Tuition and Fees

Undergraduate Tuition, Fees and Other Educational Expenses

By registering for classes at Seattle University, students agree to pay all applicable tuition, fees, room and board, and other university expenses such as late fees and library fines in accordance with university policies or as stipulated in this Catalog.

Undergraduate Tuition 2011-12

Seattle University has a flat tuition schedule for undergraduate students. The flat rate tuition for all full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled for 12–20 quarter credit hours is $10,275 per quarter.

Only full-time matriculated undergraduate students are eligible for flat-rate tuition. Non-matriculated and graduate students pay the per credit hour rate.

Flat-rate tuition is in effect only for fall, winter and spring quarters. Tuition for summer and intersession enrollment is charged at a per credit hour rate.

Course fees, including laboratory fees and private music lessons, are not part of the flat tuition rate.

A $200 enrollment deposit is required of all newly admitted undergraduate students. This non-refundable deposit will be used to pay a portion of the tuition for the student’s first quarter.

Fees 2011-12

Graduate tuition and fee rates are published in the Graduate Catalog.

Residence Hall Charges 2011-12

Students must submit a $300 deposit with their housing application.

Meal Plans 2011-12

All residents of Bellarmine, Campion, Chardin and Xavier Hall are required to purchase a meal plan. Freshmen and sophomores must purchase a meal plan at the Preferred Club level or higher for fall, winter and spring quarters. Juniors and seniors living in Bellarmine, Campion, Chardin or Xavier are required to purchase a meal plan at the Campus Club level or higher for fall, winter and spring quarters. The Preferred Club meal plan is recommended for most students. For more information on housing and meal plans, contact Housing and Residence Life at (206) 296-6305.

Health Insurance

Seattle University requires that all full-time undergraduate students have health insurance and charges the annual premium amount in the first quarter of full-time enrollment each academic year. Students who begin in winter or spring quarter will pay a prorated annual premium. Students who are already insured may request to have this fee waived by completing the Student Insurance Waiver (Wells Fargo) in the Student Life section of the student menu at SUOnline. If you have problems completing the online form, please contact the Student Health Center at (206) 296-6300 or studenthealthcenter@seattleu.edu.

The waiver request must be completed and submitted no later than the last day to add and/or drop classes. Refunds are not granted for proof of insurance that is submitted after the last scheduled day to add and/or drop classes for the student’s first full-time quarter of the year.

International students are required to purchase student health insurance. Contact the university’s International Student Center for information regarding cost and coverage levels.

Questions about the university’s health insurance policy should be directed to the Student Health Center at (206) 296-6300.

Cost of Attendance 2011-12

Seattle University uses the following figures in determining a full-time student’s annual cost of attendance: 

When preparing your financial aid award, we subtract your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated from the information you provide on your FAFSA from your estimated cost of attendance to determine your need. To see what costs and EFC we used to prepare your financial aid award, log on to SUOnline and click on My Cost of Attendance/Estimated Family Contribution in the Financial Information category.

Tuition Due Dates

Tuition and fees are always due and payable within 14 days of registration or the scheduled due date, whichever is later:

The tuition and fees paid by students cover not only the direct costs of the classes for which they enroll, but also library and health services, the student newspaper, student organization allotments, building funds and admission to athletic events.

Finance and Service Charges

By registering for classes at the university, a student agrees to pay their account in full by the due dates established by the university. Additionally, the student agrees to pay a 1 percent per month finance charge (12 percent APR) that may be assessed on unpaid balances, including finance charges previously assessed, and all service fees and late fees established by SU.

A service fee of $25 will be charged for all checks not honored by the bank and returned unpaid to Seattle University. If the returned check is for tuition, and charges are still outstanding after the tuition due date, a late fee will also be assessed to the student’s account. Students with two or more dishonored personal checks will no longer be allowed to submit a personal check as a form of payment.

Late Payment/University Collection Fee

A late fee of $50 per month (up to a maximum of $100) will be assessed on any unpaid balance remaining after the tuition due date. Students with an outstanding balance after a final demand letter for payment has been sent will be assessed a collection fee of $100 in addition to late fees.

Exceptions to this policy will be made only if:

• Payment arrangements for the term’s charges have been made with Student Financial Services by the term’s tuition due date. If the requirements of the plan are not met, all applicable late fees will be applied retroactively.
• An institutional error results in delays in the application of financial aid.

