Settling Your Bill
Useful Financial Info
Important Information for J.D. students at USC Law
Each student at USC has a student account established by the University’s Financial Services Office that reflects all University assessed charges. These charges might include, but are not limited to, tuition, mandatory fees, special fees, university housing, meal plans, parking, health center and health insurance charges, and USCard charges. The USC student account also reflects any credits the student receives, which may include payments by personal check, payments by credit card, scholarships, student loans, and admission deposits.
Tuition and mandatory fees are due prior to the first day of classes of each semester. The following tuition payment deadlines will be strictly enforced for the upcoming academic year.
Tuition & Fee Settlement Deadlines for 2008-2009
- Fall 2008 August 22, 2008
- Spring 2009 January 9, 2009
After registering for classes, tuition and fees for that semester will be reflected on the student’s online account information. All law students will register for fall semester classes during the first week of August. Second and third year students will register themselves in courses of their choosing, and first year students will be registered by the Law School’s Registrar, Mr. Kyle Jones, according to the section they have been assigned to. Students will not be able to view their account information until they are registered. We expect that first year students will be registered during the week of July 28th.
For the most current information about your account charges and credits, you must access your account information online, at the MyUSC Portal. You can access this website at www.usc.edu/myusc. In order to log into this portal, you must use your USC email address and password. Once logged on to MyUSC, you would select the option “USC e.pay (student account review and payment). The charges shown will be based upon actual current enrollment. Therefore, if you have not officially registered in all of the classes you plan to take, the charges may not reflect the full amount of tuition which will be due by the deadline. Similarly, your account may not accurately reflect all of the financial aid credits which are expected for that semester. There may be loan funds which have not yet arrived, or a payment which was recently mailed but is not yet reflected.
In addition to checking your account balance by the method described above, we have provided in this document a “2008-09 Law School Tuition and Fee Schedule” as well as a worksheet designed to assist you in estimating your balance at the start of each semester. Please use these tools for planning purposes so that you can avoid unnecessary late fees and finance charges. If another person will be assisting you with the expenses of your law school enrollment, we encourage you to share this information with that person well in advance of the tuition payment deadlines. In all cases, regardless of where the funds are originating from, it is the enrolled student’s responsibility to ensure that the account balance is totally paid and/or deferred by the payment deadline, or late fees will be assessed. Please plan ahead for the August 22nd deadline!
Late fees are assessed at the rate of $100 per week for the first three weeks of late payment. In addition, the University assesses a 1% monthly finance charge on all delinquent balances. Students whose checks are returned unpaid by the bank or whose credit card authorizations are declined by the bank will be subject to the late fees described above until their accounts are paid in full. Non-receipt of a bill does not relieve you of the settlement deadline. In fact, due to the timing of law student registration, you may not receive a monthly e-bill notice prior to the payment deadline. A paper bill will NOT be mailed to your home address. Students can only access their account information online at www.usc.edu/myusc. If a physical copy of a bill is needed, you may either print out your account information from USC e.pay, or go to the University’s Registration Building at the corner of Figueroa and Exposition to request a Registration Confirmation.
Methods of Payment
- Option 1: Financial Aid/Student Loans
Scholarships and/or student loans will be credited directly to a student’s account for payment of tuition and fees first. If, after all financial aid is credited, you still have a remaining balance due to the University; you will be required to settle this balance by the deadline using one of the options described below. It is your responsibility to check to make sure that all financial aid you are expecting has been properly credited to your account prior to the settlement deadline. Student loan funds will begin crediting to students’ accounts on Monday, August 18th. If you find that some of your financial aid has not been credited, you will need to request a financial aid deferment no later than August 22nd by contacting the Law School Financial Aid Office. (See Financial Aid Deferment below.) Please do not call to request a financial aid deferment prior to August 18th as that is the earliest date you should expect to see student loan funds credited to your account.
- Option 2: USC e.pay (online process)
If your tuition and fees will not be fully covered by financial aid (scholarships and loans) a convenient option for paying your tuition and fees is the USC e.pay online process at www.usc.edu/myusc. Both credit card payments and ACH payments from your checking or savings account can be made by this method. If desired, you can also set up access for another person to view your account information and to make payments on your behalf. However, it remains your responsibility to ensure that your account is paid in a timely manner, even if the payment is being made by someone other than yourself.
