Navigating Tuition Payment Options at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University (ODU) is committed to providing accessible and affordable higher education. Understanding the various tuition payment options and related policies is crucial for students to manage their finances effectively throughout their academic journey. This article provides a comprehensive guide to tuition payment procedures, deadlines, financial aid, and other essential information for students attending ODU.

Understanding Tuition and Fees

At ODU, tuition is a comprehensive fee covering instructional programs, academic and student services, recreational sports, and intercollegiate athletics. All fees are subject to approval and change by the Board of Visitors. Students taking a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses will pay tuition at the appropriate level for each course.

Billing and Payment Deadlines

Upon registration, whether online or via a registration form, students accept responsibility for all incurred charges. All university charges are due by the established deadlines, which are displayed to the left of each applicable charge on the e-bill. Timely payments are crucial to avoid financial penalties.

E-Billing System

ODU exclusively uses e-bills, which students can access through the LeoOnline portal. It is important to access financial information through the university's secured access site online (PIN required). The e-bill provides a statement of current charges and their respective due dates. Students are encouraged to check their student account online regularly.

Payment Options

ODU offers several payment methods:

Online Payments: Credit card payments (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) can be made via Leo Online. Note that students who pay using a credit card will be charged a convenience fee. Students can also pay via WEB Check (from checking accounts only). When using the Web Check process, ensure that all checking account information is entered accurately.
In-Person Payments: Cash payments should be made at the Office of Finance cashiers' windows in Rollins, Jr. Hall. Personal checks are accepted for the exact amount of fees owed to the University. The Office of Finance no longer accepts credit card payments at the cashiers' windows.
Mail Payments: Payments can be made via mail.
Third-Party Payments: Third-party payments are accepted upon submission of authorization documents. A "Third Party" is an employer, a military unit, a service organization, embassies, or a federal, state or local governmental agency agreeing to pay tuition and fees on the student's behalf, and requests that ODU bill them for these debts. These payments require a written authorization for processing.

Important Payment Policies

Payments on all financial obligations to the University will be applied on the basis of age of the debt. The oldest debt will be paid first.
Postdated checks are not scrutinized and will be deposited upon receipt.
Over-payments on students' accounts of \$5 or less that are not created by a financial aid disbursement will not be refunded unless students request the refund from the Student Accounts Office.
In accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements and the University Policy, any cash payment received by ODU exceeding \$10,000 will require completion of a Cash Intake Form.

Returned Payments

There is a \$50 administrative charge for all checks and charges returned unpaid by the bank for any reason. Students have seven (7) days to repay the check or charge amount plus the administrative fee. Failure to do so will result in a payment penalty and a financial hold on the account. Each account will be allowed three (3) returned checks or electronic payments, after which such payments will no longer be accepted.

Tuition Payment Plans

Students unable to pay the total amount by the tuition deadline may opt to participate in the University payment plan (available in the fall and spring semesters only). Students may set up a payment plan in Leo Online, where charges for each semester are divided into four equal payments with a \$40 nonrefundable setup fee, to be paid at the time the payment plan is established. If any installment payment, or portion thereof, becomes past due, the student will be removed from the payment plan. The full balance will then be accelerated, which means the entire amount will be due and payable immediately.

When on a payment plan, students will continue to receive a comprehensive billing statement each month for total charges with the original tuition deadline as the due date.

Late Fees and Delinquent Accounts

If charges remain unpaid 30 days after the due date, a 5% late payment penalty is assessed (effective Fall 2012). The Late Penalty indicates that your account is past due. When a delinquent account is 120 days past due, it will be forwarded to collections and a 25% collections fee added. The University pursues debt in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Virginia Debt Collection Act.

The University will not issue a degree, diploma, grade report, or permit registration for future terms to any student who has not paid all debts in full. Students with account holds are permitted to drop classes to reduce debt or withdraw to prevent academic penalty.

