Method of Payment
Students have access to a variety of financing options when attending NCU and should consult with their Enrollment Specialist or Financial Aid representative for assistance in determining which options are appropriate for their circumstances. These financing options are described in the Financial Aid and Financial Information sections of this Catalog and include:
- Self-Pay
- Federal Student Aid Loans and Grants
- Private Loans
- Internal and External Scholarships
- Veterans Educational Benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Military Tuition Assistance
- Tribal Funding
- Employer Tuition Assistance
- Employer Vouchers
- Northcentral University Payment Plans
Students may also find additional information about financing their education at NCU at http://www.ncu.edu/northcentral-admissions/financing.
Statement of Financial Responsibility
Students are required to maintain current credit card and/or eChecking account information on file in their student records. Payment information, including the methods of payment listed in this Catalog, is used to secure payment for all current and future fees and tuition charges incurred by the student. Students also agree to NCU’s Attendance and Continuous Enrollment policy, which enrolls students into courses on a scheduled timeline. Students authorize the University to charge their account on record for all applicable fees and tuition charges for each subsequent course without further authorization.
Meeting Financial Obligations
The University considers all financial obligations payable immediately, unless otherwise stated. Upon completion of the degree program, any outstanding financial balance is due and payable immediately. NCU withholds certificates, diplomas, and transcripts and prohibits participation in the graduation ceremony and/or the conferring of a degree until all unpaid financial accounts have been satisfied.
Personal Responsibility
It is the personal responsibility of each applicant and student to determine how to pay for his or her education.
NCU expects applicants and students to actively search for the best funding option(s) available through review of all available information on the NCU Web site at www.ncu.edu. The University, through its numerous partnerships, agreements with corporations, businesses, educational organizations, the U.S. military, and other agencies, offers tuition benefits to employees or those entities. NCU staff will assist students in clarifying eligibility for any funding option offered by the University. It is the sole responsibility of the individual applying to NCU to ensure and confirm his or her eligibility for any funding options prior to enrollment and first course request.
After enrolling, if a student becomes aware of a tuition benefit that reduces the student’s financial liability, the student will need to notify the University by e-mail or in writing. Submit tuition benefit inquiries to the Financial Services Office at financialaid@ncu.edu. After a review and approval of the written request, NCU will adjust the student’s tuition rate. The postmark date or e-mail receipt date of final supporting documentation shall be the effective date of change.
NCU does not accommodate requests from students for retroactive consideration.
Forbearance and Deferment Options
NCU is proud of its ability to provide accredited bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in an online environment at a highly competitive price. Students and prospective students seeking financial relief while continuing their education should contact Student and Financial Services team or their lenders to discuss forbearance or other deferment options.
Forbearance may be granted at the lender’s discretion for a variety of other reasons. The terms and conditions of forbearance are determined by each individual lender and may vary from student to student based upon loan indebtedness, past payment history, or other factors deemed appropriate by the lender.
There are several deferment options including active military, public service, economic hardship, and others. These deferment options do not require school certification.
NCU recommends that students and prospective students address their forbearance or deferment needs with their respective lender(s) to clarify the eligibility requirements for forbearance or deferment.
Default of Financial Obligation
If the student’s financial obligations are in default (defined as not paying a financial obligation within 30 days of the due date), NCU may declare the entire balance due without further notice and require full payment immediately. Failure to pay the unpaid balance within 10 days may result in any or all of the following:
- Denial of registration, transcripts, diplomas, grades, and graduation
- Assignment of the account for collection
- Reporting the delinquent account status to a credit bureau
- Financial dismissal from the University
In the event an account is delinquent, NCU as well as outside agencies working on its behalf have the right to communicate with the student via email and/or cell phone regarding an outstanding balance. When an account is turned over for collection, the student is obligated to pay NCU’s collection expenses. If a lawsuit or other action is filed, litigation falls under Arizona state jurisdiction and the student agrees to pay NCU’s attorney’s fees as fixed by the trial court. If any party appeals any part of the trial court’s decision, the student promises to pay NCU’s attorney’s fees for the appeal as fixed by the appellate court.
Waiver of Tuition/Fees
In general, NCU does not grant waivers of tuition or fees. However, in the rare instance that a waiver is considered, it must be recommended by the Provost or Senior Director of Student Services and pre-approved by Registrar or the Chief Financial Officer or designee.
If a student would like to request a waiver, a student must submit the request in writing, including the reason or justification. Contact your Student Account Specialist for more information.
Refund Policy
Students have the right to withdraw from a course or the University at any time. NCU team members who receive a request to withdraw from the University will process the request on behalf of the student, using the date they received the request as the Request Date. See Academic & University Policies additional information regarding withdrawal from the University.
Students may also be dismissed from the University for Non-Attendance, Non-Payment, lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress, or violation of the Code of Conduct or Academic Integrity policy. See the Administrative Dismissal policy.
Dismissed or withdrawn students receiving Federal Financial Aid are subject to return of Title IV funds.
If a refund for a non-Title IV payment is required, the amount will be returned to the same source from which the payment was made. For example, if the payment was made by credit card, the refund will go to the same credit card where possible. If the amount cannot be refunded to the original method of payment, a check will be sent to the student using their address of record.
For third party payments, refunds will be sent to the entity who made the payment.
Calculating Refunds
In the event of course drop or withdrawal from the University, refunds are based on amounts already paid by the student and on when the course drop and/or University withdrawal are requested.
- If a student requests to withdraw from the University prior to course registration, pre-paid tuition for courses in which the student is not yet registered is refunded 100%
- If a student requests to drop a course more than 7 days from and including the course start date, it is considered a course withdrawal and full tuition and Course Material Fees are charged
- If the date given in Course Registration Information as the last date to withdraw from a course without academic penalty has passed, the letter grade that was earned at the time of the request to withdraw from the course will be awarded rather than a Withdrawn code
- Students receiving Federal Financial Aid may be subject to return of Title IV funds
Refund Processing Time
Tuition refunds are provided within 30 days of the Withdrawal Request Date or date the course is dropped. The student will be notified if a balance is due to the University.
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