- Option 3: TIPS (by telephone)
Credit card payments can also be made by calling the Cashier’s Office “Touch-Tone Inquiry & Payment System” (TIPS) at (213)740-7471. Callers outside of the Southern California area may call (800)225-1222.
- Option 4: At USC Cashier's Office (in person or by mail)
Payments are accepted in the form of cash, personal checks, and/or credit card payments (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) at the University Cashier’s Office. Payments should be delivered directly to the University’s Cashier’s Office in King Hall. Payments can also be mailed directly to: USC Cashier’s Office, File #51158, Los Angeles, CA 90074-1158. To prevent late fees, payments sent by mail must be sent early enough to arrive at the Cashier’s Office by the payment deadline of August 24, 2007.
- Option 5: USC Tuition Payment Plan
For students not receiving any financial aid, or for those who are not expecting sufficient financial aid to fully cover their balance, but who wish to delay full payment of tuition, there is a payment plan option. Detailed information about the plan can be found online at the USC Student Financial Services website at www.usc.edu/sfs. If you find that you need any assistance in determining the amount which should be budgeted under the payment plan, please feel free to contact the Law School’s Financial Aid Office.
Credit Balances and Obtaining Refunds
If, after all financial aid is credited, you have overpaid your student account, this resulting "credit balance" can be refunded to you. There are several options available to obtain a refund.For the fall semester, the earliest date students may obtain a refund from financial aid funds is Monday, August 18th.
- Option 1: Automatic Transfer to your Checking Account
The most convenient method to receive a refund is to establish an electronic refund deposit account. By this method students can have their refund directly deposited into a personal checking account. It takes approximately ten business days to establish the electronic process between the University Cashier’s Office and the student’s bank. Therefore, students wishing to take advantage of this option are encouraged to submit the required request form immediately so that there is ample time to set up the link. Once set up, this arrangement remains in effect for future semesters unless cancelled by the student. These automatic transfers of credit balances occur twice weekly for the first four weeks of each semester. An exception to this is that transfers to USC Credit Union checking accounts occur daily throughout the academic year. The necessary paperwork for setting up this ACH refund process is available at the University’s Student Financial Services website (www.usc.edu/sfs - then click on “refunds”). Please note that a voided check must be submitted along with the authorization form.
- Option 2: In person pick-up at the USC Cashier's Office
In addition, students have the option of going in person to the University Cashier’s Office for immediate pick up of a refund check. Please be aware, however, that there are often long lines of students at the Cashier’s Office during the first few weeks of each semester. Contact information for the Cashier’s Office can be found at www.usc.edu/sfs (from the home page, click on “refunds.”) Please note that refund restrictions apply to USC Payment Plan participants or to those who made credit card payments. Students are advised to always check their account balance on USC e.pay prior to going to the Cashier’s Office to ensure that a credit balance actually exists.
- Option 3: Request that a refund be mailed to you
Students can also complete an online form to request that their refund be mailed to them. Since these online requests are processed only once per week, it can often take more than a week before your refund check arrives via this method. The online request form for requesting that a refund be mailed is available at the University’s Student Financial Services website (www.usc.edu/sfs - then click on “refunds”).
- Tuition Refund Insurance
The University offers students the option of purchasing tuition refund insurance through a private insurance carrier. The charge for this insurance is .40% of tuition and mandatory fees, or approximately $90 per semester. This Tuition Refund Plan provides a 100% tuition refund for students who become seriously ill or have an accident and must obtain a medical withdrawal from all classes; regardless of when the medical withdrawal is obtained (only 60% of tuition and mandatory fees are refunded for withdrawals due to nervous, mental or emotional disorders). Without the insurance, a 100% refund of tuition and mandatory fees is only given if the student withdraws within the first three weeks of classes; after week three, neither tuition nor mandatory fees are refunded, even if the withdrawal is for medical reasons. The deadline to request or decline tuition refund insurance for the Fall 2008 semester is the end of the third week of classes, or September 12, 2008. Further information can be obtained at www.collegerefund.com/usc
For second and third year students, the option to accept or decline Tuition Refund Insurance is made by the student at the time the student registers through the web registration system. Since first year students do not register themselves for classes, but instead are automatically enrolled in their assigned sections, we have assessed all first year students’ accounts with this optional charge. First year students who do NOT wish to have this insurance coverage MUST come to Room 104 by the end of the third week of classes (September 12, 2008) to request that it be cancelled.
