Navigating OSU Student Payment Options: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding tuition and fee payment options is crucial for Oregon State University (OSU) students to maintain good financial standing and avoid enrollment holds. This article provides a detailed overview of payment methods, fees, deadlines, and other important aspects of managing your student account at OSU.

Tuition and Fees: An Overview

Tuition rates at OSU are not uniform. They depend on various factors, including your academic program, residency status (in-state or out-of-state), campus location (Corvallis or Cascades), and the level of the courses you're taking (undergraduate or graduate). In addition to tuition, students are required to pay mandatory enrollment fees each term. These fees typically include:

Building Fee: Supports the maintenance and construction of university buildings.
Incidental Fee: Funds student activities, organizations, and services.
Student Counseling and Health Services Fees: Provides access to mental health and medical services on campus.

It's also important to note that certain courses may have additional fees to cover specific expenses. These may include:

Lab Fees: For courses with laboratory components.
Field Trip Fees: For courses involving off-campus excursions.
Material Fees: For courses requiring special materials or equipment.

A one-time fee is charged to all new and readmitted students in their first term to cover pre-enrollment services.

Understanding Your Student Account

Every student at OSU has a student account where all charges, credits, and payments are recorded. OSU uses electronic billing (eBill) as its official billing method. Statements are typically processed around the 5th of each month for students with account activity. It is the student's responsibility to regularly view and pay their student account when charges post. Failure to review the account is not a valid reason for missing payment deadlines.

Payment Methods Accepted by OSU

OSU offers a variety of convenient payment methods to accommodate different student needs. These include:

Electronic Check (Bank Debits): Payments can be made online through MyBill or Beaver Hub using your bank account and routing number. There are no service fees associated with this method.
Paper Checks: Checks should be made payable to Oregon State University and include the student's name and OSU ID number in the memo line.
Credit Cards: OSU accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express online through MyBill or Beaver Hub. Note that a non-refundable convenience fee is assessed by the payment processor for credit card transactions. Credit cards are not accepted at the Cashier's windows.
Money Orders: Money orders should be made payable to Oregon State University and include the student's name and OSU ID number.
Cash: Accepted by the Office of the Bursar.
Foreign Currency Wire Transfer: OSU partners with Convera (formerly Western Union) to allow international students to make payments in their local currency. Additional information can be found on the OSU website.

Payment Deadlines and Late Fees

Students are sent a bill each month around the 5th, detailing all charges, credits, and payments on their account. Tuition assessments occur bi-weekly prior to the start of the term and daily beginning on the first day of the term.

Unpaid balances of more than $500 as of the 1st of the month following the first eBill statement of the term are considered past due and will be assessed an $85 late fee. This fee is charged once per term. Students enrolled in a payment plan and current on their installment payments are exempt from the Student Account Late Fee.

Interest is not charged to currently registered students. However, if a student is no longer registered and has an unpaid balance, a 1% interest charge of the unpaid balance will be assessed monthly (simple interest at the rate of 12% per year).

Payment Plans

OSU offers payment plan options to help students manage their tuition expenses. Payment plans allow students to divide their tuition and fee balance into smaller, more manageable installments over a set period.

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Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP): Ohio State University (not Oregon State University) offers the Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP). To participate, you must sign up each semester through your My Buckeye Link account. A $30 non-refundable enrollment fee is assessed each term you enroll and due with the first payment plan installment.

OSU Debt Resolution Payment Plan: If you are unable to pay your student account in full, Student Account Services can work with you to make payment arrangements.

Consequences of Non-Payment

Failure to pay tuition, fees, and other associated costs can have several consequences:

Late Fees: As mentioned earlier, unpaid balances exceeding $500 are subject to a late fee.
Interest Charges: If you are no longer registered and have an unpaid balance, you will be assessed interest charges.
Registration Holds: OSU policy requires that currently enrolled students pay their account balances down to at least $500, and outstanding charges are from the current term before they can register for the next term. A hold prevents students from accessing a university service such as registration.
Debt Resolution: If a student fails to pay the balance owed on their student account after the fourth week of the next term, then the student is in default of their financial obligation. If you are not registered for the current term by the end of week four and you have an unpaid balance, your account will be moved from current registered student status to a former registered student status.
Collection Agency Referral: Failure to pay the student account, or any monies due and owed to the University or failure to make acceptable payment arrangements, may result in the University referring the student’s delinquent account to a collection agency.
Legal Action: The University may use all remedies in law and in equity to enforce and collect the amount owed on the student’s account.

