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Back to Policy Section VIII: Fiscal and Business Affairs
Section VIII: Fiscal and Business Affairs

Policy Number: VIII-2.20(A)

University of Maryland Policy Concerning Payment of Tuition and Fees

(Approved by the President Amended )

I. Policy

  1. Tuition and fees are due in full on or before the due date established by the Office of Student Financial Services & Cashiering. If the total amount of financial aid, loans, and other assistance is not sufficient to pay the amount due in full, the student must pay the difference by the due date. Balances may also be covered by the due date with the following:
    1. Financial aid awarded by the institution that has been fully approved but has not yet been disbursed;
    2. A private student loan approved and certified by the Office of Student Financial Aid;
    3. Third-party student support contracts approved by the Office of Student Financial Services & Cashiering;
    4. Enrollment in the Terp Payment Plan by the student or an authorized party (typically a parent or guardian); and
    5. Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GIBill® or Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program benefits for students whose enrollment has been certified to the Veterans Administration by the Office of the Registrar, but whose benefits have not yet been disbursed.
  2. Financial obligations on a student account include but are not limited to tuition, fees, room, board, health insurance, library fines, parking permits, parking citations, penalty fees, and service charges.
  3. Past due balances on a student account may result in late fees, restricting the release of a diploma, degree, certificate, or official transcript, and the potential requirement for transfer of the account to the Central Collection Unit of Maryland. Significant past due balances may result in all of the aforementioned, but may also include term course registration cancellation, account holds preventing future course registration, and the loss of other University services. Thresholds at which penalties, holds, or cancellations come into effect will be determined by the University Controller.
  4. Students who have an outstanding past due balance may request a payment agreement with the Office of Student Financial Services & Cashiering. The Office has the discretion to determine whether a payment agreement should be allowed in each case. The terms of the agreement along with any allowances or punitive actions that may be taken for failure to adhere to an agreement will be documented and communicated to the account holder.
  5. Students whose course registrations are cancelled may lose access to University services and privileges, such as student housing. Students removed from housing because of delinquent indebtedness may be required to reapply for housing after they have satisfied their financial obligation.
  6. The State has established, under legislative mandate, a Central Collections Unit (CCU) within the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning. The University is required by State law to refer all delinquent accounts to the State CCU. CCU adds a collection fee not to exceed 20% of the outstanding balance of the account at time of transfer, and the debt may be reported to the major United States credit reporting agencies that collect information about creditworthiness, including how you handle your credit and pay your debt.