complete and submit a Student Financial Agreement 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 the 25th of August for Fall Semester, the 25th of December for J-term and the 25th of January for Spring Semester. Payment for summer is due the first day of Summer Term, Session One. 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 Student Financial Services. 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.

Graduation and Your Student Account

All students who have applied to 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 Financial Services for assistance. Transcripts and diplomas will not be released until the student account is paid in full.

Payment Options

• • Payment in Full: Must be made by the 25th of August for Fall Semester, the 25th of December for J-Term and the 25th of January for Spring Semester. Payment for summer is due the first day of Summer Term, Session One.
  • 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 Plan

• • 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 if their plan has been cancelled due to non-payment for any previous term. 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 Student Financial Agreement 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 1 for Fall Semester, January 1 for both J-term and Spring Semester registration and February 1 for Spring Semester registration only.
  • All tuition and fees charged to a student’s account after August 25th for Fall Semester and January 25th for J-term and 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.
  • PLU may refer a delinquent account to a collection agency for failure to pay the student account or any monies due and owing PLU by the scheduled due date, in addition to failing to make acceptable payment arrangements to bring an account current. Student is responsible for paying the collection agency fee which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 40% percent of the student’s delinquent account, together with all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, necessary for the collection of a delinquent account. Delinquent accounts may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.
  • 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.

Enrollment Deposit

A $200 enrollment deposit 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 Financial Services Office.

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.

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 August 25th for Fall Semester and January 25th for J-term and 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.

Student Financial Agreement Hold

All students are required to electronically sign a Student Financial Agreement 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.

Social Security Number (SSN) Hold

No social security number on file hold. For 1098-T Tuition Statements, the Internal Revenue Service requires the University to obtain a student’s social security number for reporting purposes. If a student does not have a social security number on file or has not provided documentation that they do not have one or are voluntarily choosing not to provide the SSN, a hold will be placed on the student’s account.