Student Accounts - Frequently Asked Questions
Billing
When are bills mailed out, and when are payments due?
For the Fall semester, bills are mailed in late June and due August 1. For the Spring semester, bills are mailed in early December and due January 2. Students living on campus must pay bills on or before these deadlines to avoid losing their campus housing. Please see Undergraduate Billing Information or Graduate Billing Information for full details.
How do I check my account since you only mail two paper billing statements a year?
You can see your bill online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via www.emerson.edu/payment. For more information please see our Online Tuition Statement FAQ.
Payment Options
How can I make a payment?
You can make payments online, by mail, by wire transfer, or in person. Payments can not be made by phone. Please view Methods of Payment for full details.
What if I can't pay my tuition in full? Do you offer any payment plans?
Emerson offers a monthly payment plan through TuitionPay. Please contact TuitionPay online at www.tuitionpay.com/emerson or by phone at 800.635.0120 to enroll.
What if I have outside scholarship funds to apply to my account balance?
You must notify the Office of Accounts Management and provide documentation to support receipt of outside scholarship funds. It is your responsibility to follow up and insure payment is received from any outside agency. Please notify the Office of Accounts Management at 617.824.8655 if the agency needs to be billed.
What if my company is paying my tuition?
If you participate in a tuition reimbursement plan through your employer you may defer up to 75% of the tuition balance until thirty days after the semester ends. You are required to pay 25% of your tuition and fees at the start of the semester to settle your account.
Refunds
How and when can I request a refund for an overpayment on my student account?
- Only students can request a refund. Students have the ability to request refunds without the consent of the primary bill payer.
- View Full Refund Policy for more information.
- Questions and concerns can be emailed to Bills@emerson.edu.
View more information about living expenses and refund requests for indirect expenses.
Withdrawal Policy
What happens if I withdraw from Emerson?
All students are eligible to receive full credit for their tuition and fees, excluding non-refundable deposits, if they withdraw before the first day of classes. Students receiving federal financial aid funds who withdraw on or after the first day of classes have their aid adjusted using the percentage determined by the Federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Adjustments are made based on the number of days a student attends, up to the 60% point of the semester. Tuition charges on the student’s account are adjusted by the same percentage used to adjust aid. Students who do not receive federal financial aid are subject to the Emerson College Refund policy as indicated:
- During the first two weeks of classes - 80% refund of tuition only
- During the third week of class - 60% refund of tuition only
- During the fourth week of class - 40% refund of tuition only
- During the fifth week of class - 20% refund of tuition only
- After the fifth week - NO REFUND IS MADE
No tuition refund is available when the College authorities require a student’s withdrawal or when a student withdraws from a course with a WP or WF grade. Fees and housing charges are non-refundable. Meal plan charges may be refundable on a pro rata basis. Petitions should be filed with the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Tuition Insurance
Does Emerson offer a tuition insurance plan?
Elective insurance is available from the Dewar Tuition Refund Plan to enhance the college's existing refund policy. The insurance provides coverage for medical withdrawals and leaves of absence (LOAs) above and beyond College refunds. They may be contacted at 617.774.1555.
The College policy provides a tuition percentage refund for withdrawals through the first five weeks of a semester, but does not provide refunds for room and board charges. The College does not refund tuition for medical reasons after this five-week period; the supplemental tuition insurance must be purchased for this type of coverage.
The Tuition Refund Plan covers 100% of the insured semester tuition in the case of a medical withdrawal or LOA, and 60% of the insured semester tuition in the case of a psychological withdrawal or LOA, less any refund or credit due from the College. Applications must be submitted before the first day of classes. The premium is 1% of the total charges for the academic year. Contact Student Financial Services for further information.
ECCash
What is ECCash and how can I get it?
ECCash is a way for students to use their Emerson Student Identification as a debit card for on-campus purchases. Students put pre-paid dollar amounts on the card to be used at many designated locations like the Book Store, on-campus laundry machines, Emerson library, dining halls, Emerson convenience stores, and on-campus vending machines. The purchased amount is deducted from student's ECCash balance.
Students can log into www.emerson.edu/eccash using their ECNet username and password. Students can give "Guest Access" to four people, which is a great way for parents/friends to deposit money into a student's account. Parents/others can click the Make a Deposit link, enter the student's Emerson ID, and make a deposit without logging in. Please do not use the online tuition payment site to deposit EC Cash in students' accounts as EC Cash payments can not be tracked through the tuition process. ECCash remains on the student's ECCash account at the end of each semester ready to use the next semester. It can also be refunded at the end of the academic year with some restrictions.
Students can see their Board Bucks and ECCash balance and transaction history on the ECCash site. If a student loses their Emerson ID card they can deactivate it at the site. If they find it before visiting Public Safety to get a new one they can reactivate it on the site.
IMPORTANT: you cannot add any dollar amount to your ECCash if there is an outstanding balance on your student account. Any funds received will first be applied to the existing balance on the account.
