Student Accounts FAQs

What is the number to the Business Office?

Our toll free number is 1-866-248-0445. Locally, you may dial 863-8058.

What are the hours for the cashier window?

Monday 8:30am-6:00pm, Tuesday 8:30am-5:00pm, Wednesday 8:30am-5:00pm, Thursday 8:30am-6:00pm, Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

Based on my recent financial aid award letter, it appears that my total costs for the upcoming academic year will not be completely covered by my financial aid award. What other options are available to pay my balance?

Yes, there are alternative funding sources for students to consider.

Monthly Payment Plan CSU offers a monthly payment plan through Tuition Management Systems (TMS), an outside agency. This option allows you to divide the balance owed per academic year into 9 or 10 monthly installments. You can begin as early as May of this year! The last opportunity to participate in TMS is in August, with payment due by August 15. Find out more information online www.afford.com . You may also contact CSU Student Accounts & Loan Office via email at studentaccounts@csuniv.edu or call toll-free (866) 248-0445 or (843) 863-8058.

PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) This is a loan in the parent's name. The PLUS has a variable interest rate. This loan goes into repayment 60 days after the loan is disbursed. The amount of repayment depends on the total borrowed. For example, minimum repayment on a $4,000 loan is $50 per month. There are no pre-payment penalties. There is a loan application and approval process. If parents are determined to be ineligible for a PLUS Loan, students may be eligible to receive additional Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. The loan amount would be dependent on the student's academic class status. The PLUS Prequalification Form will determine your initial eligibility prior to completing the PLUS Master Promissory Note.

-PLUS is offered through the S.C. Loan Corporation. Find out more information online at slc.sc.edu.

Alternative Student Loans Palmetto Assistance Loan (PAL) and/or CitiAssist Loan are available to degree-seeking students who need additional funds to meet the Cost of Attendance. They are only awarded after the student has received a Stafford loan. Students applying for an alternative loan may borrow up to the total budget for the current academic year. These loans are in the student's name and approved based on the borrower's credit and work history. A co- signer may be required when applying for an alternative loan. The interest rates on these loans are variable and most of them go into repayment six months after graduation, withdrawal from CSU, or when a student drops below half-time status.

-PAL is offered through S.C. Loan Corporation. Find out more information online at slc.sc.edu.

-CitiAssist is offered through CitiBank. Find out more information online at studentloan.com

Once you have registered for classes, the Student Accounts & Loan Office also accepts payments online at charlestonsouthern.edu.

Can I increase my Stafford Loan?

Students are automatically awarded to their maximum loan eligibilty. Stafford loan eligibility is based on hours earned and the student's classification as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior. For more information on the maximum loan requirements, check the S.C. Loan Corporation website at slc.sc.edu.

Can I increase on my other loans (i.e. PLUS, PAL, Sallie Mae Signature, CitiAssist)?

Each lender has their maximum loan limits (not to exceed the student's cost of attendance) and criteria for increasing loans. Students should contact their lender directly for more information.

Why do the financial aid awards on my statement not match the financial aid award letter I received?

If you were awarded Federal College Work Study (FCWS), this will not be listed in the financial aid awards on your statement. FCWS must be earned each month by working the required number of hours. This is taxable income; therefore, your net earning will be approximately 94% of your total award. Before you may begin your FCWS position, you are required to complete a Student Employment Contract, which you will receive at the Student Employment Orientation Workshop at the beginning of the semester. You will be given an option to automatically apply your paycheck to your balance. If you choose this option and work your required hours, you may subtract 94% of the FCWS award from the balance shown on your statement. Otherwise, full payment of your remaining balance for the semester is required. Other financial aid awards may not be on your statement due to missing documents needed to complete your financial aid file. These documents are required to confirm your award and disburse the award to your student account. Follow-up letters for these missing documents are sent out bi-monthly. It is important to submit this information no later than 30 days after the start of classes to prevent losing your award, if applicable.

My loans just came through and I have a credit balance. I need my refund check as soon as possible!!! When can I get it?

Refund checks are processed on a weekly basis and are available each Thursday at the cashier window in the Business Office. We do our best to make sure each student refund check is processed as soon as possible, however there is no guarantee that every check will be processed. A credit needs to exist on your account by Monday morning for you to get a refund check that Thursday. If your credit posts on Tuesday, you will not receive a refund check until the following week. No refunds will be disbursed until a credit exists on your account! Even if you have been approved for a loan, we cannot give you a check until we receive the funds from the loan corporation. You will be required to show your student ID to pick up your refund.

When will the first refund checks for the Fall semester be issued?

The first refunds for the Fall semester are scheduled to be issued at the cashier's window on September 15. Refund checks will be disbursed twice weekly through the month of September.

I've been approved for student loans for the entire academic year; can I go ahead and get a refund check for that entire amount now?

No, your loan money will be disbursed accordingly at the beginning of each term. No exceptions will be made.

I am going to be a work-study student, why can't I get a refund now for that award?

Work-study students must work the required hours before receiving any refund check. The purpose of the work-study program is to help pay for your tuition, the majority of students automatically apply their work-study checks to their account. Your work-study wage is taxable. That means if you are awarded $1000.00 as a work study award, after taxes are removed, your award will be around $940.00, please take this into consideration. Once you have worked your required hours and your work-study check produces a credit balance on your account, you may be eligible for a refund.

Can I pay on my account without coming to the cashier window?

Yes, you can pay by credit card online 24 hours a day or you can pay by credit card over the phone by calling 1-866-248-0445 during normal Business Office hours. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. If you have any trouble completing online payments, please contact John Strubel at jstrubel@csuniv.edu immediately.

I dropped a couple of classes and now I have a balance, how did that happen?

Your financial aid package is dependent on the amount of hours you are registered for. If you were awarded based on a full-time schedule and you drop down to six hours, you will no longer qualify for full-time financial aid. All awards, loans and charges will be adjusted if appropriate.

I need to get an official copy of my transcript but I have a remaining balance on my account. Can I get a copy of the transcript now and just pay it back later?

No, you must have a zero balance with the school to receive a copy of your transcript. It does not matter if the transcript is for transfer needs or employment purposes. The quickest way to get your transcript processed is to pay the full balance by credit card over the phone so your request can be sent out that day.

When is payment due for my tuition?

All payments are due on the first day of class of each term. If you don't know how much you owe, please go to the Charleston Southern University web site to view the current tuition charges for that term.

Can I make monthly payments on my balance?

Yes, you can set up a monthly payment plan with Tuition Management Systems (TMS). All payment plans must be set up before the academic year begins. You cannot start a payment plan halfway through the year. Go to www.afford.com to sign up for your payment plan. To calculate the total amount that you will make payments on, add up your total tuition costs for the entire year and subtract any financial aid you will receive during the entire year. The amount remaining is the amount to be paid through TMS. It is your responsibility to check with TMS to make sure that the amount you are budgeting is correct. If your charges or financial aid change, you must adjust your payments through TMS. Remember, you are not setting up payments plans for each semester, you are setting up a payment plan for the entire academic year. If you calculate your budgeted amount incorrectly, you are responsible for paying any remaining balance on the account.