Ways to make a payment to Columbia

• Payer Identity
• Payer Identity Plans
• Ways to Make a Payment
  
• Account Maintenance Fees
  
• Financial Holds

The office of Student Financial Services believes that paying your student account bill is a process that involves planning and your active participation.  Based on this we have created roadmaps (payer identities and plans) to assist you in paying your bill at Columbia College Chicago.  We suggest that students and their support networks approach this process in two steps: first, decide on your payer identity; second, secure your plan.


Payer Identities and Plans

Payer Identity

• A Payer Identity is the primary way students will pay their cost of attendance while attending Columbia College Chicago.  The Payer Identity illustrates the plan that will be followed and assists Student Financial Services in appropriately advising payers based on their specific identity.  Student Financial Services has outlined three payer identities:
  
• Cash Payer -
  
• These payers pay their cost of attendance without the use of financial aid.  Cash payers can pay their tuition in full before the start of each semester or can use the Cash Payer Plan outlined below.
• Financial Aid Recipient –
• 1.Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online for the current academic year prior to beginning school.
• 2.Complete all necessary steps prior to beginning school to secure the chosen aid types that will pay their semester charges in full.
•  3.Notify the Office of Student Financial Services of any external scholarships that will be used and have not been included on a Columbia College Chicago Award Letter by completing an Award Change Request form and also by forwarding any necessary documentation to the SFS office.
• 4. Determine if there is a Balance Due After Aid  and either apply for additional aid funds or remit payment in full.* (Students wishing to remit payment in full under a payment agreement may complete an In-School Payment Agreement after all previous steps are completed. Please contact our office for a phone consultation or make an appointment for further information on this option).
  
• Third-Party Payer –
  
• This payer will utilize the assistance of a third-party to cover their cost of attendance.  Examples of third-party payers are 529 Plans, employer tuition benefits, government agencies, etc.

Payer Identity Plans

• Each Payer Identity has an outlined plan and expectations that must be met before students may register for additional classes:

Cash Payer Plan

• 1.Pay semester charges in full prior to the start of the semester or
• 2.All students on the payment plan are expected to have completed three of their four payments for the current semester before they may register for additional classes.

Financial Aid Recipient Plan 

• 1.Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online for the current academic year prior to beginning school.
• 2.Complete all necessary steps prior to beginning school to secure the chosen aid types that will pay their semester charges in full.
• 3.Notify the Office of Student Financial Services of any external scholarships that will be used and have not been included on a Columbia College Chicago Award Letter by completing an Award Change Request form and also by forwarding any necessary documentation to the SFS office.
• 4. Determine if there is a Balance Due After Aid  and either apply for additional aid funds or remit payment in full.* (Students wishing to remit payment in full under a payment agreement may complete an In-School Payment Agreement after all previous steps are completed. Please contact our office for a phone consultation or make an appointment for further information on this option.)

Third-Party Payer Plan

• 1.Students whose semester charges will be paid in full by a third-party (i.e. Employer, 529 Plan, Government Agencies) are eligible to pay their account balance through the Third-Party Payer Pay Type.  Submit documentation detailing payment of tuition and billing information to Student Financial Services Attention: Third Party Payments.
• 2.Determine if there is a Balance Due After  the third party assistance  and either apply for  financial aid funds or remit payment in full.* (Students wishing to remit payment in full under a payment agreement may complete an In-School Payment Agreement after all previous steps are completed. Please contact our office for a phone consultation or make an appointment for further information on this option.)

Special Notes

Ways to Make a Payment

• The following are accepted methods to make out-of-pocket payments: Credit card or e-check payments can be made online using the CCCPay Online Billing and Payment System by both students and authorized users, Wire Transfers, checks or money orders including a student ID number can be mailed to Student Financial Services, and cash payments can be made at the cashier window at:
• Student Financial Services /Cashier Window
• Columbia College Chicago
• Attention: Payments
• 600 S. Michigan Avenue Room 303
• Chicago, IL 60605

Non-Tuition Related Payments

• Students who need to make a non-tuition related payment may do so here.

Account Maintenance Fees

• Students will be charged a monthly $20.00 Account Maintenance Fee every month that they continue to have an account balance. A Late Fee in the amount of $150 will be charged to all accounts that are not paid in full by the final due date.

Financial Holds

• Students who have not secured their payer identity and plan will be required to contact Student Financial Services before they may register for additional classes.