How to Read Your College Tuition Bill
Last updated August 6, 2024
Your tuition bill from your college outlines the specific charges for the upcoming academic term. If you're not sure how to decipher your tuition bill, we're here to support! Check out our sample college tuition bill below to learn more.
Components of a college bill
Note: Your college tuition bill may vary. If you need help understanding your tuition bill from your college, reach out to someone in the financial aid office.
Due date
This is the date you must pay your tuition by. It's crucial to pay your balance or set up a payment plan by this date to ensure you are able to start taking classes.
Charges or new activity
This section shows the total amount you owe before any financial aid is applied.
Tuition
This is the cost for the classes you're taking.
Fees
You may have additional fees not included in the cost of your tuition, such as facility fees for campus maintenance, technology fees for things like WiFi, and specific course-related fees such as lab fees for science classes. These fees will be itemized on your bill.
Health insurance
Most colleges require students to have health insurance while enrolled. While many colleges typically allow students to submit proof of outside health insurance, you may need to pay for insurance through your school.
Room and board
The costs of your dorm room, meal plan, and other on-campus housing services will be listed here. Costs can vary depending on the type of room and meal plan, so explore all your options.
Financial aid
All the forms of financial aid you've accepted, such as grants, scholarships, or loans, will appear in this section. If anything is missing, be sure to contact your school’s financial aid office.
Payments
This section shows any payments already made, including your enrollment deposit. These will appear as negative balances and will be subtracted from your total charges.
Balance due
After subtracting your financial aid and any payments from your total charges, your bill will list a final balance due. This can be paid in full by the due date or through a payment plan set up through your school's financial aid office.
Have any questions about your college tuition bill? Text #Hello to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!