Student Billing HOME | ADMISSIONS | Tuition and Costs | Student Billing Student BillingQUICK LINKS Financial Aid Admissions Process Apply Tuition and Costs Admissions Team Make a Deposit Learn more aboutSTUDENT BILLING The Bursar’s Office is responsible for managing and enforcing the University’s financial policies. This office oversees the collecting and posting of payments on students’ accounts as well as refunds, university withdrawals, status changes and more. For any inquiries or to learn more about AMU’s financial policies, please contact the Bursar’s Office. Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Email: AMUBursar@avemaria.edu Phone: (239) 280-1673 On Campus Location: Canizaro Library, Third Floor Make an online Payment You can make payments online through your student portal. Pay nowHow to makePAYMENTSMaking Payments Online Payments Credit card and electronic checks (ACH) payments may be made using our online secure payment portal, powered by CASHNet. Access to this portal is available through the student’s Self Service account. The student may grant access to other individuals by providing them with their own login and password. Payments by Check Please make checks payable to Ave Maria University and mail to: Ave Maria University ATTN: Cashier 5050 Ave Maria Boulevard Ave Maria, Florida 34142-9505 Walk Up Service The university Cashier is available to receive your cash or check payment from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Students should allow 24 hours for payments to be posted to their accounts. The Cashier’s office is located on the third floor of the Canizaro Library. Tuition Payment Plan Students using the Tuition Payment Plan will have the amount deferred by the plan credited to their student account if you have completed the on-line registration process available through your CASHNet account (accessed through Self Service), and you are current with your payments. Please note that all payment plan payments are automatically withdrawn; either from a checking or savings account, or by using one of the accepted major credit cards. Florida Prepaid Amounts to be paid to the University from Florida Prepaid will be credited to the student’s account once notification is received by AMU from Florida Prepaid. The student is required to provide Florida Prepaid with the Transfer Request form, which can be obtained from their website; in addition,the student should provide a copy of their Florida Prepaid ID card to the University Cashier. Payment Plan Ave Maria offers students the opportunity to pay for each semester using a monthly payment plan. There is a fee of $25 for each semester. Payments will be automatically withdrawn from your checking account (ACH) or charged against a credit or debit card. The first payment for the Fall is due on August 1st – all other payments are due on the 1st of each month. You may finance estimated tuition, room, board, and other fees for either the fall or spring term (5-month plan for each term). Setting up a payment plan A payment plan can be established at any point up to the add/drop date. The total charges are divided into 5 payments and all payments that would have been due at the point the plan is established must be paid a the time of setup. (For example, if you establish the plan in August, you pay one payment plus the $25 setup fee. There would be four remaining payments–due September, October, November, and December.) After you log into CASHNet, through your Self Service account, you will find a link to the payment plan setup page, simply follow the instructions provided. Please note that all payment plan payments are automatically withdrawn; either from a checking or savings account or by using one of the accepted major credit cards. Credit card transactions will be charged a service fee of 2.9%. The service charge fee is a separate charge from your tuition and general fee. Making Adjustments to Payment Plans Any changes or adjustments to the amount due to AMU during the contract period may be transferred to your Tuition Payment Plan by calling the Bursar’s Office at (239) 280-1673. These adjustments may increase or decrease your Payment Plan balance due. (Examples may include, but are not limited to, adjustments to Tuition, Room, Board, Financial Aid Award, miscellaneous charges or fines.) If your balance increases, the Bursar’s Office representative will inform you of your new monthly payment at the time you authorize the change in your plan. If the balance decreases or you make payments that cause a credit balance, AMU will process a refund to you in accordance with the institutional refund policy. Financial Planning Calendar January Parents and students are encouraged to complete their annual Income Tax Return as soon as possible. Application for federal aid is available on January 1 of every year for the following academic year. As soon as your return is filed, you may apply for financial assistance online by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The AMU Federal School Code is 039413.You may also use estimated tax figures and revise your FAFSA at a later date after you have filed. If you are applying for aid for the first