Navigating Tuition Payments at the University of Michigan

Paying for college is a significant undertaking, and the University of Michigan (U-M) offers various methods to help students and their families manage this expense. Understanding these options is crucial for maintaining a good financial standing with the university. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the tuition payment methods available at U-M, with a particular focus on the U-M Payment Plan.

Understanding Your Tuition Bill

One of the most important aspects of college life is managing and paying your tuition bill. It is crucial to understand what to expect and what you need to do to keep your account in good standing, whether you are using financial aid, scholarships, a payment plan, or a third-party payer such as an employer or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Tuition is generally due on or before the first day of class each term.

U-M Payment Plan: An Alternative Payment Option

The University of Michigan provides an optional Payment Plan that allows students and parents to spread the payment of anticipated educational expenses for the fall or winter term over five installments. This Payment Plan serves as an alternative to the standard U-M payment schedule.

Eligibility and Enrollment

Any undergraduate, graduate, or professional school student at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor campus is eligible to participate in the U-M Payment Plan. Students and authorized parents/family members can enroll in the U-M Payment Plan through Wolverine Access. Enrollment is not automatic and must be done on a term basis. Even current participants must re-enroll each term. Enrollment in the Fall 2025 Payment Plan will open mid-April 2025. Enrollment in the Winter 2026 Payment Plan will open in Mid-October 2025.

Qualifying Expenses

The U-M Payment Plan can be used to budget for the following expenses:

Tuition
Mandatory Fees
Room & Board (including Blue Bucks)
Undergraduate U-M Northwood Community Apartments billed on a term basis
Lab Fees
Miscellaneous Expenses charged to the student account AND not listed under the "Expenses That May Not Be Budgeted" section.
Computers

However, certain expenses cannot be budgeted through the U-M Payment Plan, including:

Personal Expenses
Books
Supplies
Living Allowances
Monthly Rent (Off-Campus Housing, Munger Graduate Housing, or U of M Northwood Community Apartments billed on a monthly basis)

For clarification on which charges can be budgeted through the U-M Payment Plan, contact Student Financial Services.

Estimating the Plan Amount

The Plan Amount is calculated as the total estimated expenses minus the total estimated credits (financial aid awards, student loans, scholarships, etc., excluding work-study awards). It is recommended to overestimate expenses and underestimate credits when establishing the plan amount.

The following resources can be used to estimate the plan amount:

Student Account: If term charges have already been posted to the student account, use this information to establish the Plan amount.
Financial Planning Calculators: Access the Financial Planning Calculator through Wolverine Access. This tool estimates term charges based on student information and provided data.
Estimated Budgets: If actual term charges have not been posted and the Financial Planning Calculator is unavailable, use the estimated student budget for the Fall/Winter terms provided by the Office of Financial Aid. Remember to divide the listed amounts in half when budgeting for a single term.

Billing and Payment Schedule

Each term a student enrolls in the U-M Payment Plan, their student account will be charged for five monthly payments. This charge will appear on the U-M student account invoice, along with any charges not included in the Payment Plan.

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Fall term payments are due monthly from June 30 through October 31.
Winter term payments are due monthly from November 30 through March 31.

Students are expected to pay their monthly Payment Plan charge, as well as any other outstanding charges, by the specified due date. Failure to do so may result in a $30.00 late payment fee and a financial hold on the account. Payments made to the student account are first applied to the monthly Payment Plan charge and then to any other outstanding charges.

Payment Plan Credits

Each term enrolled in the U-M Payment Plan, a credit equal to the Plan Amount will be posted to the student's account.

Enrollment Fee

A non-refundable enrollment fee is charged each term for participation in the U-M Payment Plan. The current enrollment fee is $30.00 per term.

Enrollment Deadlines

Enrollment periods and deadlines for the Fall and Winter term U-M Payment Plans are as follows:

Fall Term:
- Enrollment Period: April 16 through June 30
- Enrollment Deadline: September 1
Winter Term:
- Enrollment Period: October 15 through November 30
- Enrollment Deadline: January 31

Enrolling during the enrollment period allows students to take full advantage of the five-payment schedule. Enrolling after the enrollment period but before the enrollment deadline requires payment of any currently due installments and the enrollment fee at the time of enrollment. Failure to pay these amounts will result in a financial hold on the student's account.

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Refund Policy

Credit balances created by the U-M Payment Plan may be refunded on a term basis:

Fall term Plan credits will be refundable after October 31.
Winter term Plan credits will be refundable after March 31.

All scheduled U-M Payment Plan payments must be posted to the student account before a refund can be issued. All credit balances are refunded according to the general refunding guidelines. Students can reduce their Payment Plan amount if they have overbudgeted for the term by making adjustments through Wolverine Access.

Delinquency, Cancellation, and Withdrawals

If a U-M Payment Plan account is delinquent by 15 days or more, Student Financial Services reserves the right to terminate the plan. Payments made on the plan will be applied to outstanding charges. Once a plan is terminated due to delinquent payment, standard University of Michigan financial regulations and payment schedules apply.

