Bluffton University

Student Billing

The following information has several purposes: 1) to acquaint you with Bluffton University billing periods and financial policies; 2) to help you calculate what your costs will be; 3) to help you determine a suitable payment plan. Please read this material carefully.

We know that paying for college can be a lot of information at one time and confusing. Bluffton University staff are ready to assist you! If you have questions, please email cashier@bluffton.edu and a team member will respond to you within 24-48 hours.
We do try our best to respond in the same business day if possible

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BILLING

We want families to be proactive in their financial commitments and to assist with this. Bluffton University uses electronic billing (e-bill) as its official billing method. The student is responsible for viewing and paying their student account e-bill by the scheduled due date. Students will be sent an e-bill beginning July 1 and every 1st of the month thereafter if a balance remains.

Bluffton’s academic year consist of two semesters; fall and spring. The 2026-27 tuition cost per semester is $19,395 (12-17 credit hours). Room/board and fees will vary based on the student’s selection.

Tuition, room and board and fees can be found at www.bluffton.edu/tuition

Students can view their bill at any time and make a payment by logging into their my.bluffton.edu account (Select Student › Financial Information ‌› Make a Payment). The first time you log in, you will need to read and accept the terms of service agreement for enrollment at Bluffton University.

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PAYMENT OPTIONS DESCRIPTIONS

Payment-in-full by semester: The fall semester bill is due by Aug. 1, and the spring semester bill is due by Jan. 2. The bill is calculated on the costs for that semester as of the date the bill was generated. Additional charges that are added to your student account must be paid at the time they are incurred. An example of these charges may include, but are not limited to: Bookstore charges, lab fees, change in tuition hours (e.g. overload), cross-cultural program fees, etc.

Fall/spring semester 5-month payment plan: This payment option is divided into five equal installments. There will be a $20 nonrefundable fee each semester for being on the payment plan. Payments will be August through December (5 months) for fall semester, and January through May (5 months) for spring semester. For the fall payment plan, you must be enrolled by Aug. 1. For the spring payment plan, you must be enrolled by Jan. 2. Payments are due on the 1st of each month. Additional charges that are added to your student account will be added to your payment plan at your approval. If you deny the approval, you must make a separate payment towards the new charges. An example of these charges may include, but are not limited to: Bookstore charges, lab fees, change in tuition hours (e.g. overload), cross-cultural program fees, etc.

NOTE: All costs per semester are an estimate. Please check your balance frequently.

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HOW TO PAY YOUR STUDENT ACCOUNT BALANCE

Payment toward your student account may be paid with the following:

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FINANCIAL AID FOR RETURNING STUDENTS

Submit the FASFA every year to renew your financial aid. Bluffton’s priority deadline for filing the FASFA is May 1 of each year. The FAFSA school code for Bluffton University is 003016.
Financial aid awards are processed beginning in April after registering for fall classes, as long as all other requirements are met.

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UNPAID ACCOUNT BALANCE

Financial Hold: If a student fails to pay their account balance or any monies due and owing Bluffton by the scheduled due date, the university will place a registration hold on their student account, preventing them from registering for future classes (cf. terms of service agreement).
Late Payment Charge: If students fail to pay their account balance or any monies due and owing Bluffton by the scheduled due date, Bluffton may assess a late payment fee or apply interest charges of 1% of the unpaid balance to the student account until the past due account is paid in full.

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FERPA

The Federal Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the release of information on a student’s account to anyone other than that student without written permission. The FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) authorization form is available on my.bluffton.edu. (Select Student, Give Permissions to my Data (FERPA).

If students want Bluffton to share information from their education and or associated financial record with someone else, the student must grant FERPA permissions to those whom they wish to have information released. If this FERPA information is not provided, our staff will not be authorized to discuss student information with anyone other than the student. Once a parent/guardian has been given permission to a student account, they will receive their own login for my.bluffton.edu.

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COMMUNICATION

All communication from the business office uses the student’s Bluffton email as an official method of communication and therefore students are responsible for reading any emails received from the business office. For questions or additional information, contact the business office at cashier@bluffton.edu.