time, request a Personal Identification Number for yourself and your parents (if dependent by FAFSA guidelines)at the U.S. Department of Education Website at http://www.pin.ed.gov. If you have received aid in the past, your PIN can be used each year to sign your FAFSA, access the DOE website to make corrections to your FAFSA, and check on the status of your FAFSA. Parents who apply for a PIN may also use the same PIN each year, as well as using the same PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA for more than one dependent attending college. February – June Regularly check your email for notification of your processed FAFSA and Student Aid Report (SAR) result of your FAFSA. Let the AMU Financial Aid Office (FAO) know of any scholarships or grants received from private sources. Need-based aid may require adjustment to accommodate scholarship monies in your budget. Respond to all requests for additional information from the FAO. Financial Aid awards can be viewed and accepted online through the Financial Aid portal. The FAO will send you notification of your Electronic Award Letter upon receipt and processing of your completed FAFSA. Under FERPA regulations, account information for any student, regardless of dependency, cannot be discussed with third parties without the consent of the student. If you are a dependent student and wish to provide written consent to the Offices of Financial Aid and the Bursar to discuss your student account or financial aid with your parents or other relative, please complete an Authorization to Release Confidential Information and send or fax to either office. This applies as well to the spouse or other relative of independent students. If you have a remaining balance after financial aid is applied, you may sign up for the AMU Tuition Payment Plan or pay online by credit card, or electronic check (ACH). IMPORTANT: Institutional need-based grants are awarded as eligible SARs are received. Funds are limited so you are encouraged to submit your FAFSA as early as possible! AMU preferred date for FAFSA completion is April 1st. July Look for Fall Student Statements online using Self-Service. Verify all aid and payments are applied properly. All loan acceptance and related requirements should be completed (Stafford, Parent PLUS, Alternative) before July 15 in order to satisfy the tuition charges deadline of July 15, 2015. Make sure the Tuition Payment Plan is completed as soon as you can in order to ensure the first payment is charged to your account on time. The Fall 2015 Clearing Your Bill (CYB) day is July 15. Failure to Clear Your Bill by this date may result in the cancellation of a student’s class registration and dorm room reservation. September – October Look for monthly Statements on Self-Service. Lab Fees, and Music Fees may be added to your account in mid September if applicable. These fees are due by October 31. November Look for Spring Student Statements online using Self-Service. Verify all aid and payments are applied properly. Complete new Tuition Payment Plan for the Spring Semester. Make sure Tuition Payment Plan is completed by November 30 to ensure the first payment on December 15 is charged to your account on time. All loan acceptance and related requirements should be completed (Stafford, Parent PLUS, Alternative) in order to satisfy the Spring CYB deadline. December The Spring 2015 Clear Your Bill (CYB) day is December 15. Failure to Clear Your Bill by this date will result in the cancellation of a student’s class registration and dorm room reservation. Mailing Addresses Payments should be addressed to: Ave Maria University ATTN: Cashier 5050 Ave Maria Blvd. Ave Maria, FL 34142 Forms and correspondence should be addressed to: Ave Maria University ATTN: Bursar Ave Maria University 5050 Ave Maria Blvd BillingPOLICIESIntroduction Account statement information is provided via Self-Service on our payment portal, CASHNet, in advance of each semester to give families time to finalize payment arrangements for the net balance due (charges less finalized financial aid, private/alternative loans, outside scholarships and other payments). An e-mail is sent to each student’s official MY.AVEMARIA.EDU e-mail account to notify you that your statement is now available for viewing. It is the responsibility for all students to monitor their electronic monthly statement to confirm credits from your payments, loans, and grants to ensure they have actually arrived at Ave Maria University and have been posted to their accounts. Students should also monitor this statement, periodically, for additional charges, since the Student Financial Services Office acts as a clearinghouse for student charges originating from other departments of the University, such as dorm damage charges, laboratory fees and music lab fees. Additional charges should be paid promptly. Tuition and Fee Payment Payment of a student’s Ave Maria University charges (tuition, room, board, and fees that apply to all students) is due in full six weeks prior to the beginning of each semester (Clear Your Bill day) in order for the student’s registration process to be completed. Students registering after the CYB date must make