Billing & Payment

Student Financial Records

Your Student Account
Every University of Minnesota student has an account with the University's business office (Student Accounts Receivable). Your student account reflects your total charges and credits for tuition and fees for day, evening, and Independent and Distance Learning credit courses, housing, and other University charges, including any previously unpaid balances. Each time you register, cancel or add courses, or make payments, your account is adjusted.

Review your account regularly, especially whenever you make a change in registration or submit a payment. Although rare, mistakes can happen! If you have questions regarding your student account information, contact One Stop Student Services. If you suspect there is an error in your bill, contact the department that placed the charge and notify One Stop Student Services when a charge is in dispute. (You must pay all undisputed charges by the due date.) View your student account via the One Stop. (Click on the "Student Account" quick link.)

Keep Personal Information Up to Date
It is your responsibility to report any change in address and other contact information. You can use the One Stop Web site to verify and correct your address directly online. (Click on the "Personal Information" quick link.) Or contact One Stop Student Services for assistance.

Records to Save
Save all registration and billing statements. These billing and account records will be an important reference if questions come up or if you intend to claim education tax credits or deductions on your tax return. See more information about tax credits and deductions.

Privacy Release
In compliance with the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and Regents policy, information about your student financial account cannot be released to a third party (including your parents, spouse, or sponsors) without your written permission. To do this, you will need to complete and submit a Student Information Release Authorization. Download the form from the link provided here, or pick up a form at a One Stop Student Services center or one of the Bursar offices, and follow the instructions included on the form.

The Billing and Payment System: UM Pay
The University of Minnesota offers a secure online billing and payment system (UM Pay) for student account charges (tuition, fees, housing, books, etc.). You will need your U of M Internet ID and password to log into and use the UM Pay system.

Online Billing
Online billing is the official means of generating tuition bills to all University of Minnesota students; paper bills no longer exist for enrolled students. The UM Pay system automatically e-mails notification to each student¿s U of M e-mail address when a statement listing the current balance and payment due is ready to be viewed online.

Exceptions
In a limited number of cases, opting out of online billing is possible. If you believe your personal situation warrants an exemption from online billing, please complete the Electronic Billing Exemption Appeal Form (also available at any One Stop Student Services center). If your appeal is approved, you will receive paper billing statements.

How to Pay
No installment payment plan is available in the summer, so you will need to pay your charges in full by the payment due date you are given. You have many options for making your payment, though, and may choose any of the following methods.

Nondegree (non-admitted/visiting) students:  If full payment for tuition, fees, and all other charges is not received by the payment due date, your entire summer term enrollment will be cancelled.

Pay Online with UM Pay
The quickest way to make your payment (and avoid standing in line, writing checks, and buying stamps) is to pay online at UM Pay.

You or an authorized payer (e.g., parent, spouse) may choose to make direct payments from a bank checking or savings account or charge your payment to a credit card. Payments made online with an e-check from your checking or savings account are easy and convenient and are posted to your account the same day if submitted before 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Students can also easily set up authorized payers to make payments on their behalf. If you make a MasterCard, DISCOVER, or American Express (VISA is not a participant) credit card payment, you will be required to pay a separate, nonrefundable service charge--2.75 percent of the payment amount--at the time of each credit card payment. The service charge, assessed by our credit card vendor, Nelnet Business Solutions, will appear as a separate line item on your (or the payer's) credit card statement. All costs for choosing to pay with a credit card must be assumed by the student/authorized payer. The University does not receive, nor will it underwrite, any portion of the service charge. Credit card payment is available only as an online service of UM Pay. The University will not accept credit card payments through the mail, in person, or over the phone.  Learn more about UM Pay.

Other Payment Methods
Payments may be submitted in any of the following ways, but do not use campus mail for payments, and do not mail cash or leave cash payments in campus drop boxes.

• Pay by U.S. Mail
  Note: Mailed payments must be received, not postmarked, by the due date to be considered on time and to avoid additional charges.
• Pay by On-Campus Drop Box
• Pay in Person

Payments by Sponsoring Agencies or Third Parties
If you have an authorization for the University to bill a sponsor for your tuition and fees, you should bring, fax, or mail your authorization to:

Third Party Billing
B-12 Fraser Hall
106 Pleasant St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Fax: 612-626-0387

The sponsor and student are responsible for ensuring that authorization is received before the first student bill due date to aviod late and installment/rebilling fees on sponsored charges.

If you have questions about the process, please send an e-mail message to the Third Party Billing office at tpbill@umn.edu or call 612-625-8559.

The authorization must include:

1. Student's name and identification number;
2. Type of charges, such as tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, and/or the maximum amount the sponsor will pay;
3. Term or dates of eligibility;
4. Authorizing signature (required);
5. Sponsor's complete billing address;
6. Sponsor contact person's name and phone number.

