Billing and Tuition Adjustments

Our team is committed to helping students and families understand the student account and associated billing statements, important dates and deadlines, payment options, and overall financial responsibilities associated with a Northeastern University education.  

Billing Policy 

Students must authorize parent or guardian access to view billing information and make payment via the Family Portal. For more information, visit the Northeastern Accounts website. 

Discrepancies in your bill should be addressed in writing via the Student Financial Services Inquiry form . Include your name, Northeastern ID, Northeastern email address, dollar amount in question, date of invoice, and any other relevant information.  

Responses will be sent to the student’s Northeastern email address. If there is a discrepancy in your bill, pay the undisputed part of the bill to avoid responsibility for any late fees or financial holds. 

Impact of Pattern of Attendance on Billing  

A student’s pattern of attendance (when they plan to enroll in classes vs. when they will be on co-op) can impact their tuition charges. To better plan for tuition and fees, students and parents should be aware that tuition is charged when a student is taking classes/earning academic credit. Tuition is not charged for co-op; however, the student will pay room and board if they stay in a university residence hall while on co-op and will be assessed tuition if enrolled in a class. 

For information on how financial aid is impacted by co-op, please see the Undergraduate Financial Aid page.  

For more information about co-op and program requirements, see Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures.  

Student Financial Responsibility Agreement 

As compelled by federal law, all students who enroll in classes at Northeastern are required to complete and accept the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement, which acknowledges their obligations and understanding of the financial policies of the university. This will be available for completion after July 1 each academic year. The SFRA informs students of the financial responsibilities associated with enrolling for classes and explains the potential consequences that may result if a student fails to meet those obligations. This agreement must be completed once per academic year and is located on the Student Hub. Failure to complete the SFRA will result in a hold that prevents registration.  

Past-Due and Delinquent Balances 

Students withdrawn for nonpayment remain financially liable for all outstanding tuition and fees. In addition, the student is responsible for all reasonable collection costs and any legal fees incurred by the university during the collection process. 

International Students 

For students in F-1 or J-1 visa status, failure to resolve delinquent balances in a timely manner may negatively impact immigration status, potentially affecting eligibility to remain in or reenter the United States. Students who face status issues due to failure to resolve delinquent balances should contact the Office of Global Services.  

Late Fee Policy 

Northeastern has implemented a policy regarding late fees. If the balance on a student’s account remains unpaid, 30 days after the initial bill due date the university will impose a late fee of $150 on the student’s account. If the student’s account balance remains unpaid after the initial late fee is assessed, the university will impose an additional 1% late charge once a month, until the balance is paid. If delinquency continues to a subsequent term, the late fee assessment cycle will start again. There will be an initial late fee, in the amount of $150, then an additional 1% late charge once a month until the balance is paid. 

If a student or payer wishes to dispute a late fee assessment, they may review and submit the Late Fee Removal Request form. 

Collection Partners 

As outlined in the SFRA, student account balances that remain unpaid will be placed initially with ECSI, Northeastern’s  precollections partner. If a student account balance remains unpaid, the past-due student account balance will then be placed with a collections agency (Reliant or Radius). Information about Northeastern’s collections partners  can be found here. 

Overloads and Reduced Course Loads  

Undergraduate day tuition is charged on a flat-rate basis, which includes the cost of each student’s full-time academic curriculum requirements for that term. The flat undergraduate tuition rate will be assessed for students registered for 12 to 16 billable credit hours. Students taking more than 16 credits should consult with their academic college about whether their credit load will result in an overload fee. 

Adjustments for reduced loads are made only when the Undergraduate Petition to Reduce Load is approved by the academic department and the Office of the University Registrar, usually only in the final term. International students who wish to drop below 12 credits during the semester must obtain authorization from the Office of Global Services. These students may be approved for a reduced course load of fewer than 12 credits but no fewer than 6 credits in accordance with federal regulations. Tuition adjustments will then be made if the course load falls below 12 credits during full semesters and 6 credits during summer half-semesters (calculated at the per-credit-hour rate). To receive an adjustment, the Undergraduate Petition to Reduce Load must be submitted prior to the start of the term. No credit is granted when a student voluntarily drops a course.  

Financial adjustments for coursework greater than the prescribed curriculum for the term is calculated at the per-credit-hour rate for undergraduate full-time students. Students taking more than 8 credits (summer half-semester) or 16 credits (full semester) will be charged at the per-credit-hour rate. 

Undergraduate full-time day students registered for co-op and taking a class will be billed at the per-credit-hour rate for the course. The flat undergraduate tuition rate will be charged for students on co-op enrolled in 12 credits or more. 

Undergraduate day students who take a graduate course as part of their undergraduate program will be charged the same rates that apply to undergraduate credits.  

Disability Access Services Adjustments  

 Students working with Disability Access Services may submit a tuition adjustment request following DAS guidelines. DAS is responsible for approving and initiating tuition adjustment requests, and Student Accounts processes the changes.  

Please note, a student’s offer of financial assistance is based on the expectation that they will have full-time tuition charges.  If there is a DAS tuition adjustment, a student’s financial aid offer may result in a reduction or cancellation of aid. Please see the DAS website for more information.  

Tuition Adjustments for Dropping a Course 

If a student drops one or more courses, they are eligible for a full reversal of the course tuition as long as the course(s) were dropped before the course drop deadline and the student receives an approved Petition to Reduce Course Load. Once the deadline to drop a course without a W grade passes, the student is responsible for 100 % of tuition and associated charges—no partial refunds will be provided. Refer to the academic calendar for course registration dates. Please see the Undergraduate Financial Aid page for information on how financial aid will be impacted for withdrawing from or dropping a course.  

Credit balances will be refunded to the student unless otherwise directed by the student or the bill payer. Note the following exceptions:  

Tuition Adjustments for Official University Withdrawal  

If a student submits an official withdrawal from the university, they may be eligible for a tuition adjustment based on the official withdrawal date processed by the Office of the University Registrar. Note that nonattendance does not constitute official withdrawal.  

Tuition adjustments vary according to the duration of the course.  

Refunds for Official Withdrawal from the University 

Refund information will be published soon.

Please also see the Undergraduate Financial Aid page for information on how aid is impacted by withdrawal.