payment in full or according to the installment payment plan. Once registered, a student assumes financial responsibility for charges. It is the responsibility of all financial aid recipients to ensure that their financial aid is available by the CYB date. All students are expected to clear their bills by the (CYB) day. Failure to clear your bill by this date may result in the cancellation of a student’s class registration and dorm room reservation. All students are expected to clear their bill before they move into the dorms or begin attending classes. Failure to have your financial affairs in order may put you at risk of not being able to move in or begin attending class on time. Students with an outstanding balance on their accounts are not eligible to register at the university or participate in room selection. No student may receive a degree, certificate of completion, grade report or transcripts until all charges due to the university or any of its related divisions are paid in full. Delinquent Accounts Ave Maria University reserves the right to assign delinquent accounts to private collection agencies and/or the Florida State Attorney General’s Office for collection, and is subject to additional interest and/or collection charges. Upon written appeal, the Chief Financial Officer may reconsider and, in specific cases where good and sufficient reasons exist, grant exception to the policy. Dorm Damage Charge Damages to the room will be charge to the occupant. Damage to common use areas of dormitories may require a pro-rata charge for each student on that floor or in that building, if it is not possible to determine individual responsibility. Any damages will be charged directly to students’ accounts. Past Due Account Any inactive account not paid when due may be placed with a collection agency. All collection and legal costs for this will be borne by the student. Check Returned, Insufficient Funds A $35 fee will be charged to the student account for each check returned by the bank for non-payment. Ave Maria University reserves the right to require a cashier’s check for all payments subsequent to the return of a personal check for non-sufficient funds. Transcripts and Diploma Hold There is an automatic hold on transcripts and diplomas for any student whose student account is not paid in full. Student accounts are paid in full only after final payments have been received by the University from all scholarship, grants, loans, payment plans, financial institutions, or other funding sources used by the student. Please allow ten business days for release of a transcript when a balance is paid by personal check. Immediate release is allowed when payment is made by money order, cashier’s check, certified check or credit card. We accept Visa, DISCOVER, American Express and MasterCard through your CASHNet account (accessed through Self Service). Financial Aid Disbursements The Bursar’s Office disburses financial aid (including Bright Futures and private scholarships) after the aid has been awarded and scheduled by the Office of Financial Aid (FAO) and when funds become available. These funds are first applied to applicable charges due on the student’s account (tuition and fees, housing, meal plans, etc.) before any refunds are issued. Refund Policy All refunds will be issued to the student (or parent, in the case of PLUS) within 14 days from the date that a credit balance occurs. Should a credit balance occur before the start of the semester, a refund will be issued within 14 days from the beginning of classes. Withdrawal from the University Refund When considering the refund of excess funds on a student’s account, Ave Maria University must have received all deferred sources of payment necessary to pay the account in full. These include outside scholarships and grants, student and/or parent loans, monthly payment plans, and any other sources of deferred payments upon which the student’s registration was based. University Withdrawal/Enrollment Changes If you withdraw from the University or drop classes within an enrollment period, keep the following points in mind: To withdraw or drop classes officially, students must contact the Office of Academic Records and follow all required official withdrawal/drop procedures. If you leave the University and do not formally withdraw, you will be assigned a grade of “F” (failure) for all courses for which you were registered. Withdrawal or dropping classes does not eliminate your financial obligation to the University. You are still responsible for any charges owed to the University at the time you withdraw or drop classes, based on the University’s tuition and housing refund policies. There are specific federal, state, and University withdrawal/drop policies regarding tuition and fees, housing charges, refunds to financial aid programs, and repayments, which result from withdrawal from enrollment. Students should consult the Financial Aid Office for details. Withdrawal Financial Credit It is the student’s responsibility to formally notify the Office of the Registrar and to follow proper procedures when withdrawing from the University. Failure to pay fees and/or failure to attend class