Tuition Payment Policy

Preparing for your Bill

Applying for Financial Aid

Before making the decision to attend Hilbert, filing the FAFSA and New York State TAP applications are strongly encouraged and in specific cases, required for scholarship disbursement. Scholarships which require students to file a FAFSA are communicated within Hilbert’s Scholarship policies. The appropriate Hilbert school codes and signatures must be identified on each application in order for the Hilbert College Financial Aid Office to receive your information. US resident students who wish to opt out of submitting the FAFSA must inform the Student Finance Office through communication with an Admissions representative or by sending an email prior to course registration.

Understanding your financial aid and action steps to take

After submission of the FAFSA and NYS TAP (if applicable) applications, the Hilbert College Financial Aid Office will issue follow-up instructions and/or provide an individualized Financial Aid Package. Contained in the financial aid package are instructions for each student to visit finaid.hilbert.edu and either accept or decline the scholarships, grants and student loans that have been offered. First time students who accept the offer of a federal student loan must also complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling by signing into the studentaid.gov account created when the FAFSA process began.

After class registration

Tuition e-bills are available after class registration takes place. Student e-bills will reflect pending financial aid only if the preceding financial aid application steps have been completed. Typically, fall e-bills are emailed to students in early June, spring bills are emailed in early December, and summer e-bills are emailed in early May. Changes to registration load or financial aid will result in a revised e-bill notification. Please note, residency charges are assessed on the e-bill only after placement in a residence hall is completed by the Residence Life staff. All students are required to sign a financial responsibility agreement at the time of registration.

Recommended timeline for new student bill preparation

1.  Apply & gain acceptance to Hilbert
2.  File FAFSA (& TAP if applicable)
3.  If required, submit additional documents
4.  Submit Enrollment Deposit(s)
5. Accept or decline offered aid
6.  Complete MPN & Counseling if applicable
7.  Register for classes

Payment Policy

Students are notified via campuscommerce.com (Nelnet) to their Hilbert email when their e-bill is available to view and pay. All tuition balances are payable by the published due date on the e-bill, accessed in Nelnet via Self-Service following registration. It is highly encouraged that payments be made online via Nelnet (via self-service portal at selfservice.hilbert.edu > Finance tab > Payment Options). However, payments made directly to the Student Finance Office by cash, check, debit card, and money order are also acceptable. Any credit card payments must be made online via Nelnet.

Billing Due Dates: The college requires that all students make full payment arrangements by the due date established on the e-bill each semester. If payment is not received by the due date, a cancellation notice will go out giving 15 days to make payment in full or set up a payment plan. Failure to respond within the 15 day time frame will result in disenrollment. If there are anticipated third party educational benefits, official documentation must be submitted to the Student Finance Office in order for the amount to be deferred against.

Bill Payment Designees

• Students are highly encouraged to add an authorized payer (parent or other individual) to their account in Nelnet. Authorized payers are notified by campuscommerce.com via email any time a new or revised e-bill becomes available.
• Prior to the billing due date, while logged into Nelnet, students or authorized payers must pay the balance in full less pending financial aid listed on the bill OR enroll in a four-month payment plan serviced by Nelnet. A $55 enrollment fee will apply, and payments will be auto-debited from the designated account each month. Nelnet payment plans are available online through the due date.
• After the due date, students must contact the Office of Student Finance for further payment options as registration may be in danger of being cancelled due to non-payment.
• Students who will receive employer reimbursement must sign an employer payment promissory note in the Office of Student Finance to defer payment until after grade report is made available. Employer reimbursement finance charges are based on credit hours registered for: 1-6 credits $55, 7-9 credits $70, 10+ credits $100. Payment is due two weeks after grades are available. Student employer information is collected by the Student Finance Office to verify the employer is assisting with the balance.

Recommended timeline for bill payment

1. Register For Classes
2. Log into Self-Service, Finance – Nelnet
3. Look for the billing due date when bill is available
4. Add authorized payer (if applicable)
5. Enroll in payment plan/make payment

Important Considerations Regarding Fees

Students registered in an on-campus undergraduate program will have fees assessed on their tuition bill. These fees are mandatory and cover participation in campus activities and access to technology services. A full listing of current tuition and fees can be found on the college website. Students must be registered for classes in order to take advantage of the services that fees cover.

Campus Activity & Technology Access

Prior to:

• Collection of Hilbert-issued laptop
• Residence Hall move-in
• Practicing with an athletic team

Students must have full payment arrangements made prior to the billing due date. It is in the best interest of each student to complete the FAFSA process and register for classes on time. Late registrants are afforded flexibility on these items only after the Student Finance team can verify acceptance of student aid or that full payment arrangements have been made.

1. Make full payment arrangements
2. Athletes may practice
3. Residents may move in
4. All new full-time undergraduate HC students may obtain laptops
5. Add/Drop deadline takes place

Past Due Balances

New students

Failure to make any payment arrangements after the billing due date has passed or before the last day of Add/drop, whichever is later, will result in dismissal from a Hilbert College residence (if applicable). A Student Finance representative will advise registration cancellation or course withdrawal. Please refer to the Hilbert College Tuition Refund Policy for information regarding tuition liability.

Returning students

Should a returning student fail to register for their subsequent term classes by the last day of the preceding semester, a late registration fee of $50.00 will be assessed to the student bill. Failure to make any payment or enroll in a payment plan after the billing due date has passed and before the last day of add/drop will result in the cancellation of registration and dismissal from a Hilbert College residence (if applicable). Please refer to the Hilbert College Tuition Refund Policy for information regarding tuition liability.

All students

At any point, questions regarding costs, financial aid or billing questions may be directed to the Student Finance Office. Contact information for the Financial Aid and Student Account teams is located on the college website.

The College will not allow balances to remain unpaid. If balances are not paid in full or a payment plan is not established by the due date, a cancellation notice will be sent whereby the balance needs to be remedied within 15 days. If the balance is not remedied, disenrollment and dismissal from residence will occur.

Late fees of $100 can be assessed on any past due balances and any missed monthly promissory note payment plan payments.

Outside collection and legal action will be taken to secure the payment due to the College. The cost of these collection services will be the responsibility of the student. A student whose account is not fully paid or deferred upon by the payment due date must contact the Student Finance Office for further instructions.