Tuition and Fees

Graduate Tuition, Fees and Other Educational Expenses

By registering for classes at Seattle University, students agrees 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.

 2011-12 Graduate Tuition

Fees

Health Insurance

Graduate students are not required to have health insurance; however, health insurance for domestic students may be purchased through Wells Fargo Insurance Services by calling (800) 853-5899 Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Cost of Attendance 2011-12

Seattle University uses the following figures to determine the annual cost of attendance for a full-time student:

On/Off Campus 

*Note: The amount shown is for illustrative purposes only. Actual tuition will be based on the per credit rate for each program. Refer to the Tuition and Fees section in this catalog for more information.

When preparing your financial aid award, we subtract your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated from the information you provided 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:

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 one 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 the university.

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; or
• 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 the 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 at the university, a student agrees to pay these charges and any fees associated with the collection.

Payment Methods

• Pay by Mail: Send payments to Seattle University, Student Financial Services, 901 12th Avenue, PO Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090. Include your student SU ID number or social security number on the check or money order.
• Pay Online: Pay using VISA, MasterCard or electronic check by accessing SUOnline. If a credit card is used to make payment, a 2.5 percent service fee will automatically be added to the payment amount. There is no fee for making an electronic check payment. New students will receive log in instructions for SUOnline in the packet of information sent to them upon admission to the university.
• 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.

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. The Direct Deposit of FA Refund form is available in the Certifications, Authorizations and Access Permissions category on the Forms tab at the SFS website. There is a 14-day confirmation period after the student submits the direct deposit authorization before transactions may occur.

After a student signs up, all refunds will be deposited directly to the designated checking account for availability 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 application 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, complete an Authorization to Deposit Funds to Campus Card form and submit it 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. The Campus Card Deposit Authorization form is available in the Certifications, Authorizations and Access Permissions category on the Forms tab at the SFS website.

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 date the student officially withdrew from a course.

The official date of a graduate student’s withdrawal is the date of an online withdrawal transaction.

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 a financial aid recipient is applied first to the 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 day the class meets. No refunds thereafter.