The U-M Payment Plan can be canceled by the student or an authorized parent/family member at any time without penalty. Payments made on the plan will be applied to outstanding charges. Once canceled, a Payment Plan cannot be reinstated for the term. To cancel the plan, contact Student Financial Services toll-free at 877.840.4738. Cancellation of the Winter U-M Payment Plan will be accepted through March 31.

If a student enrolled in the Payment Plan withdraws from the University of Michigan, the plan will be canceled, and any payments made will be applied to outstanding charges on the student’s account. The standard University of Michigan refund policy will apply if the application of payments results in a credit balance on the student's account.

How to Enroll

Students and authorized Parents & Family may enroll in the U-M Payment Plan online through Wolverine Access:

STUDENTS:

Through your Student Center:
- Select ACCOUNT INQUIRY from the FINANCES section
- Select the PAYMENT PLANS tab
- Select the ENROLL tab
- Follow instructions to enroll
Through the STUDENT SELF SERVICE page:
- Select CAMPUS FINANCES-ENROLL IN PAYMENT PLAN
- Select the PAYMENT PLANS tab
- Select the ENROLL tab
- Follow instructions to enroll

AUTHORIZED PARENTS & FAMILY:

Select MANAGE FINANCES/ACCOUNT INQUIRY
Select PAYMENT PLANS tab
Select ENROLL tab
Follow instructions to enroll

Additional Payment Methods

Besides the U-M Payment Plan, the university provides other methods for paying tuition and fees:

Financial Aid

When financial aid funds (loans, grants, scholarships) are disbursed, these funds are applied to the tuition account, reducing the balance owed to the university.

Online ePayments

Online ePayments can be made 24/7, including holidays. These payments are processed as ACH transactions from a personal savings or checking account drawn on a US bank and are posted in real time. A confirmation number is provided upon completion of the ePayment process.

Cash Payments

Cash payments for UM-Dearborn Student Accounts are accepted at the University of Michigan Credit Union (UMCU) in the James C. Renick University Center. A UMCU bank account is not required. To make a cash payment:

Log in to your student account at Student Accounts Self Service to confirm the balance you want to pay.
Go to the UMCU branch in the James C. Renick University Center, show your University ID, and provide either your Driver's License or Passport Number for tax purposes.
Submit the cash payment, indicating it is to be credited to your University of Michigan-Dearborn student account at the UMID number presented.
You will receive a receipt.
Confirm on your next eStatement that the transaction is observable on your student account.

Other UMCU branches are also able to perform this service.

Checks

The University of Michigan accepts payments on student charges in the form of checks.

Important Considerations

Tuition, fees, room/board, and other fees are generally due on or before the first day of class each term.
If account information is entered incorrectly during an online payment, an error message will be displayed to prevent a potential returned check issue.
Refunds issued for a term with a credit card payment must be issued back to the credit card up to the total amount of the credit card payment(s).
A student account charge is applied for returned/rejected ACH electronic check transactions for reasons other than insufficient funds. Returned/rejected ACH electronic check transactions specifically from insufficient funds will have a $30.00 fee billed separately from Flywire online payment service itself.
Online tuition payments for insufficient funds will be charged to students by Flywire independently. In addition, returned ACH electronic check transactions related to hold releases and registration will result in disenrollment.
If electronic check payments made online are returned twice for user errors, a "RW" hold will be added to the account preventing use of the electronic check payment method for one year.
If electronic check payments made online are returned because of insufficient funds, closed accounts, or other serious reasons where the payment was submitted in bad faith, a "RC" hold will be added to the student account, preventing electronic check payment method permanently.
A credit card or debit card payment that is later reversed via a chargeback dispute, will result in a CB hold on the student account, restricting use of the card payment method permanently.
Receipts will not be issued for non-online payments.
The U of M does not accept credit cards.

Avoiding Payment Issues

Several actions can lead to holds or restrictions on a student's account:

Returned/Rejected ACH Electronic Check Transactions: A student account charge is applied for returned/rejected ACH electronic check transactions for reasons other than insufficient funds. Returned/rejected ACH electronic check transactions specifically from insufficient funds will have a $30.00 fee billed separately from Flywire online payment service itself.
Insufficient Funds: Online tuition payments for insufficient funds will be charged to students by Flywire independently. In addition, returned ACH electronic check transactions related to hold releases and registration will result in disenrollment.
Repeated User Errors: If electronic check payments made online are returned twice for user errors, a "RW" hold will be added to the account, preventing the use of the electronic check payment method for one year.
Bad Faith Payments: If electronic check payments made online are returned because of insufficient funds, closed accounts, or other serious reasons where the payment was submitted in bad faith, a "RC" hold will be added to the student account, permanently preventing the use of the electronic check payment method.
Chargeback Disputes: A credit card or debit card payment that is later reversed via a chargeback dispute will result in a CB hold on the student account, permanently restricting the use of the card payment method.

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