does NOT constitute an official withdrawal from Ave Maria University. An official withdrawal form must be fully completed by the student, dated, and signed by all designated offices and the Office of Academic Records before leaving campus. Students dismissed or suspended by Ave Maria University will not be entitled to a refund. Students are eligible for a refund of tuition, fees, and room and board charges if they withdraw officially from the course of study according to the following schedule: Withdrawal/Drop Date Fee % Reassessed Fee % Due to University During the first week of classes 100% 0% During the 2nd week of classes 75% 25% During the 3rd week of classes 50% 50% During the 4th week of classes 25% 75% During the 5th week of classes 0% 100% NOTE: If the semester charges were not paid in full at the time of withdrawal, a bill will be forwarded for the balance due, calculated by using the appropriate percentage. Scholarships, grants, and Federally funded loans will be refunded, in the appropriate ratio, using Federal guidelines for financial aid, either to the University or to the agency from which the aid funds were received. In many cases, this will result in an additional amount due the University. Student’s Billing Rights Any student who believes their statement is incorrect or who needs more information about the charges should immediately contact the bursar’s office. The Student must contact the university in writing within 10 days of the charges in question. In the letter, the student must provide the following information: Student name and account number Dollar amount of suspected error Description of the error or an explanation of why the student believes there is an error. If the student needs more information, describe the item about which the student is unsure. The university will either correct the error or provide an explanation as to why the bill is believed to be correct. After the university receives the student’s letter, it may not attempt to collect the amount in question or report the student as delinquent. However, the university may continue to bill the student for the amount in question. The student is not obligated to pay the part(s) of the bill in question, but is responsible for the remainder of the balance, if any. If the university finds an error was made, the student will not have to pay the amount or any finance charge related to the amount in question. If the university finds no mistake, the student is then immediately responsible for the amount, and may be responsible for any applicable finance charges. In either case, the university will send out a new statement reflecting the amount the student owes. If the university’s explanation does not satisfy the student, the student must inform the university within 10 days that he or she still refuses to pay the bill in question. The university will then note the account as in dispute with any third party involved in the collection of the account. The university will further tell the student the name of anyone to whom it reports nonpayment information. The university is further obligated to report to all parties when the matter has been resolved. In the event the University inadvertently undercharges a student, it reserves the right to correct the student bill and receive full payment on the revised charges. TaxINFORMATION1098-T Tax Information The 1098-T form is used by Ave Maria University and all eligible educational institutions to report information about their students to the IRS as required by the Taxpayer Relief Act 1997. Ave Maria University is required to submit the student’s name, address, taxpayer’s identification number (TIN), enrollment status, amounts pertaining to qualified tuition and related expenses, and scholarships and/or grants, taxable or not. Every applicable student will receive a 1098-T form from the Ave Maria University. Feel free to contact the Ave Maria University Business Office with any questions and concerns regarding the 1098-T. Phone: (239) 280-1673 Email: AMUBursar@avemaria.edu Ave Maria University is unable to provide individual tax advice. Please contact your tax advisor. IRS Publications 970 Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 Ave Maria University reports the amount billed during the calendar year, regardless of the term, in Box 2. The amount shown in Box 2 may represent an amount other than what was actually paid. Box 2 shows the total amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses less any reductions in charges that relate to those amounts billed. Box 4 shows any adjustment made for a prior year for qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit that you claimed for the prior year (may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the refund). See recapture in the index to Pub. 970 to report a reduction in your education credit or tuition and fees deduction. Box 6 shows the total of all scholarships or grants administered and processed by the eligible educational institution. The amount of scholarships or grants for the calendar year (including those not reported by the institution) may reduce the amount of the education credit you claim for the year. Expenses