Frequently Asked Questions
When is my payment due?
When do I get my confirming deposit back?
Do you accept credit cards?
Why was the decision made to replace the
credit card payment option with webCheck?
Why can't the university add a
surcharge to the student account and continue to accept credit cards?
How much does it cost to go to St. Thomas?
What are your tuition rates?
Why wasn't I billed for a class?
Where do I send my payment? Can I drop off my
payment?
Why was I assessed a finance charge?
I'm on the End of Term Payment Plan, why was I assessed a finance
charge?
Why was I charged a Student Activity Fee?
Why was I charged a Technology Fee?
I haven't received my financial aid yet, how can I purchase
my books?
I have a credit balance, when will I receive my refund check?
When is my payment due?
Payments are due the 19th of the month. However, if you are on the End of Term payment plan: Summer session is due September 19th, Fall is due February 19th, J-Term and Spring session are due July 19th.
Do you accept credit cards?
As of September 1, 2003 we no longer accept payments via credit card.
To continue offering the functionality of real time payments via the web, we have implemented webCheck, an electronic method of payment that directly accesses your checking account. Access to this payment option is through MURPHY on-line, https://banner.stthomas.edu. For security purposes, the student's Personal Identification Number (PIN) and account number (UST ID number) is required to access this system.
Why was the decision made to replace the credit card payment option with webCheck?
The university completed considerable financial analysis before making the difficult decision to discontinue credit card acceptance for tuition payments. The published savings ($500,000) is reflective of this analysis, and took into account the current financial benefit of timely payments due to credit card use, as well as, the potential increase in account delinquencies and increased administrative costs associated with check processing. See the related Bulletin article at http://web1.www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/news/20039/Wednesday/Tuition2_26_03.cfm.
The pricing structure of the credit card industry is not conducive to high per transaction service industries like higher education. The balance between operating costs and providing a credit card option is an industry-wide struggle for the higher education community. As St. Thomas struggled with this decision, the management staff believed our financial resources should remain committed to our core mission-- providing high quality education at a reasonable price. In the end, a decision to continue accepting credit cards would have made it necessary to increase tuition across the board for all students -- beyond what we felt was reasonable.
Why can't the university add a surcharge to the student account and continue to accept credit cards?
Credit card companies have regulations that must be followed when assessing fees for credit card usage. A "convenience fee" can be assessed for utilizing an online payment system, however, a fee cannot be charged for specifically accepting credit card payments. VISA only allows a fixed, flat fee assessment. To recoup the approximate 2% per transaction cost that we incur, it would be necessary to assess a fee based on the percentage of the cost of each transaction. Since over 75% of the credit card transactions processed are VISA, it would not be possible to accurately or fairly recoup these costs.
How much does it cost to go to St. Thomas?
Average costs for Undergraduate Day students for academic year 2007-2008:
Average of $33,586.00 for on campus
Average costs for Undergraduate Day students for academic year 2008-2009:
Average of $35,434.00 for on campus
What are your tuition rates?
Academic Year 2007-08 2008-09
Tuition Undergraduate
** Applicable to students admitted to the Undergraduate
Evening Program, this does not refer to courses that take place in the
evening.
