Student Financial Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Accounts

Who gets the statement? Can you send a copy of the statement to my parents? When are statements due?
The statement follows the student. Billing statements will only be mailed in July and August for the fall term, and December and January for the spring term. In any month there is an outstanding balance on the student account, an email will be sent to the student’s Wellesley College email address informing them of the balance due and providing a link to view their account detail on line. Current students may visit the Student Financial Service web site to view their account detail on line 24 hours a day. As the student will be the only recipient of the statements, she will need to communicate the account status to anyone else responsible for paying the charges other than herself. The Fall payment due date is August 1. The Spring payment due date is January 2.

How do I figure out how much I owe?
By deducting the memo balance from the total due, the student can arrive at the amount owed. Please note that outside resources; i.e. scholarships, private student loans, do not appear as a memo, but may be deducted after confirming documentation has been provided to SFS.

Am I required to make payment if I did not receive my statement?
Yes. Payment is due whether or not you receive a statement. Current students may visit the Student Financial Service web site to view their account detail on line 24 hours a day. ( View Student Account) Payment is due August 1 for Fall and January 2 for Spring and you are responsible for timely payment. It is up to the student to update her address with the Registrar's Office if she had a change in her mailing address. http://www.wellesley.edu/Registrar/Forms/changeaddress.html.

I live overseas and do not receive my statement until after the due date. Will I still incur a late fee?
Yes. All students are responsible to pay the balance on their account by the due date. You may view your account online to obtain your balance, visit our website for the total Comprehensive Fees, email (stuaccts@wellesley.edu), or phone our office (781-283-2456) to inquire about your balance in order to complete timely payment.

Should I make a payment if I don't know what my financial aid package will be?
Yes. If by the due date the Financial Aid award has not yet been finalized, you should make a payment based on the previous year, if applicable. If you are participating in the payment plan, upon notification of you award, you may either increase or decrease the amount of your contract. Any balance due must be paid immediately to the College.

Why isn't my work study award credited to my account?
Work opportunity authorized by the Financial Aid award does not show as a memo or credit on the bill because the funds haven't yet been earned.

What is a memo? Why doesn't my scholarship show up in the memo balance?
A memo is any amount that is expected but the requirements have yet to be met. An example of a memo is a Perkins Loan for which a student has yet to sign a Promissory Note or complete the Entrance Interview. Students receiving outside scholarship awards must provide acceptable documentation prior to the published payment deadline. Acceptable documentation includes a copy of an award letter, billing authorization, or sponsorship letter. Unless specifically stated in the sponsorship letter, all outside scholarships will be evenly applied to the fall and spring semesters. Providing this documentation will allow the College to memo the amount until the award is received.

Why am I still receiving a statement when I have a memo that will cover the balance?
The student will continue to receive notices until the College has received the memo amount and it has been posted to your account.

I am going on a study away program next semester. What do I do as far as paying my bills and transferring my loans?
Commencing in fall 2006, all Wellesley College students who study abroad will pay regular Wellesley College tuition for their semester or year abroad, in lieu of tuition payments to the host institution. Room, board and other fees will vary by program and need to be paid directly to the host institution by the student.

I am going on a domestic study away program. What do I do as far as paying my bills and transferring my loans?
Students who are billed by Wellesley College for their study away program will pay Wellesley College. Students who are billed by the study away institution must pay the host institution directly. Students who receive financial aid must complete a Refund Request Form once aid posted to their student account results in a credit balance. The refund check will be made payable to the student and be in U.S. dollars.

Do you have a payment plan?
You may pay monthly through Tuition Management Systems' interest-free monthly payment plan. Instead of lump-sum payments, the TMS plan allows you to pay all or part of your educational expenses in monthly installments. You may use the TMS Plan to pay your balance after financial aid or in combination with other loans.