If your authorizing sponsor pays for tuition only (e.g., Public Law 894 for military personnel on Off-Duty Academic Instruction; Regents Scholarship), you are responsible for all other fees assessed, including late fees.

Note: A hold will be placed on your record if your sponsoring agency falls behind in payment. If the sponsoring agency does not pay within 90 days after billing, they will be assessed a $90 late fee. You are responsible for all unpaid tuition and fees (including late fees) if your sponsoring agency does not fulfill its obligations. It is your responsibility to monitor your sponsor's payments.

See more on third- party billing and payments.

When to Pay
Use the following table to determine your billing and payment schedule, but bear in mind that these deadlines can change. Verify billing and payment deadlines and procedures on the One Stop.

Pay on Time to Avoid Fees and Holds on Records
Payments must be received by the due date listed on your billing statement to be considered on time. Remember that no installment payment plan is available in summer. Any time you pay less than the full amount owed by your due date, you will be charged a $30 late payment fee, and a hold will be placed on your record.

You must pay the full current amount due on your account to receive a hold release. (Any balance left from previous terms is also due in full, and payments will be applied first to the oldest outstanding charge on your account. You will continue to be billed late payment fees and re-billing fees as long as any balance remains unpaid.) See more on holds. Note: If you must pay off a hold in order to receive your transcript or diploma, be sure to take into account that paying by personal check requires two weeks for processing. For immediate transcript or diploma release, pay with cash or cashier's check.

Collection Procedures and Costs
Past due accounts may also be subject to handling charges and collection procedures. Collection can include court action or referral to outside collection agencies. You are responsible for any and all costs necessary for collection.

Refunds
All refunds for tuition and fees are issued on a per-credit basis according to the refund rate that applies to the effective date of cancellation. Cancellations are effective the day you officially cancel-not on the day you stop attending classes. Cancel immediately at a One Stop Student Services center. To receive a refund, cancel within the time periods outlined in the One Stop table of refund and drop/add deadlines.

In a limited number of circumstances (e.g. active military duty, scholastic drop), retroactive cancellation may be possible. If authorized, you may also be entitled to a tuition refund.

Fee-Specific Refund Policies
Specific policies apply to refunds of the Student Services Fee and the University-sponsored hospitalization insurance fee as well as to various other fees.

Student Services and Hospitalization Insurance Fees
If you cancel all courses and qualify for a tuition refund, you must also accept a prorated refund of the Student Services Fee and the University-sponsored hospitalization insurance fee and lose these benefits. If you drop your credit load to below 6 credits, you must accept a refund of the University-sponsored hospitalization insurance fee, but you may keep paying the Student Services Fee if you are taking at least 1 credit and wish to use those other services/facilities. Refunds of both fees are based on the date that the cancellation is processed and are not affected by retroactive cancellation.

Other Fees
Late registration fees, collegiate fees, and the fees for the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), MSA, and SELF are generally not refunded. (In the case of a 100% tuition refund, however, the GAPSA fee is refunded.) All other special fees assessed at registration are refunded at the same rate as tuition and course fees. There is no refund of special fees after the refund period has ended, even if retroactive cancellation is authorized. See a complete list of other fees with refund policies.

Tax Benefits for Education

Credits and Deductions
Two types of tax credits are available: the Hope Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. An alternative special tuition deduction may be available to you if you do not qualify for the tax credits.

The Hope Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
The Hope Tax Credit is limited to the first two years of undergraduate education; it requires admission to a degree or eligible certificate program and half-time enrollment in credit courses. The Lifetime Learning Tax Credit may be claimed by students registered in credit courses and admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree or eligible certificate program, and by non-admitted students registered in undergraduate, graduate, or noncredit courses to acquire or improve job skills. There is no minimum registration requirement for the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit; it is applicable to one or more courses. You cannot claim both the Hope Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit in the same tax year for the same qualified expenses.

Tuition Deduction
A new above-the-line tax deduction for tuition and eligible fees paid out-of-pocket began in 2002. It may offer tax savings to students whose incomes are too high to qualify for or receive significant benefits from the Hope or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits. Income eligibility limits increase over the four-year period the tax deduction is available.

Other Tax Considerations
Other tax breaks may apply to your income, particularly if your employer offers educational assistance to employees or if you receive scholarship, grant, or fellowship income.

Employer Assistance
Students who receive educational assistance from their employers can receive up to $5,250 tax free. Both undergraduate and graduate students may qualify for this tax break.

Scholarship and Grant Income Exceptions
Scholarships, grants, fellowships, and stipends (but not loan funds) are counted as taxable income to the recipient, except for the portion of these funds used for tuition, registration, other University fees and books, supplies, and equipment required for the courses being taken. Note: Special tax regulations apply to nonresident alien students and may require withholding of taxes at the time of aid disbursement to these individuals.

For More Information
Detailed information on these and other issues may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.

For more information, including a University of Minnesota quick reference guide, see also the One Stop Web site's section on Education Tax Benefits.