Consequences of Unpaid Balances

APUS provides high quality educational programs at an affordable cost. Students are responsible for understanding their charges and meeting financial obligations associated with their education. While we understand that students may receive financial assistance from third parties, including federal student aid, the ultimate financial responsibility belongs to the student.

For students using U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs educational benefits, please refer to the section in the student handbook: “ Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Payments.”

If for any reason a payment is not received and a balance exists on a student account, students will be placed on Financial Hold. This status includes third-party payments, such as TA, FSA, or scholarships that have not been received as expected.

Students with a Financial Hold will be blocked from the following while the balance is remaining:

• Registration for another term.
• Having a diploma or certificate issued.
• Being readmitted to the University.
• Students should contact Student Support at [email protected] as soon as possible to resolve any outstanding balances on their accounts.

Payment Policies

Tuition and fees are due in full prior to the beginning of each academic period (session or semester) through direct payment or approved payment arrangements. Balances may be viewed through a student's online ledger.

Students are responsible for making payment or entering into an approved payment arrangement prior to the start of the academic period regardless of whether notification was received regarding an unpaid balance.

Students are financially responsible for all unpaid balances including those that result from payments not received from, or payments returned to, third parties. Third parties include, but are not limited to, Veteran’s benefits, employer education benefits, scholarships, and Federal Student Aid (FSA).

Notifications regarding account balances are sent to a student's email address on record. Students are responsible for maintaining their correct contact information with APUS.

Outstanding Accounts and Collections Policy

Students are responsible for charges assessed to their accounts. There may be financial impacts related to dropping or withdrawing from a course or the University.

Student accounts are considered to be in good standing if by the payment deadline at the beginning of each academic period: (a) tuition and fees are paid in full; (b) students have an approved payment arranged (approved by the Business Office) that is current in its payments; (c) students have approved tuition assistance through a third party; or (d) students have approved financial aid through Federal Student Aid; or (e) a scholarship sufficient to cover their account balance.

A student account is not in good standing if there is an outstanding balance that is past due that will not be paid through an approved payment plan, third party, scholarship, or Federal Student Aid.

A student account will be placed on a balance due hold if third party payments, including but not limited to, Veteran’s benefits, employer education benefits, scholarships, and Federal Student Aid are not received or are returned due to participation or eligibility rules. For students using U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs educational benefits, please refer to the section in the student handbook: Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Payments.

If activity on a student account results in a balance later in, or after the term, a balance due hold will be placed on the account at that time.

If a student account is not in good standing it may, among other things, result in:

• Cancellation of enrollment
• Denial of registration for future classes
• Referral to collections agency
• Denial of readmission
• Denial of graduation

In the event a student becomes delinquent, the account may be referred to a collection agency and additional costs may become an additional obligation.

When an account is referred to an outside collection agency, the past due account may be reported to all national credit bureaus.

Once the account is referred to a collection agency, students will be contacted by a representative of that agency. Payments are then made directly to that agency and not the University.

Billing Rights Summary

If a student believes their account balance is incorrect, or would like more information about a transaction on their account, they should contact us as follows:

• Telephone: 877-755-2787 ext: 8227
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Mail:
  American Public University System
  Attn: Business Office
  111 West Congress Street
  Charles Town, WV 25414

The following information should be included in the request:

• Student name and student ID#.
• The dollar amount of the suspected error.
• A description of the error and an explanation, if possible, of why the student believes the error occurred or the reason for disputing the balance.

Students do not have to pay the amount in question while the University investigates, but are obligated to pay the portion of the bill that is not in question.