Billing & Payments

Understanding how billing works, and staying on top of your account, is one of the most practical things you can do to protect your enrollment and your financial aid. This page covers everything you need to know about when charges are posted, how to make payments, what happens if your balance isn't paid on time, and how refunds and residual payments work. If something on your account does not look right, or you are not sure what a charge is for, do not wait to reach out. Our Student Accounts team is here to help.
Contact Student Accounts - Office hours: Monday–Friday 7:00am–6:00pm PST | Saturday 9:00am–1:00pm PST

Accessing Your Student Account
You can view your student account balance, transaction history, and payment activity at any time through the Student Gateway. Balances are updated in real time as transactions are posted, so you always have an up-to-date picture of what you owe and what has been applied.
Log In to the Student Gateway

Tuition & Fee Payment
Completion of the registration process at Pacific Oaks College constitutes a contract and obliges the student for full payment. Tuition is due in full on the Monday following the Add/Drop period of each semester. All fees are non-refundable.

All financial aid documentation, tuition payment, and payment plan arrangements must be submitted before the Add/Drop period ends.
Tuition and fees owed to Pacific Oaks College must be paid when due. Any student with a delinquent account is subject to a registration hold until the delinquent account is resolved. Diplomas will not be released to students with delinquent accounts.
Students must complete the appropriate withdrawal process if leaving the institution. Enrollment changes — including dropping courses after the Add/Drop deadline — do not automatically cancel financial obligations.

Payment Methods
Payments can be made through the Student Gateway using the following methods:

• [Electronic check (ACH)]
• [Credit card]
• [Wire transfer]
• [Other methods?]

If you have questions about accepted payment methods or need assistance completing a payment, contact the Student Accounts office.
Log In to Make a Payment
Contact Student Accounts

Tuition Payment Plans
Students with outstanding balances may be eligible for payment plans. These plans are created for students with balances not covered by financial aid and/or other funding sources. Arrangements to participate must be made with the Student Accounts Department, prior to the end of the Add/Drop period for each semester, or as soon as an account balance occurs.

• Students with a delinquent account balance are subject to registration holds for subsequent semesters and may not be able to attend classes, begin or attend practicums, begin internships, or work with faculty on their thesis until approved arrangements are made.
• Payment plans should be completed within 90 days of the Add/Drop period. Students on payment plans can only register after their last payment is made.

Contact Student Accounts to Set Up a Payment Plan

How Financial Aid Applies to Your Account
Financial aid disbursements are applied directly to your student account approximately two weeks after the semester start to cover tuition, fees, and other institutional charges. If your financial aid covers your full balance, you are all set for the semester.
If a balance remains after financial aid has been applied, you are responsible for paying that balance by the semester’s payment deadline. A payment plan may help. See the section above.
You may need to complete a Payment Plan Request if you have a remaining balance after your aid has been offered. Unpaid balances will affect your ability to enroll in future semesters.

Late Payment Fees
A Late Payment fee ($50) is charged monthly for any missed or delayed payments until the payment is satisfied in full. No student can register for courses until all outstanding balances from a previous semester have been paid in full. The Student Accounts Department must also verify that payment in full has been received.
We know that financial difficulties happen, and we would much rather work with you to find a solution before an account reaches past-due status. Please reach out as early as possible if you're concerned about your ability to pay on time.

Contact Student Accounts

Student Refunds (Stipends)
A federal student aid credit balance is created when the total of all federal student aid funds credited to your account exceeds the amount of your current tuition, fees, and other educationally related charges. Credit balances must be paid to you as soon as possible, but not later than 14 days after the credit balance occurs (or 14 days after the first day of class if the credit balance occurred before classes began).
If you elect to authorize Pacific Oaks College to hold any federal student aid credit balance beyond the 14-day period, the College will release any remaining credit balance to you by the end of the loan period.
For students who have an institutional balance within the same academic year, subsequent disbursements will be held to cover the institutional charges.

Set Up Direct Deposit for Faster Refunds

Tuition Refunds for Withdrawal or Cancellation
If you cancel your enrollment during a term, whether through withdrawal or dismissal, you may be eligible for a prorated refund of tuition and fees, depending on when the cancellation occurs.

16-Week Semester (Spring and Fall)

12-Week Summer Semester (Campus Only)

8-Week Session (Online and Ground)

Maryland Resident Tuition Refund Policy (Online Students Only)
This disclosure is required by the Maryland Higher Education Commission for Maryland residents enrolled in online programs.
Tuition refunds for Maryland-resident students enrolled in online programs at Pacific Oaks College will be issued in accordance with the following schedule as required by the Maryland Higher Education Commission regulations. However, if Pacific Oaks College’s refund policy is more beneficial to Maryland students, it will follow its own policy.