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BILLING REFUND POLICY

Students who withdraw from Bluffton University before the end of the semester may be eligible for a refund of tuition, course fees, and room & board charges. Refunds are based on the percentage of the semester completed at the time of official withdrawal or move-out.
See Bluffton University Academic Calendar for semester begin and end dates.

Refund Schedule

Tuition and Course Fees:
 0% – 10% of semester completed: 100% refund (student pays 0%)
>10% – 20% completed: 80% refund (student pays 20%)
>20% – 30% completed: 70% refund (student pays 30%)
>30% – 40% completed: 60% refund (student pays 40%)
>40% – 50% completed: 50% refund (student pays 50%)
>50% – 60% completed: 40% refund (student pays 60%)
60% or more completed: No refund (student pays 100%)

Room and Board:
0% of semester completed (first day of classes): 100% refund (student pays 0%)
After day 1 – 10% of semester completed: 90% refund (student pays 10%)
>10% – 20% completed: 80% refund (student pays 20%)
>20% – 30% completed: 70% refund (student pays 30%)
>30% – 40% completed: 60% refund (student pays 40%)
>40% – 50% completed: 50% refund (student pays 50%)
>50% – 60% completed: 40% refund (student pays 60%)
More than 60% completed: No refund (student pays 100%)

Bluffton and State Financial Aid:
0% – 10% of semester completed: 100% returned (student keeps 0%)
>10% – 20% completed: 80% returned (student keeps 20%)
>20% – 30% completed: 70% returned (student keeps 30%)
>30% – 40% completed: 60% returned (student keeps 40%)
>40% – 50% completed: 50% returned (student keeps 50%)
>50% – 60% completed: 40% returned (student keeps 60%)
More than 60% completed: No funds returned (student keeps 100%)

Federal Financial Aid Refund
Federal financial aid refunds are calculated based on the exact date of official withdrawal.
Aid % Returned to Government = 100% − Percent of Semester Completed
More than 60% completed: No funds returned (student keeps 100%)

Institutional Fees
Institutional Fees are non-refundable after the first day of classes. 

Additional Notes
Refunds are calculated based on the student’s official withdrawal or move-out date.
Refund percentages apply to tuition, course fees, and room and board as specified above.
No refund will be issued once more than 60% of the semester has been completed.
Students dismissed from housing for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for room and board refunds.

Federal aid is always calculated to the exact withdrawal date, even within the first 10% of the semester.

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CASH CREDIT BALANCES – FEDERAL TITLE IV FUNDS AVAILABILITY AND USE (INCLUDES FEDERAL GRANTS/LOANS)

The following statements are provided as required by federal regulations for Title IV Funds:
Disbursements of financial aid may create credit balances on student accounts. Federal regulations stipulate that if a credit balance is created by Title IV Funds, it can only be kept on the account for future charges upon written authorization from the student or the student’s parent. Bluffton University does not pay interest to students/parents on student accounts that have credit balances. Refunds can be issued to the student or parent after the add/drop periods have been completed. If a credit occurs due to a Federal Parent Plus loan, the refund will be issued in accordance with the borrower’s intent as reflected on the PLUS loan application and award.

Federal regulations require that “a student or student’s parents be notified of the amount of Title IV, HEA (Higher Education Act) program funds the student can expect to receive, and how and when those funds will be paid.” Specific reference to billing and cash management is also outlined in materials sent from the financial aid office, specifically the award letter and the policies brochure. Additional copies are available upon request from the financial aid office.

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EMERGENCY POLICY

The university shall not be liable for any failure, delay or interruption in performing its obligations and duties herein stated due to causes or conditions beyond its control or which could not have been prevented or remedied by reasonable effort at reasonable expense. The university’s inability to perform any term or condition of this contract as a result of force majeure conditions beyond its control such as, but not limited to, strikes, fires, flood, government restrictions, acts of nature, epidemics, damage or destruction shall not be deemed a breach of this contract. In such case, the university’s liability will be limited to a pro-rata credit for non-graduating students or a pro-rata refund for graduating seniors. In addition, neither the university nor its officials, agents and employees are liable for the loss, theft, disappearance, damage or destruction at any time or in any place of any property belonging to, used by, or in custody of any resident no matter where such property may be normally used, kept or stored. Students are strongly encouraged to extend their family’s homeowner’s insurance or purchase specific renter’s insurance to cover personal belongings.