Payments, Discounts and Refunds

Installment Plan

We offer an installment plan in the fall and spring semesters. To participate in an installment plan:

Your total balance must be no less than $100.
Your first payment must be made by credit card on the date you register.

Installment payments are allowed through the first four weeks of the semester. After that, full payment is expected.
If you add new classes or lessons after your first installment payment, you must use a new registration form. The new classes or lessons are not eligible for the installment plan. Full payment is due when you submit the form.
Credit Card Information
The person who makes the first payment is responsible for all installment payments. We are unable to split charges among multiple payees. We cannot accept a credit card that expires before the date of the final payment. You must inform us if your credit card changes during the payment period.
If we are unable to process a credit card at the time a payment is due, we will inform the card holder. If you do not provide us with new credit card information or payment within two weeks, your teacher will be asked to stop lessons.
Payment Due Dates
If you are paying four installments through the fall and spring semesters, these due dates apply to you:

Second installment: Oct. 17
Third installment: Jan. 17
Fourth installment: March 1

If you registered for a fall activity and a fall/spring activity on the same registration form, please note the following:

Fall activities must be paid in full by the due date of the second installment.
Fall/spring activities must be paid in full by the due date of the fourth installment.
Installments will not be equal.

Refunds and Withdrawals

Lessons:

When you submit a registration form, you commit the student to a full semester of lessons. If a student decides to stop taking lessons after the semester has started, the student or parent must inform us in writing. Giving notice to the teacher is not sufficient.
We will process prorated refunds for private music lessons and Suzuki lessons that have not taken place. You must give us the withdrawal letter before the fourth week of lessons.
Final dates to withdraw from lessons are October 17 and March 1.

Other CSA Activities:

There are no refunds for classes, workshops, ensembles or registration fees.

Additional COVID19 Policy

If an in-person class, ensemble or workshop must be canceled due to COVID 19 we will attempt to move that activity online. If it is unable to be moved online, or if a participant does not wish to participate in an online version, we will issue a prorated refund for the canceled dates.

If a student signs up for private lessons to be taught in person, and those lessons are unable to continue in person due to COVID19, we will attempt to move the private lessons online. If private lessons are unable to be moved online, or if the participant or teacher does not wish to participate in online lessons, we will issue a prorated refund for the untaught lessons.

Discounts

You are eligible for a discount if you:

Register more than one family member for an activity on one form
Register one person for two or more activities on one form
Are 65 years or older

The discount is $25 when you register for one semester and $60 when you register for two semesters (fall and spring) on the same registration form.

To qualify for the discount in fall, you must register by the second installment payment date and in spring by the fourth installment payment date.

Please note:

Discounts may not be combined.
Art Express classes do not count toward discount eligibility.

Registration Fee

You will pay a nonrefundable registration fee of $10 per person. This fee helps us cover many expenses, including the cost of employee background checks required by NIU.

The fee is paid once per person on a new registration form.
A student registering for two semesters on one registration form will pay the $10 registration fee once.
The fee for one person registering for multiple activities is $10.
The fee for two siblings registered on one form is $20.

Contact Us

College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs
Music Building 132

Kristin Sherman
815-753-1450
ksherman2@niu.edu

Join Our CSA Mailing List

Online Office Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(lunch from noon – 1 p.m.)

Northern Illinois University
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs