Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition, fees, housing & meal plan charges are always due the first day of the quarter. Late fees and interest apply to accounts at the close of business on the 15th of each month. See the Important Dates & Deadlines Page for quarter specific due dates. 

Tuition related fees will be posted to the Western Account online at the time of registration while housing and meal plan related fees will typically be posted closer to the start of each quarter. These fees are posted at different times, but they are all due on the first day of the quarter. 

But wait, things can change! If you add/drop classes or adjust your housing/meal plan after the quarter starts, those new charges are due immediately, and are subject to late payment fees, even if they don’t show up on a billing statement.

If you have a parent or guardian who is paying your bill, keep them loop about any schedule changes or new charges on your student account.  A quick conversation can go a long way in promoting accountability and helping avoid surprise fees or missed deadlines. Teamwork makes the (financial) dream work!  

Visit our How do I... page for step by step instructions and short instructional videos on paying on your Western Account Online.

All payments to a Western Account Online should be made online using an e-Check. Paying by e-Check is secure, available 24 hours a day—7 days a week, provides immediate credit to the student’s account, and has no additional fees. Western also currently accepts online payments made with credit and debit cards. Both debit and credit cards processed through the credit card portal incur an additional fee; we have a limited ability to accept check, money order, or bill pay payments by mail—make sure to include your Western ID number (W#) on the check to prevent any delay in processing. Please note, checks are credited when processed by the SBO, not by postmark. You should always use an e-Check to guarantee your payment date; GET and 529 plan payments usually take 14 days from the time the funds are requested to disburse to the Western Account Online.

To explore all payment options, please visit our When, Where, and How to Pay Page. 

Online payments may be made via your Western Account Online, or your Authorized Payer Account.  To explore all payment options, please visit our When, Where, and How to Pay Page. 

How to login to your online account:

• Students: Head to Web4U > Student Accounts > Account Information > Western Account Online (top right corner)
• Parents/other payers: Log into your Authorized Payer Account. If you don’t have one yet, you and your student may watch our “Send a Payer Invitation” video, or follow our written step-by-step instructions. 

Western’s Payment Plan is offered quarterly to students with a current balance.  During the open enrollment period students enroll by selecting the option in their Western Account Online. Students with past due balances are ineligible to enroll in this plan. For more information please visit our payment plan page. 

Late fees and interest are assessed at the close of business on the 15th of each month. A $55 late fee and 1% interest charge will be assessed to all past due accounts. In addition, you may receive a hold on your account, which will prevent registration.  Please see our Registration Holds Page for more information.  

Late fees and interest are assessed at the close of business on the 15th of each month. A $55 late fee and 1% interest charge will be assessed to all past due accounts.

If your bank rejects your payment for ANY reason (i.e. NSF, stop payment, etc.), your student account will be assessed a $25 returned check fee, and a $50 returned check fee for each subsequent rejected check payment. Your student account may be subject to late fees and interest, and a student account hold, if a rejected payment causes the balance to remain unpaid after late fee assessment day.

Negative credit balances can occur from an over-payment, excess financial aid, returns or tuition adjustments. For more information on student account refunds, and how to receive your refund, please visit our Student Account Refunding Page. 

Western utilizes BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. to disburse University refunds such as excess financial aid disbursements, credit balances due to over-payment, or reversals of tuition, fees, housing & meal plan charges.  For more information on student account refunds, and how to receive your refund, please visit our Student Account Refunding Page. 

For any other credit balances please contact our office at SBO@wwu.edu.

GET is Washington state’s 529 prepaid college tuition program. It is governed by federal IRS rules and Washington State law (RCW 28B.95). With GET, you save money by prepaying part or all of your child’s college tuition costs now, to avoid paying higher costs in the future. The State of Washington guarantees that the value of your account will keep pace with the cost of resident undergraduate tuition and state-mandated fees at the most expensive public university in Washington. For more information, visit the GET/Dream Ahead website.

Requesting GET Payments

From the GET website:

When it's time for college, you'll need to choose your payment option. It's easy to use your units by logging in to your GET account, selecting "My Account," and looking for the "Use Units" section. To have GET send a payment directly to the school, you will submit a "Direct Payment Request." If you want to pay the school yourself and have GET reimburse you for the expenses paid out-of-pocket, you will complete a "Reimbursement Request." 

Please allow 14 days for your disbursement to apply to the student account.

For more information or questions regarding your GET account, please contact the GET program:

1-800-955-2318 (toll-free)
360-753-7803 (Olympia, Washington)
Fax:  360-704-6200
get.wa.gov/

If you are planning to pay using a 529 plan, you have several options for getting the money to Western.  You are encouraged to check directly with your provider for the fastest and most convenient option.  Depending on how you choose to send money, you should consider lead times, processing fees by third party vendors, and provider restrictions.

1. Direct Payment to You - This option allows you to request funds from your 529 provider to be sent directly to you.  Once you receive the funds, you can remit payment to the university via the free eCheck service through Western’s payment portal.
2. Flywire - If your 529 provider is set up to distribute payments through Flywire, a secure payment platform, your payment will be sent via ACH to Western.  Users log into their 529 plan providers site and select the Flywire option. Check if your 529 provider partners with Flywire on their website.
3. Western’s Payment Portal - If your 529 provider is set up with Transact, our payment processor, this option allows users to send payment directly through Western’s payment portal.  Login in as a student, or authorized user for this option. Check if your 529 provider partners with Transact on their website.
4. Physical Check - Contact your provider and request a payment be sent to:
   Western Washington University
   Old Main 110, MS9004
   516 High Street
   Bellingham, WA 98225
   Include the student identification number (WID) on the check.

If you have any further questions, please email sbo@wwu.edu. Keep in mind that Western does not offer any financial advice. Contact an accountant or tax professional for any personal financial questions.

Third-Party Billing is a tuition payment process used when a company, government, or Tribe has offered to pay a student’s tuition, but requires an invoice to do so. Rather than providing a set amount of funds to WWU like a scholarship, the agency requires an itemized invoice in order to remit payment, and the SBO is here to help! 

As the student, you must contact your Third-Party funding source and have them send WWU an “authorization” indicating: 

1. The dollar amount and/or types of charges for which they will guarantee payment
2. The student name and identifying numbers (W# or last four SSN)
3. The mailing and/or email address and contact name where the invoice(s) should be sent
4. The quarter(s) or duration for which the authorization is valid 

This authorization should be emailed to sbo@wwu.edu with Attn: Third-Party Billing. You will receive a confirmation email from the SBO once your authorization has been received. 

Please see our Third-Party Billing Page for more information on Western's process. 

If you complete an “Authorization to Apply Financial Aid Funds” form a week prior to financial aid funds being disbursed, and the bookstore purchase occurs prior to a refund being processed, any excess aid will then cover the bookstore charge on your account. The form only needs to be completed once.

You may have charges assessed to your account that the federal government prohibits universities from paying unless the student has authorized us to do so by completing the Authorization to Apply Financial Aid Funds form.  Even if you have an Authorization to Apply Financial Aid Funds form, there are certain charges that cannot be paid by financial aid directly, these include, but are not limited to late fees, interest and returned check fees. You may have also had a charge applied to your account after your refund was processed, therefore financial aid would no longer be available to apply to the balance.  You must use your refund or pay out of pocket for these additional charges.

Review your financial aid tab by logging into Web4U and clicking on Financial Aid & Scholarships > Eligibility > Student Requirements to review any requirements. Examples include Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling or an MPN (Master Promissory Note). If you have been provided financial aid based on full time enrollment, ensure you are registered full time (12+ for undergrads/ 8+ for grads).

Further questions should be directed at financialaid@wwu.edu.

Although financial aid is disbursed to your Western Account Online on Tuesdays and Fridays, excess financial aid is refunded every day starting the first day of the quarter for the first two weeks, then every Monday and Wednesday after that. Refunds are processed by a third party, BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc., and will disburse to your selected refund preference.  Make sure you select your refund preference with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. at refundselection.com.

During fall, winter and spring quarters, tuition is set at a per credit rate up to 10-18 credits. If your enrollment change brings your total credit load below 10 credits and occurred within the tuition refund period (see Registrars Office important dates), you will receive a refund.  Be advised that reducing your enrollment may also affect your financial aid eligibility or reduce your financial aid.  Contact financialaid@wwu.edu or 360.650.3470 to determine this before reducing your enrollment.

Please review our Course Drops & University Withdrawal Page for more information on refunding.

Changing Your Enrollment? Let’s Talk Financial Aid!

Dropping classes or withdrawing from Western can impact your disbursed financial aid, including how much you receive, and how much you may have to repay.

Even if you qualify for a tuition or fee refund, you could still be required to repay some (or all) of your disbursed financial aid depending on how much of the term you’ve completed and participated in.

To get the full scoop, check out the Financial Aid Department’s Withdrawing from WWU & Repayment Policy pages!

Have questions about your specific aid package? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Financial Aid Department, they’re here to help!

Please login into your Web4U and review your holds. Questions regarding SA, LC, PE, and PL holds can be directed to the Student Business Online. For other holds, please contact the phone number associated with the hold.

You must be in good standing and your Western Account Online must be current to register for classes. Please contact the Student Business Online for assistance.

Your registration hold will automatically lift after your past due account balance has been paid below $500.00.  Registration holds lift automatically every hour, but may be manually lifted by a Student Business Office staff member upon request.  Please contact our office for more information.

The agency you were referred to, or you may contact the Student Business Online, Debt Recovery Unit at SBO.debtrecovery@wwu.edu or call 360-650-2943.

You may pay at the Student Business Online in person or over the phone. You will still be responsible for paying the collection fees, added at the time of payment.

Once an account is sent to an outside agency, there are additional charges of up to 50 percent of the debt owing to Western Washington University.

Did you know you can accomplish most of your business with us online? You can make your Western Account payments online, book an appointment to discuss your Western Account with one of our specialists, or view our How To library for helpful videos any time, day or night.  

Still have questions? We are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by email at sbo@wwu.edu and phone at 360-650-2865. We also have lobby hours (location Old Main 110) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Our lobby is located on the ground floor of Old Main in room 110 and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Want to check your student’s balance, view statements, and make online payments?  You’ll need an Authorized Payer Account to get started!

Here’s how it works:
Your student will need to send you an authorized payer invitation by following the below steps. After the invitation has been sent, you will receive an email with instructions and a link to complete your account setup.  After you’re all set up, you can login anytime using our Authorized Payer Login!

Student instructions:

1. Login to Web4U and navigate to your Western Account Online.  Go to: Student Accounts > Account Information > Western Account Online (top right corner)
2. Click “My Account” in the upper-left corner
3. Under the “Payers” section, select “Send a Payer Invitation”
4. A window will pop up on the right—just enter your payer’s info and hit send!

Need a little extra help? Check out our Send a Payer Invitation Video for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Want to chat with us about your student’s account? We’d love to help—but first, a quick note about privacy!

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) keeps student records private and protected—meaning we can’t share specific account details with anyone (yes, even parents and guardians) without the student’s written permission.

But no worries, it’s easy to get access!  Just have your student fill out our Release of Financial Information Form, and we’ll be able to talk with you about their account over the phone or by email.

Getting back into your Authorized Payer account is easy—just head over to our Password Reset Page for step-by-step instructions and quick access. Two simple options, zero stress!

Western Washington University provides IRS Form 1098-T to all students who have qualified tuition and educational expenses billed to them during the previous calendar year. This form is informational only and should not be considered as tax opinion or advice. The form alerts students that they may be eligible for federal income tax education credits. Just because a student is issued Form 1098-T does not mean they are eligible for the tax credit. To determine the amount of qualified tuition and fees paid, and the amount of scholarships and grants received, a student should use their own financial records. The form is provided in January of each year.

If you have questions about the amounts shown on Form 1098-T, contact the Student Business Online. Consult with  tax advisor for questions regarding eligibility requirements and calculation of any allowable education tax credit.

Looking for more information? Review our 1098-T Form & Tax Information Page!

You can find your 1098-T tax form by going to Web4U > Student Accounts > Account Information > Western Account Online (top right corner), and selecting the appropriate year in the 1098-T Detail Information box.

Authorized users can view the 1098-T form by logging into their Authorized Payer Account. At the bottom right you will see the “1098-T Tax Detail Information” box. Select the appropriate year.

Looking for more information? Review our 1098-T Form & Tax Information Page!

Students will receive email notifications at their WWU email address when their newest statement is available to be viewed. Authorized Payers will receive notifications at their specified email address.

How to access your statements: 

1. Log into your account:
   • Students: Head to Web4U > Student Accounts > Account Information > Western Account Online (top right corner).
   • Parents/other payers: Log into your Authorized Payer Account. If you don’t have one yet, you can watch the quick “Send a Payer Invitation” video at the top of this page or follow the written steps just below it.
2. Access statements: 
   Select “statements” on the menu on the left side of the home screen. You may select any statement to review or download. 

3. Review Statements: 
   Statements provide a summary of account activity over the past 30 days, while the “Current Activity Detail”, located under your balance on the home page of your account, shows real-time updates on charges and payments—so you're always in the know!

   But don’t forget—things can change quickly! If you or your supported student adds or drops classes, or adjusts their housing or meal plan after a statement is posted, those new charges may be due immediately, even if they haven’t shown up on the next statement yet.

   While the Student Business Office sends out reminders when we can, it’s ultimately the student’s responsibility to regularly check their balance, understand payment due dates, and let their authorized payers know if anything changes.  Staying in the loop helps everyone avoid last-minute surprises!

Note: Mac users will need to download and install Adobe Reader to view the statement PDF’s. Other PDF viewers may have trouble displaying the statements.

Head to Web4U > Personal Information > Access Additional Personal Information > Addresses and Phones -View/Update