that do NOT qualify are insurance, medical expenses (including health fee), room and board, transportation (including bus fee), or similar personal, living, or family expenses, etc. Students who will not receive a 1098-T – Scholarships, Grants, or a Department Award equal or greater than qualified tuition and related expenses. – If academic credit hours were not achieved during the calendar year for which the 1098-T is produced. How to Access Your 1098-T - The University encourages all students to receive their 1098-T form online through https://borrower.ecsi.net. Students not registering to view the form online will receive it by standard mail. 2015 1098-T forms will be mailed to eligible students in late January. Please be aware that Ave Maria University is not responsible for forms lost or delayed in the mail. If a mailed 1098-T form is not received the student must obtain their form online through https://borrower.ecsi.net. You can also view your 1098-T for 2014 and previous years online by creating a password and logging into your account following the instructions in the following tab. Access Your 1098-T Online Creating a Password to ECSI’s Website 1. Go to https://borrower.ecsi.net [link] Enter Ave Maria University’s school code: T7 DO NOT enter a Password. Click on “Need help logging in?” Enter all information then click “Submit”. Use info to login to your account. Be sure to change your password. Accessing Your 1098-T After Logging in Click on “My Account Menu”. Click on “Account Tools”. Click on “Tax Information”. Choose the 1098-T form by year and click “View”. Tax Documents (Text supplied by IRS.gov, Department of the Treasury) There are two education tax credits available for the current tax year, the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The credits are based on education expenses paid for you, your spouse, or your dependents. During any particular year, you can claim only one of the credits for each student. The amount of the credit is determined by the amount you pay for “qualified tuition and related expenses” for each student and the amount of your modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI). Expenses that qualify are tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an accredited college, university, vocational school, or other postsecondary educational institution that is eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education. Qualified expenses do not include room and board, insurance, transportation, or other similar personal, living, or family expenses. Qualified expenses may include fees for books, supplies, and equipment only if the fees must be paid to the school for the student’s enrollment or attendance. In addition, qualified expenses may include student activity fees if the fee must be paid to the school for the student’s enrollment or attendance. You can claim a Hope Credit only for an “eligible student.” An “eligible student” is a student who: The student did not have expenses that were used to figure a Hope credit in any two earlier tax years As of the beginning of the year, has not completed the first two years of postsecondary education (that is, generally is a freshman or sophomore in college). Is enrolled in a program that leads to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential, for at least one academic period beginning during the year. Is taking at least one half of the normal fulltime workload for the student’s course of study for at least one academic period beginning during the calendar year, and Is free of any federal or state felony conviction for possessing or distributing a controlled substance as of the end of the year. You can claim a Hope Credit for only two tax years for each eligible student. An eligible student can be you, your spouse, or your dependent for which you claim an exemption. The Lifetime Learning Credit is not based on the student’s workload. It is allowed for one or more courses that the student takes at an eligible educational institution. The credit is not limited to students in the first two years of postsecondary education. Expenses for graduate level degree work are eligible. However, to be eligible for the credit, the student must be taking course work in order to acquire or improve job skills. There is no limit on the number of tax years for which the Lifetime Learning credit can be claimed for each student. The amount you can claim as a credit does not vary (i.e., increase) based on the number of students for whom you pay qualified expenses. However, that amount may be reduced based on your modified AGI. *The Hope Credit is not allowed for a student convicted of a felony drug offense. *Ave Maria University is unable to provide Tax Advice. Please consult your tax advisor. AN AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT IN YOUR FUTURE We believe that college should be as affordable as it is rewarding. Ave Maria University strives to keep tuition costs down, and to provide financial aid in the form of generous scholarships and grants. That’s why about 99% of our first-year students receive some type of financial aid. LEARN MORE
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