Tuition Payment/Refunds FAQs

Questions
When do I get my bill?
Where will the bill be sent?
When is payment due?
What types of payment are accepted to pay for the student account?
Can I pay by credit card?
What is the GW Monthly Payment Plan?
What happens if I am eligible for financial aid?
Are there costs if the student changes their class schedule?
What is the Student Association fee?
What is the Voluntary Library Gift?
Are there any penalites for paying late?
How can I obtain an official receipt?
What is GW's policy for returned checks?
How do I request the excess money on my account?
What is Colonial Cash?
As a parent, I am paying the bill.  Why can't I have access to my student's financial records?
When will the 1098-Ts be mailed?
How can I get a copy of my 1098-T?
I have questions about the 1098-T form. What can I do?
What are the numbers behind the amounts on my 1098-T?

1. When do I get my bill?

GW begins mailing Statement of Accounts (semester bills) in late-July for the Fall semester and around early December for the Spring semester. If balances are not paid in full the following month, another Statement of Account will be generated may include interest and a late payment fee if the charges are past due.


2. Where will the bill be sent?

The student should fill out the Billing Address on GWeb.  The bills will be sent to the address listed on the Billing Address.  If the student wishes for a parent to receive the bill, then the parent’s address should be used.


3. When is payment due?

Full payment is due by the first day of the semester or upon registration, whichever is later. The due date will be printed on your Schedule and Invoice or monthly statement.


4. What types of payments are accepted to pay for the student account?

GW accepts payments in the form of cash, personal check, money order, wire transfer, cashier's check and traveler's check. Tuition is due by the first day of the semester and can be paid online at Online Tuition Check Payment, mail a check to the post office box on your billing statement, or in person or by the drop box outside of the Cashier's Office at Colonial Central located on the Ground Floor of the Marvin Center.  You may enroll in the GW Monthly Payment Plan.  Note: The GW Monthly Payment Plan is only available for the Fall and Spring semesters.

5. Can I pay by credit card?

The University does not accept credit card payments for main campus charges. Since we receive many requests from parents and students, however, we have made arrangements with TuitionPay Services for credit card servicing. Many of you already know TuitionPay because they administer GW's monthly payment plan. You may call TutionPay at (877) 279-6092 to charge your Main Campus tuition and/or fees over the phone. Please note that TuitionPay will charge you a convenience fee for this service. You can use the same telephone number to enroll in the TuitionPay, interest-free, Monthly Plan instead. We will continue to accept credit card payments for off campus locations.  Please note that TuitionPay does not forward payment to GW until 21 days after your transaction.


6. What is the GW Monthly Payment Plan?

The GW Monthly Payment Plan is plan where you can pay Fall and Spring semester charges over 5 months.  The plan is administered by ECSI and begins in June each year for the Fall semester and November for the Spring semester.  There is an annual fee to sign up, but no interest or late fees if your payments are made on time and fully cover the semester charges.  Click here for more information. 


7. What happens if I am eligible for financial aid?

Authorized aid will be deducted from your balance on your Statement of Account(semester bill). Pending aid will appear but will not be subtracted from your balance. You may subtract the amount of pending aid from your total charges to determine the balance you are responsible for paying. However, you will be responsible for any estimated aid that is not ultimately received.


8. Are there costs if the student changes their class schedule?

Tuition is fully refunded for classes dropped prior to the first day of the semester. There will be late registration fees for schedule changes after the start of the semester. Courses dropped on or after the first day of the semester are subject to the following refund schedules, which govern the prorated cancellation of semester tuition charges in cases of program adjustment or withdrawal.

For classes taken on the main campus during Fall and Spring semesters:
On or before the end of the 1st week of classes 90% refund
On or before the end of the 2nd week of classes 60% refund
On or before the end of the 3rd week of classes 40% refund
On or before the end of the 4th week of classes 25% refund

After the end of the 4th week of classes NO REFUND. See the University Bulletin under “Fees and Financial Regulations”, “Withdrawals and Refunds” for more information on the refund schedule.


9. What is the Student Association fee?

The Student Association Fee is a mandatory fee charged to all students registered for courses on the main campus. The current rate is $1.00 per credit hour to a maximum of $15.00 per semester.


10. What is the Voluntary Library Gift?

The voluntary library gift is an item on your bill by which you have the option to donate a tax deductible gift to the library through your student account. If you choose not to donate the money, check the "decline voluntary library gift" box on your Statement of Account and deduct the donation from your balance.


11. Are there any penalties for paying late?

The University Fee assesses a FINANCE CHARGE at 12% APR on past due balances. The University assesses a $75 late payment fee in the Fall and Spring semesters when an outstanding balance is carried into the second billing cycle of the semester.

In addition, a financial hold will be placed on all unpaid accounts with balances over $500. The hold will affect your ability to register for classes for the following semester as well as access to transcripts.


12. How can I obtain an official receipt?

Your cancelled check will serve as your proof of payment. Official receipts are issued and sent by request only. You may call the Cashier's Office at 202-994-6200 and request an official receipt.


13. What is GW's policy for returned checks?

If your check is unpaid by the bank for any reason, you will be charged a returned check fee of $35.00, in addition to the original check amount. Payments will only be accepted in the form of cashier's check, money order, traveler's check or cash, unless otherwise advised. There will be a financial hold placed on the account immediately, and any future semester registrations cancelled or restricted until the check is paid.


14. How do I request the excess money on my account? (Refund Request)

If a credit appears on your account, you may fill out a Refund Request Form at the Cashier's or Student Accounts Offices. Please allow at least 14 (fourteen) business days to receive a refund.  You can also have the credit balance transferred to the GWorld card for Colonial Cash.


15. What is Colonial Cash?

Colonial Cash is a declining balance, flexible spending program featuring both dining and retail options available on and off campus. The balance is loaded onto the GWorld card.  This program includes purchasing power for a number of University services such as the GW Bookstore, campus laundry facilities, vending machines, copy and mail services as well as a host of neighborhood dining options and services such as dry cleaners, pharmacies, and others.


16. As a parent, I am paying the bill. Why can't I have access to my student's financial record?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, last amended on July 1, 2003, protects the privacy of student education records.  The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.  This law gives control of access to a student’s education records, including their academic and financial records, to the student.  Your son or daughter must grant you access.


17. When will the 1098-Ts be mailed?

George Washington University has once again contracted with Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI) to print and mail the 1098-Ts. The 1098-Ts will be printed and mailed by Monday, January 22, 2007. Please allow enough time for the mail to arrive before requesting another copy.

  18. How can I get a copy of my 1098-T?

  Call ECSI's toll free number at 866-428-1098 or visit their
  web site at  http://www.ecsi.net/1098T

  19. I have questions about the 1098-T form. What can I do?

George Washington University has partnered with ECSI to offer our students and parents effective and professional answers to their 1098-T questions. The toll free number to ECSI's 1098-T call center is 866-428-1098. By calling this number, you can expect to find answers to such questions as:

• Why am I receiving the 1098-T form?
• What do the boxes on the 1098-T mean?
• What is the Hope Scholarship Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit?
• Which 1098-T related forms do I complete?
• How do I get another copy of my 1098-T?
  
  
  20. What are the numbers behind the amounts on my 1098-T?
  
  
  The detail data of your 1098-T form can be viewed via the GWeb Information System (http://my.gwu.edu/mod/banweb), with the use of your GWid and PIN. Once logged in, select Tax Notifcation under the Student Accounts menu. Alternatively, you may call our Student Accounts Office at 202-994-7350 or email us at saotra@gwu.edu.