Students are responsible for ensuring that all awarded financial aid is applied to their account by the first class day of the term. This includes endorsing co-payable grant or scholarship checks and completing all required loan documents and counseling.

Past-Due Accounts/Collection

A student’s failure to pay in full all tuition and other fees for any quarter or session by the specified due dates will result in a restriction being placed on the student’s record and the student will be prohibited from registering for future quarters, receiving a transcript or diploma and use of university facilities. Delinquent accounts may be referred to a commercial collection agency and may be reported to national credit bureaus. All costs, expenses and fees including, but not limited to, attorney fees, court costs, collection costs and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the university in collecting or attempting to collect a past-due account are the responsibility of the student, and will be charged to the student’s account. By registering for classes, a student agrees to pay tuition and other charges and fees as well as any fees associated with collection.

Payment Methods

Seattle University provides a number of payment options to accommodate specific needs for paying the balance on your student account. They are: 

• Pay by Mail: Send your payment to Seattle University, Student Financial Services, 901 12th Avenue, PO Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090. Include your SU student ID number or social security number on your check or money order.
• Pay Online: Pay using VISA, MasterCard or electronic check through SUOnline. If you use a credit card to make your payment, a 2.5 percent service fee will automatically be added to your payment amount. There is no fee for making an electronic check payment. As a new student, you will receive your SU login instructions for SUOnline in the packet of information you receive when you are admitted.
• Pay at the Drop Box: Place your check in the 24/7 Forms Drop box located across the lobby from the Student Financial Services windows and adjacent to the elevator in the University Services Building. This drop box is accessible 24 hours a day, is secure and is emptied daily.
• Pay in Person: Visit Student Financial Services, University Services Building Room 105, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday–Friday.
• Sign Up for a Payment Plan: See the Payment Plan Options section below.

Payment Plan Options

Payment Plan A: Annual, Nine-Month Payment Plan

If you will be registering for consecutive fall, winter and spring quarters in one academic year, you are eligible to sign up for our annual, nine-month payment plan. There is a one-time, non-refundable $50 enrollment fee which must be submitted, along with the payment plan application, by September 20th. Under this plan, your outstanding charges do not accrue interest and are divided into three monthly payments per quarter:

If you are a first-term new student, the application for this plan is included with the Registration and Payment Invoice mailed out before the start of your first term at Seattle University. If you are a continuing student who has completed at least one quarter at SU, log on to SUOnline and click on “Payment Plan Application” in the Financial Information section of the Student Menu. Please allow at least two weeks to process your application and to email the fall quarter payment plan notice to you. (Keep in mind that we are unable to process applications before July 1 and the first payment plan notices will not be sent out until August.)

The bill-payer listed on the application will be emailed a payment plan notice once the application has been processed and a payment schedule is finalized. To view this payment schedule, log on to SUOnline and click on “My Bill” in the Financial Information section of the Student Menu. You can give your bill-payer access to your financial information (so that they are able to make payments online through ParentLink) by logging on to SUOnline and clicking “Parent Access Authorization” in the User Account section of the Student Menu (this gives access to parents, guardians and spouses).

Please note that if you are late in submitting your payment plan application, you must send in any missed payments as soon as you receive your first payment plan notice. Also, if you are late on two consecutive payments, we will cancel your participation in the payment plan, any remaining amount owed for the quarter becomes immediately past due, and registration for future quarters will be blocked until the bill is paid in full.

Payment Plan B: Three Installment Quarterly Plan

This is a quarterly payment plan for which you must apply each quarter.

If you are a first-term new student, the application for this plan is included with the Registration and Payment Invoice mailed out before the start of your first term at Seattle University. If you are a continuing student who has completed at least one quarter at SU, log on to SUOnline and click on “Payment Plan Application” in the Financial Information section of the Student Menu. 

Your completed application, the $30 non-refundable enrollment fee and one third of the amount due on your student account for that quarter must be submitted by the first due date of the quarter. The due dates for the plan are as follows:

Payment Plan C: Deferred Quarterly Single Payment Plan

This quarterly plan defers payment of the balance due on your student account until the last day of the month following the scheduled student account balance due date. An application must be submitted for each quarter you want to use this plan.