Refunds

Students who drop or withdraw from a class during the first 30% of the term (or part of term) may be eligible for a partial tuition refund. Refunds are calculated from the date of official drop, withdraw, or cancellation, not the last date of class attendance.

Refunds are based on assessed tuition and mandatory fees and are calculated from the date you officially withdraw or cancel your registration or reduce your class load, not the last date of class attendance. Refunds are automatically processed as a credit on your account. A check will be issued to you for any remaining credit balance after accounts receivable and financial aid repayments have been satisfied.

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Students are eligible to receive a financial aid refund when their financial aid/scholarships exceed the allowable charges their student account. Students who have enrolled in Direct Deposit, and are eligible for a refund, will receive their refund electronically on the first day of the term during fall, winter, and spring. Direct Deposit is the preferred method for refunds.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid and scholarship money is credited directly to the student account and is used to pay tuition and qualifying charges. Any excess financial aid is refunded to the student in the form of a check or direct deposit to the student's bank account. To receive federal financial aid through OSU-Cascades, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be admitted to an OSU-Cascades.

Miscellaneous Fees

OSU also charges a number of miscellaneous fees for various services:

Re-Admission Fee, Undergraduate: $25.00
Re-Admission Fee, Graduate: Domestic Students $75.00; International Students $85.00
Reinstatement Fee: $50.00
PELP Fee (Undergraduate Planned Educational Leave Program): $25.00
Verification of Enrollment Fee: $15.00 per verification
Sponsored Student Administrative Fee: $275.00 per term

Emergency Loans

Emergency loans, not to exceed $350.00 per term, are available to students in good financial standing, attending at least half time, and formally admitted to the university. Loans are to be repaid by the last day of the current term. Loan amounts become part of the revolving account balance and carry interest at 1 percent per month (12 percent APR). The Cashier’s Office reviews the applications and issues payment if approved. Application forms are available at the Cashier’s Office in the Kerr Administration Building. Emergency Loans are processed through the Business Office in Corvallis.

Special Cases

Non-Degree Students: Non-degree students pay undergraduate or graduate tuition based on the level of the course. They are also charged the mandatory Building and Incidental Fees. For non-degree seeking students enrolled in less than 9 credits, tuition and fees are assessed at resident rates based on undergraduate or graduate course level. Enrollment in excess of 8 credits requires tuition and fees to be assessed at the same rates applied to admitted students. Nonresident differential and student level (undergraduate or graduate) will be applicable.
Senior Citizens: Senior citizens in Oregon may audit courses without paying tuition or fees. The person must receive permission from the instructor before enrolling in the course and fill out the university's non-degree admissions application, as well as pay a non-refundable non-degree enrollment application fee. Qualifying students must be 65 years of age or older and register for 8 or fewer credits each term.
OSU Employees: OSU offers an employee benefit to eligible employees appointed to at least .50 FTE (not including temporary or student employees) to register for courses and receive reduced tuition rates for a maximum of 12 credit hours. Eligible employees may transfer this benefit to a qualified family member each term.
Graduate Assistants: OSU has a tuition remission policy for students who meet specific criteria and are eligible to hold a graduate assistant appointment. Contact your department for more information.
Students attending classes taught by more than one institution: Although you may be attending classes taught by more than one institution, you can receive financial aid only from your home institution, OSU-Cascades. For financial aid purposes, only credits through OSU and COCC will be combined and counted towards your financial aid enrollment and disbursement.

Student Financial Responsibility

Upon registering for or receiving services from the University, the student agrees to accept full responsibility to pay tuition, fees and other associated costs assessed as a result of the student’s registration or receipt of services. The student understands and agrees that registration constitutes an obligation to pay for all assessed tuition, fees and other associated costs by the published or assigned due date. The student will now be required to complete a student financial services agreement when they log in to myBill. This document constitutes a legal agreement between the student and Oregon State University. Credit card chargebacks is considered a lack of financial responsibility.

Resources

MyBill: Access your student account, view bills, make payments, and establish authorized users.
Beaver Hub: Find information about paying for college, financial services, and accessing MyBill.
OSU Student Account Services: Contact for questions about your student account, payment options, and debt resolution.
Buckeye Link: For assistance with TOPP.

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