Collections and the Virginia Debt Collection Act

Virginia State law requires that the University make every attempt to collect past due amounts owed to state agencies. If, after 120 days, full payment of a debt has not been received, the account will be placed with a collection agency. Account holders are responsible for any collection costs incurred at a rate of 25% of the total due. Several other actions may be taken including the following: the account can be listed by the Credit Bureau as a bad debt; a delinquent account can be collected in full from income tax refunds, lottery winnings or other refunds due from the state (for Virginia residents); and the account may be turned over to the Virginia Attorney General’s Office for litigation. Timely payment is strongly encouraged so that collection efforts can be avoided.

Under the provisions of the Set-off Debt Collection Act, an individual's Virginia income tax refund or lottery winnings will be subject to the University's claim for any unpaid balance of tuition and fees to the University.

Tuition Refund Policy

The total tuition is considered fully earned by the University once scheduled classes have begun. Students desiring to withdraw from the University must formally notify the University of their intention by executing an official withdrawal with the Office of the University Registrar. If completed by the posted deadlines each semester, students will be refunded the costs and fees associated with dropped courses. Nonpayment will not release students from the financial obligation for tuition charges. Students are strongly encouraged to follow University procedures and meet published deadlines to officially drop classes and be released from charges. Stopping payment on a tuition draft does not constitute a cancellation of the student’s registration.

For classes of less than one semester/session in length, refunds will be granted only before the first meeting of the class. Administrative withdrawals, as in the case of classes canceled by the University or the case of academically suspended students, entitle the student to a full refund of tuition. For refund purposes, the beginning of a semester is defined as the opening day of classes as shown in the course schedule and Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.

Tuition Differentials (Add/Drop Policy)

In accordance with the refund periods, a full or partial refund of the difference between tuition paid and the new tuition charges will be granted if the per credit rates differ. In those instances where the revised tuition charges are greater, the additional tuition charges will be assessed.

Read also: Paying Your RSM Tuition

Financial Aid and Benefits

Financial Aid Options

Old Dominion University offers various financial aid options to its students, including grants. A significant percentage of students, 91%, receive financial aid at the university. The average amount of financial aid received by students varies depending on their level of study. Graduate students at Old Dominion University receive an average of 10,207 USD in financial aid, while undergraduate students receive an average of 7,029 USD in financial aid.

The average net price for full-time beginning students at Old Dominion University is dependent on their income level and eligibility for Title IV federal financial aid. For the 2018-19 academic year, students with an income between 0-30,000 USD had an average net price of 13,765 USD. Students with an income between 30,001-48,000 USD had an average net price of 13,740 USD. For students with an income between 48,001-75,000 USD, the average net price was 16,577 USD.

Work-Study Opportunities

Old Dominion University provides a range of work-study, internship, and on-campus employment opportunities for its students. One of the key programs is the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, which offers part-time employment to students to help them finance their postsecondary education. The university has been awarded a one-year, \$25,000 grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to enhance the FWS program, transforming it to function more like an internship program. The aim is to create a robust ecosystem of on-campus internships, reduce barriers to participation, and increase the number of paid internships available to students. The FWS program is designed to provide students with relevant experience throughout their college years, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for their future careers and global citizenship.

In addition to the FWS program, Old Dominion University offers the Community Service Internship (CSI) and America Reads & America Counts programs. The CSI program allows FWS students to earn their award by working for various qualifying on-campus and off-campus non-profit or governmental agencies in the local area.

Tuition Assistance Program for Employees

Old Dominion University is committed to making affordable higher education available to eligible employees and their family members by providing them with opportunities to increase their education, job skills and career development through a tuition assistance program. Classified employees are now required to formally document use of educational release time granted as part of their tuition assistance program participation. Approval is subject to supervisor discretion and is not a guaranteed benefit under the tuition assistance program.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver

In accordance with the Senior Citizen’s Higher Education Act of 1974 (Code of Virginia, § 23.1-639, et seq.), a senior citizen* may take courses without paying tuition or required fees, except for course materials, under certain conditions. If the senior citizen has taxable individual income of not more than \$23,850 in the preceding year, the individual may take a course for academic credit free of tuition and fees, except for fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials, such as laboratory fees, books, etc. Proof of income in the form of a Virginia Resident Form 760 or an IRS Verification of Non-Filing must be provided at the time of registration, along with the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Application & Registration Form. A senior citizen, regardless of income level, may audit a course that is given for academic credit or take a noncredit course free of tuition and fees, except for fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials, such as laboratory fees or books.

