Late Fee Policy

In compliance with WVU Student Payment Policy, a late payment fee of $40.00 will be assessed each time a payment due date is missed.

During Fall and Spring semesters, students are required to pay at least 60% of their account balance prior to the first day of the term. Students that fail to meet this deadline will be assessed a late payment fee on the first day of the term. The remaining 40% (or whatever amount due is remaining) is due by no later than the end of the sixth week of the term. Another late payment fee will be assessed for students that miss this deadline.

During Summer session, payment is due in full prior to the first day of the term unless a student has signed up for our monthly payment plan. The due date for payment is prior to the start of the term, NOT when a student's individual class begins. For example, if the payment due date is in May, students are required to make payment in full by this deadline, even if their class doesn't begin until June or July. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a late payment fee being assessed to each delinquent account when applicable.

WVU also assesses late fees on a monthly basis for accounts that still have unpaid balances. Late payment fees will be assessed at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days past due (after 40% deadline), before an account is turned over for collection, if applicable.

All payments being mailed must be received and posted by Office of Student Accounts prior to each due date. Accounts that do not meet payment deadlines will be assessed a late payment fee. Therefore, it is important to allow sufficient time for your payment to be received and posted by our office. Please allow 5-7 business days for all payments to be received and posted.

Because of potential delays in U.S. mail, we encourage all students to pay electronically through STAR, where all payments are updated and reflected immediately.

Exceptions

Late payment fees will not be assessed only under the following conditions. The student:

• Has signed up for our monthly payment plan and is budgeted correctly
• Has memoed (pending) or authorized financial aid (awaiting disbursement) that covers full or remaining balance
• Has a future third-party sponsor credit on their account paying full or all of remaining balance
• Has a pending outside scholarship or loan credit on their account needing their signature that covers full or remaining balance
• Is a DC Tuition Assistance recipient and has paid in-state difference

Late payment fees exceptions are also contingent upon each condition above being met before payment deadline.

Scenarios When Students Will Receive Late Fees

• Beginning with Summer 2007, students needing a paper bill will be required to request that bill through STAR. Not receiving a paper bill on time is not a valid reason for not meeting payment deadlines. Thus, we encourage all students that need a paper bill to request that bill far enough in advance so that the bill can be received and paid on time. Accounts that do not meet payment deadlines, with or without receiving a paper bill, will be eligible to receive late payment fees and/or have their registration deleted. To avoid having to wait on a paper bill and to receive the most up-to-date information, please view your charges and make payment online through STAR.
• Students that are preregistered for classes are required to pay at least 60% of their account balance prior to the first day of the term. ***NOTE: Unless financial aid, a third-party sponsorship, or other credit is paying balance in full, the student will be required to make at least a 60% payment of the remaining balance due. Accounts that do not meet these terms will be assessed a late payment fee.
• Students that are only registered for part-time hours will be responsible for checking STAR for their up-to-date account balance once they add additional courses. Even if a student has paid 60% of part-time hours, he/she will still be required to pay 60% of the additional courses added prior to the first day of the term. Accounts that do not meet these conditions will be assessed a late payment fee.


***NOTE: If your registration changes due to adding/dropping courses, it is your responsibility to check STAR for your updated balance and to make payment accordingly before all due dates if you wish to avoid late penalties and/or deletion of classes.


• Students with graduate tuition waivers are still required to pay their mandatory fees prior to each payment deadline, even if their tuition waiver has not been processed. Students that do not have their graduate tuition waiver processed timely will be required to pay at least 60% of their total account balance (including tuition) prior to the first day of the term. Accounts that do not have processed tuition waivers and minimum payment of mandatory fees made prior to the first day of the term will be assessed late payment fees. Thus, students should check with their department far enough in advance each semester to ensure that their current term tuition waiver has been processed.
• Students signing up for the TuitionPay monthly payment plan are responsible for ensuring that they have budgeted correctly. For any accounts that are under budget, students will be responsible for either increasing their contract budget or paying the difference directly to WVU prior to the start of the term. Accounts that are not budgeted correctly will be assessed late payment fees, when applicable.
• Students that apply late for financial aid or have unmet financial aid requirements will be expected to pay 60% of their total balance prior to the first day of the term. Thus, payment cannot be deferred until financial aid has been awarded or processed. Accounts that do not meet these conditions will be assessed a late payment fee.
• Students with third-party sponsorships are required to turn in all documentation prior to the first day of the term. Without proper paperwork, WVU cannot set up a contract and invoice your third-party sponsor. Students that do not have all documentation turned in prior to the first day of the term will be required to pay 60% of their total balance. Accounts that do not meet this deadline will be assessed a late payment fee.

Please contact our customer service line at (304) 293-4006 or e-mail us at OSA@mail.wvu.edu if you have additional questions regarding late fees.