| Tuition UG Day Program | $ 806.50/credit | $ 854.00/credit |
| Tuition UG Day Business & QMCS Courses | $ 846.50/credit | $ 896.50/credit |
| Tuition UG Evening Program ** | $ 710.50/credit | $ 854.00/credit |
| Tuition UG Evening Business & QMCS Courses | $ 750.00/credit | $ 896.50/credit |
| Tuition Law-Graduate Schools |
||
| School of Law | ||
| JD | $ 985.00/credit | $1,049.00/credit |
| College of Business | ||
| Full-Time UST MBA | $ 707.50/credit | $ 749.00/credit |
| Evening UST MBA | $ 707.50/credit | $ 749.00/credit |
| Executive UST MBA | $1,242.00/credit | $1,329.00/credit |
| Health Care UST MBA | $ 852.50/credit | $ 903.00/credit |
| Master of Business Communication | $ 699.00/credit | $ 740.00/credit |
| Master of International Management | $ 699.00/credit | $ 740.00/credit |
| MS in Real Estate Appraisal | $ 699.00/credit | $ 740.00/credit |
| MS in Accountancy | $ 690.00/credit | $ 730.50/credit |
| Software MS/MSDD/MSS | $ 680.00/credit | $ 720.00/credit |
| School of Education | ||
| Masters | $ 572.50/credit | $ 606.50/credit |
| Doctorate-Educ Leadership- Critical Pedagogy | $ 749.00/credit | $ 793.00/credit |
| Doctorate-Organizational Development | $1,029.00/credit | $1,089.50/credit |
| Off-Campus Degree Programs | varies by cohort | varies by cohort |
| Engineering & Tech Mgmt | ||
| Masters | $ 680.00/credit | $ 720.00/credit |
| Professional Psychology | ||
| Masters | $ 549.00/credit | $ 581.50/credit |
| Doctorate | $ 733.50/credit | $ 777.00/credit |
| Social Work | ||
| Masters | $ 550.00/credit | $ 582.50/credit |
| School of Divinity | ||
| Divinity | $7,732.00/semester | $ 8,003.00/semester |
| Pastoral Studies | $ 547.50/credit | $ 566.50/credit |
| College of Arts & Science | ||
| Art History-Masters | $ 611.00/credit | $ 647.00/credit |
| Catholic Studies-Masters | $ 611.00/credit | $ 647.00/credit |
| English-Masters | $ 611.00/credit | $ 647.00/credit |
| Music-Masters | $ 611.00/credit | $ 647.00/credit |
| Music-Grad-Non Degree | $ 458.00/credit | $ 485.00/credit |
| Music Institute | ||
| Music Institute | $ 458.00/credit | $ 485.00/credit |
| Miscellaneous Tuition Rates | ||
| Music Performance | ||
| 30 Minute Lessons | $ 500.00 | $ 529.50 |
| 50 Minute Lessons | $1,008.00 | $1,067.50 |
| Math 005 | $ 201.50 | $ 213.50 |
Why wasn't I billed for a class?
If you are currently waitlisted for a class you will not be billed until you are actually enrolled in that class. If you register for a class after our billing cycle, you will be charged on the next month's billing statement.
Where do I send my payment? Can I drop off my payment?
| Mail to: | University of St. Thomas Business Office AQU116 2115 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN. 55105 |
| Or: |
|
Why was I assessed a finance charge?
Payments are due on the 19th of each month. If payment in full is not received by that date a finance charge of 1.1% will be assessed on the unpaid balance.
I'm on the End of Term payment plan, why was I assessed a finance charge?
End of Term allows students that are reimbursed by employers the ability to pay tuition after classes are complete without the account becoming delinquent. Every student selecting an extended payment option is assessed a monthly finance charge. The Payment Agreement Form you signed specifically addresses the finance charge that will be assessed.
Why was I charged a Student Activity Fee?
Every Undergraduate, School of Divinity, Full Time MBA and Law School students are assessed this fee. It covers student events, activities, speakers, etc., sponsored on campus throughout the year.
Why was I charged a Technology Fee?
All students are assessed a technology fee each semester. It covers such technology enhancements as updated computers in student labs every three years, use of a new e-mail system (Microsoft Outlook), more student services, such as course registration on the Web, computer and database access from on and off campus and an expansion of digital media production services.
I haven't received my financial aid yet, how can I purchase my books?
Students can go to the Card Office, located in Murray-Herrick room 259, to set up an express account. Express account charges will be added to your student account.
I have a credit balance, when will I receive my refund check?
Refunds will be mailed to the billing address approximately one week after the add/drop period ends.
Students now have the option of signing up for Direct Deposit of credit balances. Refunds can be sent directly to your personal checking account with your authorization. Click here for information regarding this Direct Deposit option.
Refund checks are mailed on Fridays throughout the school year. Direct Deposit refunds will be done on a daily basis.
When do I get my confirming deposit back?
The confirming deposit is automatically refunded to the student account upon graduation. As a continuing student you must notify the Registrar's Office of withdrawal by July 5th for fall term or January 5th for spring term to received a refund of the confirming deposit. If notification is not received by these dates, the confirming deposit is forfeited.