Financial Policies

Method of Payment

Students have access to a variety of financing options when attending the University 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
• University Payment Plans

Students may also find additional information about financing their education at the University at https://www.nu.edu/admissions/financial-aid-and-scholarships/.

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 the University’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.

If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund. If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the money not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

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. The University may withhold certificates and diplomas 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 their education.

The University expects applicants and students to actively search for the best funding option(s) available through review of all available information on the University Web site at www.nu.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 of those entities. The University 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 the University to ensure and confirm their eligibility for any funding options prior to enrollment and first course request.

Students who become aware of a tuition benefit that reduces the student’s financial liability after enrolling will need to notify the University by e-mail or in writing. Submit tuition benefit inquiries to your Academic & Finance Counselor. After a review and approval of the written request, the University 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.

The University does not accommodate requests from students for retroactive consideration.

Forbearance and Deferment Options

The University 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.

The University 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), the University 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 course registration, withholding of certificates or diplomas 

• 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, the University 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 the University’s collection expenses. If a lawsuit or other action is filed, litigation falls under California state jurisdiction and the student agrees to pay the University’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 the University’s attorney’s fees for the appeal as fixed by the appellate court.

Waiver of Tuition/Fees

In general, the University 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 Academic and Finance Counselor for more information.

Refund Policy

Students have the right to withdraw from a course or the University at any time. The University 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  for 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 Student Code of Conduct. 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.

State-Specific Refund Policies

Tuition refunds for students enrolled in online programs who reside in certain states will be issued in accordance with the policies required by the laws and regulations of those states. However, if the University’s standard Refund Policy is more beneficial to those students, the University will follow its standard Refund Policy. State-specific refund policies are listed below.

Maryland Refund Policy

Students enrolled in online programs who reside in Maryland will receive the minimum tuition refunds in accordance with the Maryland Higher Education Commission requirements (specified in Title 13B.05.01.10 of the Code of Maryland Regulations).

1. Except as provided in §B of this policy/regulation, an institution’s refund policy shall conform to this regulation and the institution shall provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided in this regulation.
2. If the University’s refund policy is more beneficial to Maryland students, the institution will follow its refund policy and provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided in that policy.
3. Minimum refund: The University will refund the applicable tuition refund to a Maryland student who drops, withdraws or is terminated after completing only a portion of a course/class:

Proportion of Total Course, Program, or Term Completed as of Date of Withdrawal or Termination Tuition Refund

Less than 10%……………………………………………….90% refund
10% up to but not including 20%……………………………80% refund
20% up to but not including 30%……………………………60% refund
30% up to but not including 40%……………………………40% refund
40% up to but not including 60%……………………………20% refund
More than 60%…………………………………………..…..No refund

A refund due to a Maryland student will be based on the date of withdrawal or termination and paid within 60 days from the date of withdrawal or termination.

4. This refund policy is disclosed and acknowledged by students upon enrollment, and
5. Documentation verifying student refunds in accordance with this policy is maintained.

Oregon Refund Policy

After classes begin for a term, a student who withdraws from a course is eligible for a partial refund through the middle week of the term. Refunds shall be based on unused instructional time and shall be prorated on a weekly basis for schools using a semester, quarter, or nontraditional calendar. Refund rates shall not be differentiated on the criteria of a student’s source of income or loan repayment obligations except as otherwise required by law without specific Commission approval. OAR 583-030-0035 (18) (c).

Wisconsin Refund Policy

A student who withdraws or is dismissed after the cancellation period has passed, but before completing 60% of the potential units of instruction in the current enrollment period, shall be entitled to a pro rata refund, as calculated below, less any amounts owed by the student for the current enrollment period, less a one–time application fee of $100*.

1. Pro rata refund shall be determined as the number of units remaining after the last unit completed by the student, divided by the total number of units in the enrollment period, rounded downward to the nearest ten percent. Pro rata refund is the resulting per cent applied to the total tuition and other required costs paid by the student for the current enrollment period.
2. All efforts will be made to refund prepaid amounts for books, supplies and other charges unless the student has consumed or used those items and they can no longer be used or sold to new students, or are returned by the school to the supplier.
3. Refunds shall be paid within 40 days after the effective date of termination.
4. After the student’s first period of enrollment, if a student withdraws or is dismissed in a subsequent enrollment period, the school may also retain an administrative fee of 15% of the total cost of a resident program, or $400, whichever is less.
5. No refund is required for any student who withdraws or is dismissed after completing 60% of the potential units of instruction in the current enrollment period unless a student withdraws due to mitigating circumstances, which are those that directly prohibit pursuit of a program and which are beyond the student’s control.

*National University does not charge an application fee.