A refund due to a Maryland student will be based on the date of withdrawal or termination and paid within 60 days from the date of withdrawal or termination. This refund policy must be disclosed to students upon enrollment, and documentation verifying student refunds must be maintained.

Oregon Refund Policy
This disclosure is required disclosure for Oregon students per the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).

The first week of every semester/session is the Add/Drop week. Students who wish to withdraw after the add/drop deadline must submit an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office. Students who drop or are administratively dropped after the first week of class will receive a grade of “W” or “WX.”

Students should attempt to resolve grievances with the school first. If unresolved, contact the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC): 3225 25th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302 | [email protected].

Before withdrawing, we strongly encourage you to speak with both the Financial Aid office and the Registrar to fully understand the financial impact of your decision.
Contact Financial Aid Before Withdrawing
Learn About the R2T4 Process

Course Audits
Under special circumstances, your college dean may authorize you to audit a course. If approved:

• Tuition is charged at 50% of the regular rate, plus any applicable fees.
• No academic credit is awarded and the course does not count toward graduation.
• Audited courses do not count toward enrollment hours for financial aid purposes.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018
Pacific Oaks College will not impose any penalty on any covered individual (Chapter 31 or 33 VA benefit recipients) because of inability to meet financial obligations due to delayed VA disbursement. This includes: no assessment of late fees, no denial of access to classes or libraries or other institutional facilities, and no requirement to borrow additional funds. This protection begins when a certificate of eligibility is provided and ends on the earlier of: the date VA payment is made, or 90 days after the institution certified tuition and fees following receipt of the certificate.

1098-T Tuition Statements
1098-T Tuition Statements are made available to eligible students every year no later than January 31 as required by law. If you do not select paperless delivery, the statement will be mailed to your address on file. Please ensure your contact information is current in the student portal.

Withdrawal — Financial Implications
Withdrawing from Pacific Oaks College, whether temporary or permanent, has significant financial implications that are separate from your academic status. Please review the following carefully before initiating any withdrawal.
How to withdraw: Submit a Withdrawal Request through the Student Gateway to discuss your options. You may also notify the Registrar's office.

What happens to your financial aid:
Federal Policy 3805 (Return of Title IV Funds) applies to any student who officially withdraws, unofficially withdraws, fails to return from a leave of absence, or is dismissed. The amount of Title IV aid you are permitted to keep is based on the percentage of the term you attended. It is not based on your institutional charges. Unearned aid must be returned to the federal government in a specific order:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Direct Grad PLUS Loans (for eligible continuing borrowers under the OBBBA legacy provision)
• TEACH Grant

A Return of Title IV Funds calculation is required when a Title IV recipient drops all classes in the current semester or withdraws from their program. This process ensures that the institution correctly calculates the amount of federal student financial aid earned by the student and returns any unearned funds back to the federal student financial aid programs.

A student earns 100% of aid once they have completed more than 60% of the semester.
The payment period is defined as a semester. The last date of attendance for official or administrative withdrawals is the last day the student attended class (for online students, any academic-related activity). The Financial Aid Office must return unearned funds within 45 days.
If the return creates a balance on the student’s account, the student is responsible for full payment. A student will not be allowed to re-enter or register until the outstanding balance has been paid in full.
Post-withdrawal disbursements: if aid disbursed is less than aid earned, a post-withdrawal disbursement may be available. The College has 30 days to offer the disbursement; the student has 14 days to accept in writing.
Unearned Title IV funds are returned in the following order:

• Direct Graduate or Parent PLUS
• Unsubsidized Direct Loan
• Subsidized Direct Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Contact Financial Aid Before Withdrawing

Return of Military Tuition Assistance
Students using military Tuition Assistance (TA) will have unearned TA funds returned on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period. The Department of Defense requires the College to return unearned TA funds based on how much of the course the student attended.
Formula: Number of Days Completed Before Withdrawal ÷ Total Number of Days in the Enrollment Period = Percent of TA Earned.
Students who withdraw due to a military service obligation may be entitled to a full refund of tuition and fees. All refunds are subject to the presentation of official documentation.
Students will still be liable for tuition and fees based on the applicable refund schedule, regardless of TA funds returned to the Department of Defense.

Exit Counseling
If you are graduating, withdrawing, or dropping below half-time enrollment and you have federal student loans, you are required to complete Student Loan Exit Counseling. Exit counseling ensures you understand your loan repayment obligations before leaving school. It is completed online at studentaid.gov and typically takes about 30 minutes.
Failure to complete exit counseling does not eliminate your repayment obligation. It simply means you may leave school less prepared for what comes next. We encourage you to take it seriously.
Complete Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov

Have a Billing Question?
Our Student Accounts team handles all questions related to charges, payments, refunds, and payment plans. Don't let a billing question sit unresolved. Please reach out before it becomes a balance problem.
Log In to the Student Gateway
Contact Student Accounts