OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Students will receive information earlier about the cost of each term. This information will seek to reduce confusion, add transparency about how much students will owe and support more effective budget strategies and planning for students.
Expanded approaches to payment plans to grant students more time to pay their bills and receive assistance to get to a $0 balance owed to the university before the next term begins.
New payment plans will become available in August 2023 for fall term.
The new account balance threshold allowed for students to register will decrease from $2,200 to $500 and be limited to current term charges. NOTE: If you are on an OSU payment plan and current on your payments, you won't be subject to a financial registration hold.
OSU has staff to talk to those who might need assistance navigating this change. Additionally, resource guidance is available. Details are found below.
This change will go into effect in November for Winter 2024 registration.
The goal of this threshold and support program is to seek to prevent students from building up too much debt.
In June 2023, the Center for Advancement of Financial Education (CAFE) is expanding staff and services. Students can meet one-on-one to discuss the costs of attending college, budgeting, and accessing resources on campus and beyond.
The Office of Student Accounts will have additional support staff to help students navigate their payment options when they call, email, or come to the office with questions.
Beginning in Fall 2023, students will have access to an online financial literacy education program. Support for new students will be integrated into pre-arrival new student communications, orientation programs and START.
In addition to maintaining Satisfactory Academic Standing and continual enrollment (undergraduate, post baccalaureate and non-degree students absent for no more than four terms, not including summer) students must have a balance of $500 or below at time of registration or be enrolled in a payment plan. The benefit of an OSU payment plan is your balance will be paid in full before the upcoming term begins.
Step 1: Review your charges and your incoming payments which may include financial aid, scholarships, or other resources
Step 2: Please view your payment plan options at mybill.oregonstate.edu. If you need assistance, please call Student Account Services at 541-737-3775
Step 3: Review the services and resources outlined on this page to explore other options
If you are still not able to acquire the necessary funds to pay the balance or meet the requirements for an approved OSU payment plan by the due date, you will not be eligible to register for the next term.
While we have always had an account balance threshold for registration, we want to ensure students do not continue to carry unmanageable balances and then find themselves unable to register for future terms. This can result in the student leaving Oregon State before they earn a degree or credential.
As long as your account balance from the current term is at or below the $500 limit by the time registration begins OR you are on an OSU payment plan. However, there are deadlines for registration so you will need to address the balance before it is too late to register. Check the Academic Calendar for important registration deadlines.
The $500 balance threshold is for all charges at all OSU campuses combined.
Your current term balance must be at or below $500 at time of registration or you are enrolled in an OSU payment plan, You can view payment plan options at my.bill.oregonstate.edu.
If you are on an OSU payment plan, your balance will be paid in full before the upcoming term begins and registration will not be restricted.
All OSU charges are included in the cost of attendance, contribute to the account balance, and affect a student's ability to continue to register for courses.
Your current term account balance can be at $500 or below. For students on OSU payment plans, the current term charges must be paid in full by the time the upcoming term begins and do not have to meet a specific balance requirement at time of registration.
If you are on an OSU payment plan, your balance will be paid in full before the upcoming term begins and registration will not be restricted.
Yes, the Financial Aid office is open in-person throughout the year, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., including summers. They have advisors in the office to answer questions and walk students through their aid. Students can schedule in-person or zoom appointments outside of that time, come in-person from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., or contact the office by email [email protected] or phone.
Every student's situation is unique so we recommend contacting Student Accounts to discuss options at [email protected] or call them at 541-737-3775.
The holds are placed on Saturday before priority registration opens. A week before that, students are sent an email alert that they might be subject to a hold. It includes how much they need to pay and the due date to make the payment to avoid a registration hold.
If financial aid goes on after the hold is place or there are multiple forms of payment, it may need to be removed manually. Please contact Student Accounts if you need support at [email protected] or call us at 541-737-3775
If you are paying online, once the registration hold amount has been satisfied, the hold will be removed shortly after. Partial payments will not update the hold amount, but once the full hold amount is met, the system will remove the hold.
If payment is made by mail or wire transfer, the hold will not be removed until the payment has been applied to the account.
The Center for Advancing Financial Education (CAFE) focuses on financial literacy. All staff and peer mentors will have significant training in financial literacy and in assisting with non-financial aid questions, such as referrals to the Basic Needs Center, signing up for SNAP, etc. Students have the option of choosing a CAFE staff member or peer mentor when setting up a one-on-one appointment.
Yes, the account threshold for registration holds applies to all students attending OSU.
Every student's situation is unique so we recommend contacting Financial Aid at [email protected].
Financial regulations requires that all federal financial aid overpayments are refunded and we also follow that as a general practice for all overpayments.
Yes, OSU payment plans are available during the summer but due to the many parts of term, they will require a different structure of those OSU payment plans.
Currently, if you have completed everything you need to be eligible for your financial aid, it will show up as authorized aid and will be calculated into your payment plan now and going forward. The Office of Financial Aid, as of the 23-24 year, will disburse 10 days before the fall term begins and then continue to disburse aid throughout the term as students register for classes and complete loan paperwork.
Equity is kept in the forefront of the analysis of our work on this change. The Controllers Office, Financial Aid Office, and CAFE will continue to pull data and review what the trends are and we are committed to mitigating disproportionate impacts on vulnerable student populations.
Work with your student to discuss the charges, budgeting, and encourage them to seek out resources. The Center for Advancing Financial Education (CAFE) is also available for families and there is helpful information for parents regarding their student's bills as well as guidance on FERPA.