Billing Frequently Asked Questions

Most loans and grants are disbursed after the end of the add/drop period each semester. All refund checks will be processed through Direct Deposit. To sign up for direct deposit, you will need to sign into your Banner Self-Service and click on Student Accounts then Refunds to add your bank account information. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, refund checks will be mailed to your home address. You are no longer be able to pick up your refund check in the Student Billing Office.

You have access to your money earlier because the deposit will be credited on the payment date, thereby eliminating any mail delays and the chance of a lost or stolen check.

If you have written notification of a grant, loan, or scholarship deduct the amount that will be received this semester and make a payment of any remaining balance.

If you have not received written notification of your financial aid, you must pay the balance due. If you have any questions concerning your financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@commonwealthu.edu.

Yes, even if you pay now, you can still apply for financial aid. If you receive financial aid after you have paid the student bill, you will receive a refund when your student account has a credit balance.

Financial aid may change due to the change in the number of credits. Please contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@commonwealthu.edu to discuss your concerns with a staff member.

If you have received written notification of the scholarship, you can deduct the amount from your invoice. If the second billing does not reflect payment of the scholarship, please check with the issuing agency to expedite payment to Commonwealth University.

Yes. Commonwealth University of PA offers the option to make tuition payments on a monthly basis through your Student Self-Service Student Account. For additional information, please visit our office page under Commonwealth University Payment Plan.

The student may apply to have 75% of the charges deferred until the end of the semester by submitting an Application for Deferment and having the employer submit the Employer Certification of Eligibility for Tuition Deferment to the Student Billing Office before the end of the drop/add period. The student should make payment for the non-deferred fees before class begins. If you have any questions, you can contact the Student Billing Office at 570-389-4013 or studentbilling@commonwealthu.edu.

Payments can be made online by logging into My CommonwealthU using your CU ID & Password. Commonwealth University accepts MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, JCB Card, China Union Pay Card, BC Card, and Dina Card. This service is offered through a third party vendor, TouchNet, who charges a 2.95% convenience fee for each payment made by credit/debit card. Payment can also be made online by electronic check (eCheck). The eCheck option is a fast and secure method to pay your account from any checking account. There is no fee to pay by eCheck. As always, payments of cash, checks, and money orders will still be accepted in the Student Billing Office. In an effort to make the payment process more convenient and to streamline business processes, credit/debit card payments will be accepted online only.

Yes. Electronic payment options (eCheck and credit/debit cards) are available seven days a week 24-hours-a-day.

Accepted forms of payment include:

• MasterCard
• VISA
• Discover
• American Express
• Diners Club
• JCB Card
• China Union Pay Card
• BC Card
• Dina Card

Commonwealth University has two payment types:

• Tuition, Fees, Housing, Meals and Flex
• Admission Deposits

Unfortunately, the Student Billing Office cannot accept credit cards over the counter, over the phone, or by mail. Student account payments utilizing a credit card can only be made online in My CommonwealthU. This payment method is intended to be a convenience for Commonwealth University students and their families.

Yes. We have partnered with TransferMate to provide seamless International payments through your online student accounts. Log into Banner Self-Service and click on Student Accounts and Make a Payment, choose TransferMate from the dropdown menu and follow prompts.

Bank Wires: Bank wires may also be initiated through your online student account via our partnership with TransferMate. Log into Banner Self-Service and click on Student Accounts and Make a Payment, choose TransferMate in the dropdown menu and follow prompts to complete your transaction. Domestic wires may be completed this way by selecting the United States from the country menu.

All excess payments will be processed as refunds through Direct Deposit. To sign up for direct deposit, you will need to sign into your Banner Self-Service and click on Student Accounts. From there, you’ll see the Refund option in the menu bar.  Add your account information here. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, refund checks will be mailed to your home address. You will no longer be able to pick up your check in the Student Billing Office.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, both financial and academic. For the student’s protection, FERPA limits release of student record information without the student’s explicit written consent; however, it also gives the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) the right to review those records if the parent(s)/guardian(s) claim the student as a dependent on their Federal Income Tax Return.

• FERPA Explanation
• FERPA Release - Login Required

Depending on your campus, use the contact information below:

• Bloomsburg Campus
  • 800-287-7543
  • buhouse@commonwealthu.edu
• Lock Haven Campus
  • 570-484-2317
  • housing@lockhaven.edu
• Mansfield Campus
  • 570-662-4934
  • housing@mansfield.edu
• Clearfield Campus
  • 570-484-2994
  • stacey.horner@lhufoundation.org

Please refer to Dining Services Meal Plans & Flex web page for the most current information on meal plans and how to add them.  Meal plans may take some time to activate, so please plan accordingly.

You can sign up for next semester’s meal plan during the same period as scheduling. Fall meal plans will be reassigned for the Spring Semester unless you change or cancel it.

In order for your charges to be accurately reflected on your first billing statement, you should make sure you have signed up for the correct meal plan by the beginning of July for the fall semester and by the beginning of December for the Spring semester.  You can always sign up for a meal plan later, but your first billing will not reflect the correct charges.

Visit the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Housing pages for more information about making a change to your meal plan.

Visit the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Housing pages for more information about adding FLEX.

Flex dollars are non-refundable except when a student withdraws from the university during the semester. A $10 administrative fee will be charged to students withdrawing from Bloomsburg University and/or the flex program. Flex can be used during the fall and spring semesters only. Any balance remaining at the end of the spring semester is non-refundable, non-transferable and will be forfeited.

All students, whether doubled or tripled, will be billed at the same double room rate. A credit will be issued on the student’s account for the amount of time they were required to be tripled. Once a student moves out of the room, or chooses to decline the offer to detriple, the triple credit ends. The credit will be applied toward the outstanding balance for the current semester or applied to the next semester’s charges.

If, there are no charges on your account when the credit is applied, you will be issued a refund through our normal refund process.

The student will receive a credit for the time that they were required to be tripled. Once a student is offered the opportunity to detriple, and refuses, they will be billed at the double room rate for the remainder of the semester. The room charges will be prorated with a credit being applied to their account for the time that they were required to be tripled. The triple room charges are equal to 1/3 off the double room rate.

Yes. Credits related to internships are billed in the same manner as any other credit bearing course. Please reference the chart below for specifics:

Class schedules can be found on Banner Student Self-Service and Student Class Schedule on the left hand menu.

Students who would like to apply for Pennsylvania residency status for tuition purposes should contact The Office of the Registrar.

More information about the fees on your bill.