Additional information about Financial Aid crediting to your account
Second and third year students who have not enrolled in the minimum number of units for full-time attendance (i.e., 13 units per semester) may notice that some financial aid is not crediting to your account. If you will register in at least 13 units, this problem will likely be resolved immediately. Add the units and then check your account on USCe.pay again.
Federal Stafford Loan: In order to receive your Stafford Loan, you should have first returned your Stafford Loan Request Form to the Law School Financial Aid Office indicating your interest in receiving this loan. Students who have not previously borrowed a Stafford Loan at USC Law School, or students who have changed lenders this year, should have received a Master Promissory Note (MPN) in the mail, and returned it directly to their lender. This promissory note will remain valid for each remaining year that you borrow a Stafford Loan through the same lender while attending USC Law School
Entrance Counseling: In addition, all first time Federal Stafford Loan borrowers at USC must complete “loan entrance counseling” prior to the funds being disbursed by the lender. The purpose of this session is to ensure that all borrowers are informed of their rights and responsibilities before they undertake the obligation of student loans. You may complete entrance counseling online at www.edfund.org. From the home page click on "EdTEST", proceed through the pages, being sure to read all text and answer all questions. Once you have successfully completed the online entrance counseling, a confirmation will be automatically forwarded to the Law School Financial Aid Office. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the entrance counseling requirement as early as possible. If you wait until the last minute your Stafford Loan will be delayed as it takes a week or more for these funds to be disbursed to the school once this requirement is met. If you have any questions or concerns about whether this requirement applies to you, or any questions about student loans once you have completed the online counseling, please contact the Law School Financial Aid Office at (213)740-6314.
Graduate PLUS/ or Private Loan: In order to receive your Federal Graduate PLUS Loan/or Private Loan, you should have first applied directly on the website of your selected lender. These loans require approval based upon the borrowers credit history therefore those students who have been approved and who have not previously borrowed a Graduate PLUS Loan/or Private Loan at USC Law School, or students who have changed lenders this year, should have received a Master Promissory Note (MPN) in the mail, and returned it directly to their lender. This promissory note will remain valid for each remaining year that you borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan/or Private Loan through the same lender while attending USC Law School.
If you have any questions about whether you have completed all steps required of you, please contact your lender, or the Law School Financial Aid Office at (213)740-6314.
Commitment Tuition Deposit - First Year Students Only
All First-Year Law students will have an additional credit towards their university fee bill of $750 for the 2007-08 year. The tuition commitment deposit will be equally divided crediting the first $375 in the fall semester and the remaining $375 in the spring semester.
Financial Aid Deferment
If you are expecting student loans which have not yet arrived, it may be necessary for you to obtain a deferment of tuition payment while you wait for the lender to process the loan application. You should contact Mary Bingham in the Law School Financial Aid Office during the week of August 18th to request a deferment. Before requesting a deferment, please check your account on USC e.pay (www.usc.edu/myusc) to determine whether your loan funds have already been credited to your account. In order to defer your tuition payment, it will be necessary for you to have a complete financial aid file, and to have submitted all necessary loan request forms. Deferments are generally not available based upon a pending private loan, unless it can be verified that you have been approved for the loan. Therefore, it is important that you apply for all student loans you will require as early as possible. There are no additional fees associated with a financial aid deferment.
If, after reading these materials, you still have questions regarding tuition and fee payment, or any aspect of the financial aid process, please contact Mary Bingham or Liam Gillen in the Law School Financial Aid Office. You may come in person to Room 104 of the Law School building, telephone (213)740-6314, or email lawfao@law.usc.edu. We will be happy to assist you.
