Your Student Account

Student Financial Services bills for tuition approximately three months prior to the start of the semester with a tuition due date the Friday before the semester begins. As an e-billing institution, account balances, including charges and payments, are reflected in Self-Service in real time. You should not expect to receive billing statements mailed to your home address. For specific financial dates and deadlines, please refer to the published Academic Calendar.

After the initial posting of bills for an academic term, charges, along with any changes done by add/drop actions, are reflected immediately. Once you have been registered for classes, you agree to:

• Assume financial responsibility for any charges and/or fees as posted to your student account.
• Abide by the official College policies regarding withdrawal from the College.
• Assume the responsibility for understanding the College’s official policy concerning schedule changes and satisfactory academic progress, which may result in additional charges or the loss of eligibility for certain types of financial aid.

All accounts must be paid in full in order for students to enroll in succeeding terms or to receive copies of certificates, diplomas, and transcripts. Failure to pay tuition bills in full may result in the use of a third-party collection agency. In this case, reasonable collection fees and a report of negative credit may apply.

If any charges remain unpaid after the due date, or if you made a payment that was rejected by your financial institution, your student account will be assessed late fees and finance charges. In addition, a hold will be placed on your student record that restricts access to College services, including registration, transcripts and diplomas.

Students with past due balances who are not currently enrolled in courses at the College will be contacted via mail and email in regards to their balances. If a balance remains unpaid, student accounts can be sent to a third party collection agency.

A Past Due Balance Hold is placed on student accounts when a student has a past due balance or a student has not paid their bill by the tuition due date. It is important all students review the Tuition Due Dates each semester. This hold will prevent a student from using College resources such as adding or making changes to their class schedule and accessing official transcripts.

Students with past due balances will not have their holds removed until all past due balances are paid in full.

It is your responsibility as a student to pay tuition, fees, and all other charges posted on your account each semester by the posted due dates. Students who do not completely pay their balances or enroll in the PA College Payment Plan by such dates will receive a 2% late fee on term balances of $250 or more.

What you can do to prevent a late fee?

• If you intend to pay tuition with financial aid, begin your financial aid application process no less than 30 days prior to the tuition due date.
• Enroll in and successfully make payments toward a PA College Payment Plan.
• If employed by Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Lehigh Valley Health Network, or Wellspan Health Network and you plan to utilize Tuition Assistance/Deferment, visit the Tuition Assistance page and complete all necessary steps to defer your tuition. A late fee may still apply to you if you do not pay your tuition by your deferred due date.
• Make your payments securely online through your My PA College Portal rather than paying by mail. If mailing your payment, send your payment at least five business days prior to the due date.
• Simply not being aware of the due date or posted charges are not accepted reasons for not paying tuition and fees by the due date. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their tuition account balance and due date on their My PA College Portal.

Can I appeal my late fee?

Yes. If you were charged a late fee and believe there are circumstances beyond your control which caused your payment to be late, you may complete the Late Fee Appeal form for consideration of reversal either in full or in part. Appeals made by phone or walk-in will not be accepted. Appeals will also not be considered for a previous semester.

Appeals will be reviewed by the Late Fee Appeal Group. Notification of their decision will be delivered to you via your PA College email address. Decisions by this group are final.

Your late payment fee appeal will not be granted if:

• You still have a balance remaining on your account for the term in which you’re appealing the late fee
• You have a history of paying tuition late or with a bad check
• You apply for financial aid late and/or do not respond to requests for financial aid documentation (verification) in an adequate amount of time
• Your balance changed after you paid your tuition and fee charges