How do I figure out how much to budget with TMS?
The comprehensive fee (tuition, fees, room and board) for the current academic year plus the insurance (unless waived) less any financial aid, will determine your yearly TMS contract amount. You may contact TMS as early as April to establish an estimated contract. Please remember to budget with TMS for the year. By enrolling in the TMS monthly payment plan, your account receives a credit each semester for one half of the annual contract amount. Student Financial Services (SFS) will credit your student account in advance of your making all of the TMS payments. Although SFS can provide assistance, you are responsible for determining the contract amount.

I am on the TMS monthly payment plan. Why is there a balance on my account?
If you are on the TMS monthly payment plan and a balance due still remains, you may have under-budgeted your contract. You may view your account on line to determine the amount outstanding. You can pay this amount directly to the College or contact TMS to increase your contract.

My TMS contract was terminated. How is this reflected on my account? What do I do now?
Once Wellesley College receives notification from TMS of a termination or a cancellation, your student account will be updated to reflect the amount paid to date. Any remaining balance is due immediately to the College. You may reinstate your TMS contract by completing all past due payments to TMS to bring the account current.

I am being charged for the standard meal plan charge, but would like to be on the Lake House/Co-op meal plan. What should I do? ?
You must contact the Office of Residence Life to request a change in your meal plan. Once SFS receives a confirmation from the Office of Residence Life regarding this change we can update your account. Please note that until notification is received you are responsible for the balance on your student account.

Why am I charged for the student medical insurance when I cancelled it last year?
According to Massachusetts State Law, if you are enrolled more than three quarter time, you must be covered by an insurance plan that meets the Massachusetts Qualifying Student Medical Insurance Plan Requirements. All students are automatically billed each year for insurance, even if cancelled in a previous year. Each year a student must submit a completed on-line waiver form by August 1 in order to have the charge for coverage reversed, and to confirm continued coverage in another insurance plan.

What do I do if I have an infirmary charge, lock out fine, residence fine, library fine, or appealed my parking fine?
Inquiries regarding miscellaneous fines should be directed to the originating department, (i.e. Infirmary for infirmary charges.) Area Code and exchange for all numbers is (781) 283-

How do I get a refund if there is a credit on my account?
Students with credit balances may request a refund by submitting a Refund Request Form or their name, *who the check should be made payable, student ID# or SS# and the address the check should be mailed to in writing to Student Financial Services, by email to StuAccts@wellesley.edu or via fax to (781) 283-3636. Please be sure your account reflects a credit balance. Refund requests will not be honored until there is an actual credit on a student's account. TMS participants must either wait until their contracts are paid in full or they may opt to decrease their budget by the amount of the credit. Allow 7 to 11 business days for processing.

*All refund checks will be made payable to the student. If a second party is listed on the Refund Request Form, the check will be made payable to the student and/or the second party.

Why do I have a hold on my account?
A hold placed on a student account is due to an outstanding balance. Wellesley College requires the withholding of educational services, issuance of transcripts, and certifications of academic records from any person whose financial obligations to the College (including delinquent accounts, deferred balances, and liability for damage) are due and unpaid. Students who have a hold may be prevented from participating in add/drop, room lottery, registration, receiving or having a transcript mailed to another institution, and receiving their diplomas. The hold will remain on the student account until any outstanding balance has been resolved or all resources have been received.

Why was I charged a late fee? May I petition a late fee?
If the student fails to meet the payment deadline, the account may be assessed a late payment fee every month until the balance is paid. Should you have an inquiry concerning a late payment fee, Student Financial Services will gladly respond after the account has been settled. Late fee disputes can be reviewed only if a written petition has been received. The petition should include the student's name and ID number, the term the late fee was charged and the circumstances to be reviewed.

My account is with a collection agency, can I arrange a payment plan with the college instead of the agency?
Once a student account has been placed with a collection agency, the student should discuss payment options directly with the agency.

Student Financial Services
Created: February 13, 2008
Modified: February 20, 2008