Payment Plans

Payment Options

Payment Options and Registration Hold Policy

Bethany realizes that full time or part time classified students’ circumstances may not allow for the full semester payment by the due date. Below you will find monthly payment plan allows the student and/or their parent(s) to pay one third of the remaining balance over a three-month period from August to October and from January through March, as well as the process of removal from campus due to non-payment or breach of contract.

Domestic Student Tuition/Room/Dining/Fees – All domestic students must have their bill paid in full by August 10 or January 10 unless an approved payment is on file. If no payment or payment plan has been made on or before August 10 or January 10, a second notice will be sent via email to the registered student letting them know they have 48 hours to make full payment or file a payment plan to avoid termination of classes, and room and board.

Domestic Student Payment Plan – The college will allow a monthly payment plan for domestic students starting the first semester of school as outlined below, as long as the payment plan was filed on or before August 1 or January 1 to the Business Office. A breach of contract can result in termination of classes, and room and board (a committee will decide this). The student’s transcript will be held if they owe more than $250, and the student will not be allowed to register for future classes until the student’s balance is paid in full. Below is the payment plan schedule.

Fall

• ⅓ payment by August 10th
• ⅓ payment by September 10th
• ⅓ payment by October 10th

Spring

• ⅓ payment by January 10th
• ⅓ payment by February 10th
• ⅓ payment by March 10th

Failure to follow the payment plan will prompt the following action…

1) First day after failure to make a payment, an email will go out to the student by the business office requesting payment and notifying the student that they are in default. The Dean of Students, Director of Residential Life and the Bethany Cares committee will be notified as well.
2) Third day after failure to make a payment, a meeting with the Director of Residential Life (if applicable) will start the process of departure from the residential halls. Notification to coaches and fine arts instructors that the student is no longer eligible to participate (if applicable) will occur as well.
3) Fifth day after failure to make a payment, all classes are cancelled.
4) Eighth day after failure to make a payment, the student will be removed from campus.

New International Student – All new international students must have their bill paid in full by July 31 if coming for the fall, and December 21 if coming in the spring. If no payment is made by that date, termination of SEVIS will occur before arrival. An international student is not eligible for a payment plan the first semester of attendance.

New International Student Arrival Policy – If an international student has not paid by the date(s) stated above, they will not be picked up at the airport by an agent of the College. Room keys and meal access will be denied if they show up on campus. For extreme hardship cases, the review committee can meet to make a revised decision. A representative(s) from international student support office will provide information to the committee. Past family experience does not apply.

Returning International Student Payment Option – The college will allow a returning international student to apply for a monthly payment plan based on a 3-month payment schedule. A breach of contract can result in termination of their SEVIS records, classes, and room and board (a committee will decide this). Their transcript will be held if they owe more than $250 and will not be allowed to register for future classes until balance is paid in full. Below is the payment plan schedule.

Fall

• ⅓ payment by July 31st
• ⅓ payment by September 10th
• ⅓ payment by October 10th

Spring

• ⅓ payment by December 21st
• ⅓ payment by January 21st
• ⅓ payment by February 21st

Failure to follow this plan will result in

1) First day after failure to make a payment, an email will go out to the student by the business office requesting payment and notification of default. The International Student Recruiter, International Student Support Specialist, the Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life, and the Bethany Cares committee will be notified as well.
2) Third day after failure to make a payment, a meeting with international student and the International Student Support Specialist will commence with the topic of booking for flights home, and notification to coaches and fine arts instructors that they are no longer eligible to participate (if applicable).
3) Fifth day after failure to make a payment, all classes will be cancelled and a meeting with Director of Residential Life (if applicable) to start the process of departure from the residential halls.
4) Eighth day after failure to make a payment, the student will be removed from campus, their SEVIS record will be cancelled and they will be sent home.

Former Students – Students (both domestic and international) prior to FY 2021 that are on an approved payment plan, can remain on that payment plan and transcripts will be released. If a current student who leaves Bethany early in the semester creating a balance owed due to loans or government grants being sent back, or from fines or any other fees, that student will be required to pay ½ the balance owed on the day of departure and the second half 30 days later.

Dual Credit Students – Dual credit students must be paid in full before the student is allowed access to the course. Failure to pay their tuition bill will result in termination of their classes. There is no appeal process for Dual Credit students.

Review Committee – Applying the policy to individual circumstance is complex. A small committee will meet on regularly bases to review the current standing of students and adjust if need be on a “case by case” bases. The review committee will include the Director of Financial Aid, Director of Accounting and Sr. Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Registration Hold Policy

Registration Hold – Any student who owes more than $50 will be on a registration hold. In order to register for the following semester, the bill must be paid in full or have an approved payment plan on file. A student can appeal this hold to the review committee stated above.

Overdue Payments

A student that fails to make payments according to the payment plan is in breach of contract and will be assessed finance charges of 1% per month on the outstanding balance. Bethany reserves the right to terminate all classes, residence hall, and food service privileges, unless the remaining balance is paid in full.

Refund Policy

A student who wants to withdraw from college must follow Bethany’s withdrawal procedures outlined by the Registrar’s Office. After the withdrawal form is completed, and a withdrawal date is determined, the Business Office will calculate a refund for a percentage of the costs paid less any financial aid amount returned to the government or Bethany Lutheran College.

The following tables show the amount that may be refunded:

Tuition/Fees/Room Refund

Day 1-5 – 100%
Day 6-10 – 75%
Day 11-15 – 65%
Day 16-20 – 50%
Day 21 or later – 0%

Summer Semester Refund

Day 1 – 100%
Day 2 – 80%
Day 3 – 70%
Day 4 – 60%
Day 5 – 50%
Day 6 or later – 0%

Board – Prorated according to percentage of term attended. (Number of weeks attended divided by 17 = percentage)

It is recommended that a student seeks counsel from the financial aid office before making the decision to withdraw early. The College is required to return federal/state aid to the government in accordance with regulations, which may affect the final account balance for which a student is responsible. If financial aid is returned, the student will be responsible to pay the difference to the College.

Outstanding Balance/Transcript Hold

The College will withhold transcripts and all official college documents until a student’s account has been paid in full or in compliance with Minnesota State Statue 136A – Section 44 Subd. 4 as listed below.

1. the debt owed is less than $250;
2. the student has entered into and, as determined by the institution, is in compliance with a payment plan with the school;
3. the transcript request is made by a prospective employer for the student; or
4.  the school has sent the debt for repayment to the Department of Revenue or to a collection agency, as defined in section 332.31, subdivision 3, external to the institution.