To assist in answering your question(s), select from the following categories:
Q. What are the tuition and fee rates per course?
A. Tuition and fees are charged per credit hour according to your student classification and residency status. View the current rates on our Tuition, Fees, & Surcharges page.Q. What is truth-in-tuition? Who qualifies for the locked-in tuition rate?
A. Read about truth-in-tuition policy on our viewable PDF document.Q. How do I cancel out of Student Major Medical Insurance?
A. All questions regarding insurance should be directed to the Student Insurance Office.Q. What is a technology surcharge?
A. Read about the technology surcharge on the Fees & Common Charges page.Q. Why was I assessed a finance charge? What is it?
A. Read about the finance charge within the payment policy.Q. Who do I contact to remove/adjust parking tickets, library fines, late immunization fees, and/or any other miscellaneous charges on my statement?
A. The Office of the Bursar does not have the authority to make adjustments to your account for these types of charges. You will need to contact the appropriate office or department that initiated the charge if you have questions.
Q. When are payments due?
A. View the payment due dates on the Due Dates page.Q. Will my classes be cancelled if my payment is late?
A. No. We do not cancel classes for late payments. However, a finance charge may be assessed to your student account.Q. If I pay my bill with a credit card, will I be able to register for classes immediately?
A. No. If you are paying in full by credit card online or by the phone during regular business hours, your payment should reflect on your student account by the next business day.Q. Which credit cards do you accept for payment?
A. Currently, the Office of the Bursar accepts American Express, Discover, and MasterCard for credit card payments via the Internet or telephone only. Please view the Make a Payment page for additional information on payments.Q. My employer has a reimbursement program for a class that I am taking. Does NIU offer a deferment plan for the costs that my employer will pay.
A. No. A reimbursement program represents a contractual agreement between the student and his/her sponsor (employer). Many times, this type of program requires criteria that must be met before the employer will make a payment (i.e. attaining a C or better grade, remaining employed with the sponsor, etc.). NIU will not grant a payment deferment for employer reimbursement since it is not considered to be part of the third-party billing program.Q. I am concerned about not being able to make payments for the semester. What should I do?
A. You should set up an appointment to speak with an account counselor as soon as possible.Q. The College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition (529 Plan) is paying for my tuition and fees. What do I need to do to notify NIU?
A. Please read about College Illinois! on our Third-Party Contracts page.
Q. What is a deferment and why has it expired?
A. A deferment is an estimate of the financial aid amount that you will receive. It expires at the start of the semester and is replaced by the actual money, unless the student's paperwork is incomplete.Q. What is my account balance?
A. Student may always access their account balance information online via WebConnect or by phone at (815) 753-1878.Q. I never received a bill. What should I do?
A. All statements are sent to the permanent address that you have provided with NIU. If you have moved, it is important that you update your address with Registration and Records or through WebConnect. Please note: you can always view your financial account daily online via WebConnect. Any reprinted copy of a statement is $3.50 (cash or check), and should be paid to the cashiers in Swen Parson Hall 235.
Q. When are initial refunds processed for the new semester?
A. If you are entitled to receive a refund due to a credit balance on your account, refunds are processed by the 14th day at the start of each semester.Q. Do I need to apply for a refund of a credit balance?
A. No. Refunds are automatically processed as refundable credit balances occur. A check will be processed and mailed to you, OR if you have signed up for direct deposit, the amount will be deposited directly to your bank account. View the Refunds page for more information.Q. How do I sign up for direct deposit?
A. Complete a direct deposit form on the Direct Deposit page.Q. Can I have my refund deposited to my savings account?
A. Yes. Indicate that you are using a savings account and attach a deposit slip or letter from the bank including your name as the account holder, account number, and routing number.Q. How will the money be sent to the bank when using direct deposit?
A. The funds will be sent electronically through the banking system in the same manner as direct deposit payrolls.Q. How will I know the money was sent to the bank when using direct deposit?
A. Funds are usually deposited in your bank account within three business days of the refund date. You can verify receipt of the funds by contacting your bank.Q. Can I designate more than one account for direct deposit? Can the money go to my parent's account?
A. No. All funds must be deposited in one account in your name. The only exception is that excess funds from a PLUS loan will be refunded by check to the borrower.Q. Can I sign up for direct deposit if I use an out-of-state bank?
A. Yes. The only restriction is that the bank must be located in the United States.Q. What if I want to cancel direct deposit?
A. Simply complete a new Direct Deposit Form and indicate that you want to cancel direct deposit.
Q. How will a course withdrawal/university withdrawal affect my student account?
A. You should contact your college office to apply for any withdrawal. Portion of refundable charges paid will be dependent upon the date of withdrawal as determined by your college office and the established refund period for the term determined by the Office of the Bursar.Q. How will a withdrawal affect my financial aid for the term?
A. If you have received any financial aid such as student loans, scholarships, grants, or waivers, it is important to contact the Financial Aid Office to see if any adjustments/removal of aid will occur.
Q. What is the 1098T Tax Credit?
A. Read about the 1098T on the 1098T Tax Credit page.Q. When are 1098T tax forms sent out?
A. The 1098T tax form is sent out in January, before the end of the month to the permanent address the student provided to NIU.Q. What is reported on the 1098T?
A. The amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses, and scholarships or grants that could be used for payments of qualified tuition and related expenses. (Note: Payments are not reported on this tax form. Retain monthly statements for payment verification.)Q. Which charges are not included on the 1098T tax form?
A. The health services fee, busing fee, and student-to-student grant are not reported on the 1098T.Q. How do you use your 1098T tax form for tax credit purposes?
A. Please contact your tax accountant.Q. What happens if I never received my 1098T tax form?
A. If you did not receive the 1098T at your permanent address, and the 1098T has not been returned to the Office of the Bursar, then each reprinted copy is $3.50. Available 1098T tax forms include both the current and prior year.
Q. How do Student Organizations set up an Accounts Receivable account?
A. Read about setting up an AR account on the Student Org. Billing page.Q. Does my student organization need an Accounts Receivable customer number to book events on campus?
A. If your group is SA recognized but not SA funded, YES, you do need an AR customer number. If your group is SA funded, NO, you do not need an AR customer number. Please view the Student Org. Billing page.Q. I forgot my student organization's customer number. Can you tell me what it is?
A. No. The Accounts Receivable Office cannot provide student organization information over the phone. One of the signers of the AR documents must come into our office and show a photo ID in order for any information to be released. Please view the Student Org. Billing page.Q. Why must I provide a SSN to set up an Accounts Receivable customer number.
A. Your social security number is necessary to set up a credit account to allow your student organization to make charges. The signed officers are personally liable for all student account activity. Please view the Student Org. Billing page.Q. What is the "hot list" and why is my student group on it? Why do I have an AR Hold?
A. Read about the Accounts Receivable hot list on the Student Org. Billing page.
Q. When I call the Bursar's Office on the phone, the receptionist would not give me my balance and would say that she cannot provide any information. Why?
A. You may want to check your account status with Registration and Records. Due to FERPA guidelines, our office cannot disclose your account information over the phone if you have flagged all account information as "non-disclose". You must come to Office of the Bursar in person with a photo ID, or change your status with Registration and Records.Q. I noticed that I have a hold (encumbrance) on my student account. What is this for?
A. Departments that assign holds to student accounts generally send a separate notification indicating why the hold was assigned. These holds prevent the student from registering for classes and obtaining transcripts. Please read about holds on our Past Due Account Information page.