The two additional conditions listed below shall be met before an individual may take a course under the provisions of this program: Senior citizens wishing to use this benefit must be admitted as degree-seeking or non-degree students before registering, and The senior citizen may be admitted to a course only on a space-available basis after all tuition-paying students have been accommodated on or after the first day of classes for the session in which the class is scheduled. Exceptions to this procedure may be made when the senior citizen has completed 75% of the requirements for a degree.

“Senior citizen” means any person who, before the beginning of any term, semester or quarter in which such person claims entitlement to the benefits of this chapter, (i) has reached 60 years of age, and (ii) has had his legal domicile in this Commonwealth for one year. (Code of Virginia, § 23.1-639)

Deferment for Veterans

Old Dominion University offers a deferment for veterans, which extends the payment deadline for students whose veterans’ benefits are not available by the tuition deadline. Military Students Using Chapter 31, 33 or 35 (G.I. Students are expected to access financial information through the University's secured access site on the World Wide Web (PIN required).

Federal Student Aid Refunds

Students who have a credit balance on their account may be eligible to receive a refund. The type of credit on a student's account will determine the method of initiating the refund and the length of time for a student to receive their refund. If there is a credit balance, then funds will be returned to the student in the form of a check or e-Refund.

Education Tax Credits

The IRS regulations require ODU to provide a statement of tuition and charges billed each calendar year via a 1098T Tax Form, issued no later than January 31 of each calendar year to all eligible students.

Important Reminders

Registration is NOT canceled for nonpayment of tuition.
Failure to attend a course after registering is not justification for elimination of charges.
A student must officially drop to qualify for a refund or release of charges by the drop/add deadline posted in the schedule of classes.
Students with outstanding debts (including parking fines & library holds) are not able to register or access student services until all debts are paid in full.
Holds will not be lifted to allow pre-registration. Students will be permitted to drop current or future term courses at the Registrar's Office during the specified tuition refund periods by manual request only (online drops are not recognized when holds are in place).
Holds are removed upon system update every 4 hours. Students may access records and register the day after payment is made.
Those with pending domicile decisions are still required to pay at least the in-state tuition rate amount ON TIME. After the decision has been made, your bill will be adjusted.

Accessing Student Account Information

Each student account can be viewed using any Internet browser. Students are strongly encouraged to access records directly through their secure access site on www.leoonline.odu.edu. Students are expected and required to assume responsibility for their own financial matters and to abide by the laws of the Commonwealth and the rules and regulations of the University. Failure to read and comply with University regulations will not exempt students from whatever penalties they may incur.

To obtain the amount of tuition, fees, etc. incurred, go to "Student Records"; select "Student Account by Term". Print a copy of this record for billing purposes. Any changes to enrollment may cause revisions to the billing statement. Due to the frequency of course changes, duplicate and/or revised e-bills will not be sent in the 30 days prior to tuition due date.

Students can add an "Authorized User" to their accounts.

Estimating the Cost of Studying at ODU

When considering the cost of studying at Old Dominion University, prospective students should take into account various expenses, such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board charges. For books and supplies, students can expect to spend around 1300 USD. In terms of room and board charges, Old Dominion University has an annual cost of 12,988 USD. This figure is broken down into a typical room charge for the academic year at 7,690 USD and a typical board charge for the academic year at 5,298 USD. The institution provides on-campus housing, with a total dormitory capacity of 4,361.

Contact Information and Assistance

Information related to tuition and fees, billing, refunds, payment options and related forms may be directed to Customer Relations located in the downstairs lobby of Alfred B. Rollins, Jr. Rollins, Jr. Cash payments must be made in person in the Cashiers' Office, located on campus at 1006 Rollins Hall. General service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, but please check the posted Cashier Window Hours.

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