If you are a first term new student, the application for this plan is included with the Registration and Payment Invoice mailed before the start of your first term at Seattle University. If you are a continuing student who has completed at least one quarter at SU, log on to SUOnline and click on “Payment Plan Application” in the Financial Information section of the Student Menu.  Your completed application and the $30 non-refundable enrollment fee must be submitted to Student Financial Services by the due date shown on your quarterly Registration and Payment Invoice. With this plan in place, payments must be received by the following due dates:

Payment Plan E: Employer Paid Tuition Deferred Payment Plan

If you will receive tuition reimbursement through your employer after coursework is completed and grades are posted, you can elect to sign up for this payment plan.  This will defer payment of tuition and fees until 30 days after grades are posted at the end of the term. An application must be submitted for each quarter you want to use this plan and there is a $30 non-refundable enrollment fee.

To enroll in Payment Plan E, click on “Payment Plan E Info & Application” in the Payment Plans category on the Forms page at the Student Financial Services website. Your completed application, accompanied by the $30 non-refundable enrollment fee, must be submitted to Student Financial Services by the due date shown on your quarterly Registration and Payment Invoice.

Overpayment of Account (Credit Balance)

Credit balances created by financial aid, tuition adjustments or overpayment will be remitted to the student. Credit balance checks will either be electronically deposited to the student’s checking account, if direct deposit has been authorized and established, or sent to the mailing address shown for the student at SUOnline. Students may elect to have credit balances transferred electronically to their checking account by filling out a Direct Deposit Authorization Form and submitting it with a copy of a voided check to Student Financial Services. To download the Direct Deposit Authorization, click on ”Direct Deposit of FA Refund” in the Certifications, Authorizations and Access Permissions category on the Forms page at the Student Financial Services website.  There is a 14-day confirmation period after the student submits the direct deposit authorization before transactions may occur.

Refunds will be issued beginning on or after the official first day of the term as published by the Registrar, provided the student meets the criteria to receive those funds as listed below and/or as they become available after the first day of the quarter. There is a 14-day confirmation period after the student submits the direct deposit authorization before transactions may occur.

Electronic transfers or checks will be issued automatically in the following situations:

• There is a credit balance on the student account for the current term due to excess payments or reduced charges.
• No other balances are due to the university.
• The student meets all requirements to receive the aid that creates the credit balance.
• No check or credit card payment has been made within the last 21 days.

Students who do not meet any of the criteria above must either:

1. Contact Student Financial Services for resolution, or
2. Have appropriate checks issued after review and approval (minimum five-day delay).

Balance Transfers to Campus Card.  Additionally, students who expect a refund after the balance on their student account has been paid in full may elect to transfer some or all of that refund to their Campus Card, which can then be used to purchase books and supplies at the SU Bookstore, parking permits, copies, or snacks and beverages. To take advantage of this option the student’s financial aid needs to be finalized 30 days prior to the start of the quarter to enable access to these funds on the first day of classes.

To transfer a standard amount to your Campus Card each term, submit a Campus Card funds Deposit Authorization to Student Financial Services, allowing a minimum of two weeks for processing. The amount you authorize will be billed to your student account and, if not covered by a credit balance on your student account after all other charges are paid, payment will be due 14 days from the date the charge is added to your student account.

To download and print the Campus Card Deposit Authorization, click on the Campus Card funds Deposit Authorization in the Certifications, Authorizations and Access Permissions category on the Forms page on the SFS web site.

NOTE: Federal regulations require Seattle University to forward Title IV financial aid resulting in a credit balance to the student within 10 days. Students are encouraged to establish direct deposit for the most efficient transfer of funds. If direct deposit has not been authorized and established, financial aid refund checks will be sent to the student’s mailing address shown at SUOnline.

Official Withdrawal Date

A student is responsible for payment of all fees related to courses for which the student has registered, whether or not the student physically attended the courses. Any reduction or refund of tuition is based on the official withdrawal date which is determined as follows:

Undergraduate students wishing to withdraw from a course must complete a withdrawal form. The official date of withdrawal is the date of the first signature on that form by a university official unless the form is not submitted to the Office of the Registrar within 5 days of that first signature.  In that case, the official date of withdrawal becomes the date the Office of the Registrar received the form.  

Tuition Refunds (Policy 75-9)

Refunds are based on the official date of withdrawal. See the quarterly schedule of classes for specific dates. A refund to financial aid recipients is applied first to financial aid sources from which it came and the balance, if any, is remitted to the student. Loan proceeds are returned directly to the lender. Student Financial Services will issue a check for any credit balance. Petitions for tuition adjustment and fee waivers will be approved only to correct a university error.

Tuition Refund Policy

Short courses (any session not listed above) will be refunded at 100 percent if withdrawal occurs on or before the second class meeting. No refund thereafter.