Financial Arrangements and Services

SPU uses the Banner Information System to process registration materials and complete financial arrangements. After a student registers for classes online or in Student Academic Services, the student is obligated to pay for the contracted services in accordance with the University’s current schedule of charges.

The registration contract between SPU and the student remains binding to both parties unless either party terminates the contract pursuant to the applicable catalog procedures (see also Refunds and Account Adjustments).

Student Account System

An electronic notification of a statement reflecting tuition and fee charges, miscellaneous charges, payments, and amounts due will be sent to the student’s SPU email address each month. Student Financial Services will also send a copy of the account statement to an additional recipient (such as the student’s parent) with the student’s authorization. It remains the student’s responsibility, however, to see that proper payment reaches Student Financial Services by the payment due date. If students need assistance determining the proper amount due, they should contact Student Financial Services to talk with a coordinator.

Checks for the correct amount due should be made payable in U.S. dollars ($US) to Seattle Pacific University, and should include the student’s name and student identification number. Checks may be delivered in person to Student Financial Services, located in Demaray Hall 10 or be mailed to

Seattle Pacific University
Student Financial Services
3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 114
Seattle, Washington 98119-1922

In addition to checks, the University accepts automated payments via an e-check (automated payment directly from a checking or savings account) toward student accounts. The University does not directly accept any credit cards for payment of student-account balances. Rather, it has arranged for a third-party provider to facilitate this type of payment if desired. Additional fees apply for this service. Students may authorize additional individuals to pay a student account online. 

Payment Policies

Students have three options to meet their financial obligations:

• (A) Pay in full by the pay-in-full due dates.
• (B) The combined installment payment plan.*
• (C) The three-installment payment plan.*

*Options B and C are not available for summer term.

The student account must be paid in full in order to register for subsequent quarters.

Payment Option A: Pay in Full

Students may meet their financial obligations each quarter by paying in full by October 7 for Autumn Quarter, January 16 for Winter Quarter, and April 13 for Spring Quarter.

If payment in full is not received by these dates, the account will be subject to late charges. Students are automatically placed in Payment Option A, unless they are approved through the application process for option B or C. 

Payment Option B: Combined Installment Plans

The Seattle Pacific University Combined Installment Plan combines Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarter’s Three Installment Plans into one application and agreement. Students who plan to attend Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters may choose the Combined Installment Plan.

The plan will divide the total quarterly costs (after financial aid* is applied to the account) over three payments instead of one for each quarter (Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters).

In order to participate in this plan, the student must complete an application through the Banner Information System. The $80 application fee will be charged to the student's SPU student account with the first installment (a new application and fee must be submitted each academic year). Visit Student Financial Services for more details.

Payment Option C: Three Installment Plan

If students choose this Three Installment Plan option, the total charges for a single term after all financial aid* is applied to the account will be divided into three payments. This plan is available for autumn, winter and spring terms only.  The plan will divide the total quarterly costs (after financial aid* is applied to the account) over three payments instead of one for the quarter (only for the quarter of enrollment in the plan).

In order to participate in this plan, the student must complete an application through the Banner Information System. The $40 application fee will be charged to the student's SPU student account with the first installment (a new application and fee must be submitted each academic quarter). Visit Student Financial Services for more details.

Example of Payment Alternatives for Families

A student registers for a full course load (12–18 credits) per quarter and lives in an SPU residence hall. The total balance per quarter is as follows:

Option A: Pay in Full

$8,031 due October 7, 2015

Option B: Combined Installment Plans

$80 application fee and application due September 8, 2015
$8,031 balance owed for each quarter.
$8,031÷3 = $2,677 (due monthly in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters.)

$2,677 is the monthly payment plan amount and follows the Combined Installment payment schedule:

Option C: Three Installment Plan, With Autumn Quarter Example

$40 application fee and application due September 8, 2015.
$8,031÷3 = $2,677 is the monthly payment-plan amount and follows the Three Installment Plan schedule for Autumn Quarter.

*Financial aid includes SPU scholarships, grants, federal and state grants and scholarships, outside scholarships and grants, student loans, and parent PLUS loan. Work study cannot be used in the calculation of payments. Amount of financial aid listed is random.

Late Payments

Students who don’t pay their account in full or who fail to make a Combined Installment Plan or Three Installment Plan scheduled payment will have a late fee assessed to their student account. A late fee (15 percent per annum, 1.25 percent per month) will be assessed against any owing balance shown on the student’s last statement of account.

Students with past-due account balances will not be permitted to register for future quarters, obtain an official academic transcript, or receive a diploma. They also may be completely withdrawn from current classes.

Private College 529 Plan and Institutional Gift Aid

Student and families who are Private College 529 holders may redeem tuition plan certificates at Seattle Pacific according to the plan’s stipulations. It is important to note that the total of institutional gift aid (grants and scholarships), plus the redeemed tuition certificate value, will be limited to the total cost of tuition, room, and board charged by SPU.

Reimbursement Program/Third-Party Billing

If your tuition is reimbursed by your employer or a third party (such as an embassy or government agency), you may be eligible for the Employer Reimbursement or Third-Party Billing program.

Documentation confirming enrollment in an employer reimbursement program is required annually and allows approved student account charges to be deferred up to approximately 30 days after the quarter ends. If a third party is involved, the University will bill the third party directly, provided SFS has been given the appropriate documents, such as a purchase order, official authorization, etc. All other account charges will be due when billed.

If you participate in the Boeing Tuition Voucher program, your eligibility is subject to approval by the Boeing Company. Until SFS receives an approved voucher from the Boeing Company for participation in its Third-Party Billing Program, you will receive monthly account statements and be responsible for all charges. Once the process has been completed, the Boeing approved charges will be paid on your student account. You will continue to receive monthly statements if you incur charges not covered by Boeing. For more information about this program, contact SFS.

Unpaid Student Charges

A student who has delinquent financial obligations, will not be permitted to register or attend classes for subsequent quarters or receive official transcripts until such obligations have been satisfied. Seattle Pacific University reserves the right to deny enrollment, including advance registration or extension of credit, and/or to have a student completely withdrawn from classes if the student does not meet past-due obligations or fulfill financial commitments to the University. The student will also not be eligible to obtain an official academic transcript or receive their diploma.

A continued failure to meet financial obligations may result in the referral of the delinquent account to an outside agency for collection of the total amount due, plus all applicable collection costs and the addition of a collection fee of at least 30% and up to 40% of the account balance.

Registration Petitions

Registration petitions are requests for exceptions to regular policies and procedures. Exceptions are not granted to supersede policies and procedures because of an inconvenience. The petition process provides students and faculty with the possibility of a response outside the normal bounds of policy when extenuating circumstances are judged to warrant such a response.

Extenuating circumstances include illness, injury, death in the family, and problems with immigration. Unresolved holds by the deadline do not constitute an extenuating circumstance and are not grounds for petition. The petition must not only voice the request, but must also substantiate the validity of the request.

Petition forms are available online and on the forms rack in the Demaray Hall lobby (first floor). Instructions for completing this process are included on the form. A student seeking late registration must seek permission from the instructor to sit in the class while the petition is pending.

In all cases, the final decision to approve or deny a petition will be made by Student Academic Services. SAS reserves the right to deny any petition for any reason. Each approved petition will incur a $50 change of registration fee.  An approved SAS petition may not adjust charges.