Monthly Payment Plan

On This Page:

How To Sign Up  |  Cost  |  Payment Methods  |  Plan Availability  |  Estimating Your Payments  |  Monthly Plan Features  |  Contact Us  |  Sign-Up Dates and Schedule

Payment Plan

Columbia offers a monthly payment plan to enable you to pay tuition and fees over several months, rather than in one payment. You can sign up for the fall semester beginning in July. Columbia offers this plan through the Nelnet service provider, which is integrated with the monthly E-Bill. The payment plan is not a loan. If you are using the payment plan and also borrowing private student loans, you have the right and ability to select the education loan provider of your choice, free from penalty. You are not required to use any lender promulgated by the payment plan provider.

While there is a modest, non-refundable application fee charged by Nelnet, there are no interest charges or credit checks.

The Payment Plan is available for the Fall term, Spring term, the annual academic year plan (Fall & Spring), or Summer term. 

Please note that a late fee is not assessed when students are on a monthly payment plan. 

Students who are allowed to register because they are on a payment plan or because they have made a payment will have that registration reversed if the payment is canceled or unable to be completed due to lack of funds.

 

 

How to Sign Up

 

STUDENTS

 

1.

Log in to Student Services Online (SSOL) and click on “Account Detail and E-Billing.”

2.

Click on “View E-Bill and Use the Monthly Payment Plan.”

 
 
AUTHORIZED PAYERS
 

1.

Go to the secure e-billing website and log in with the username and password set up by your student.

2.

Select the "Payment Plan" option from the menu on the left side of the page.

To Top

 

Cost

  • $45 annual enrollment fee
  • $25 enrollment fee per term (Fall, Spring, & Summer terms)
  • $30 returned payment fee if a payment is returned

To Top

 

Payment Methods

  • Automatic payment from a U.S. bank account (ACH)
  • Note that a credit or debit card may be used to pay the enrollment fee. (An additional convenience fee will be assessed.)

To Top

 

Plan Availability

The payment plan is available June 8 each academic year. Students may choose to sign up for one of the following options:

  • Fall Term: August - December 
  • Spring Term: January - May
  • Annual (Fall and Spring Terms): August - May
  • Summer Term: June - July*

Note: Summer Term plan enrollment begins on May 1. 

To Top

 

Estimating Your Budget and Monthly Payments

Tuition and Fees for each new academic year are approved and posted by July. You will have the opportunity to adjust your budget if you are adding and dropping classes. When estimating, remember to also subtract financial aid awards and outside scholarships, add any Housing, Dining, or other fees, and take into account any sponsored payments or outside scholarship you may expect.

To Top

 

Monthly Payment Plan Features

  • Automatic Rebalance of Amount in Payment Plan: If your term bill amount changes, the system will automatically recalculate your new total amount, as well as your updated monthly payment amount. This automatic recalculation will happen twice per term. You and any authorized payers will receive an automated email notification once the account is rebalanced.
     
  • Manual Rebalance of Amount in Payment Plan: After you have signed up for the payment plan, if you anticipate a payment from a source not listed in your E-Bill, for example a sponsored payment or outside scholarship, you can adjust the amount budgeted for your payment plan by logging in to the E-Bill and updating the total amount you wish to pay via the plan. The system will recalculate your monthly payment based on your changes.

To Top

 

Contact Information

 

NELNET

Telephone: 1-888-470-6014
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Student Service Center

Telephone: 212-854-4400
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 

Sign-Up Dates and Schedule

Columbia’s payment plan is flexible and offers three options:

  • Fall Term Charges Only
  • Spring Term Charges Only
  • Annual / Academic Year (Fall and Spring Terms) - For plan management purposes, the Annual plan is considered as two separate plans, one for the Fall term charges and the other for the Spring term charges. The percentages collected during late enrollment in the Fall term only apply to the balance established for the Fall term. 
  • Summer Term Charges Only

Note: Payments are automatically deducted on the 5th of every month from the bank account you authorized during sign-up.

 

FALL TERM  CHARGES PLAN 

5 Payments, $25 enrollment fee. Plan enrollment closes after November 26.

Enrollment Period

Required

Down Payment

Number

of Payments

Months

of Payments

June 1 - August 3none5August - December
August 4 - August 2720%4September - December
August 28 - September 24
40%
3October - December
September 25 - October 27
60%
2November & December
October 28 - November 14
80%
1December

 

 

SPRING TERM CHARGES PLAN

5 Payments, $25 enrollment fee. Plan enrollment closes after April 24.

Enrollment Period

Required

Down Payment

Number

of Payments

Months

of Payments

November 15 – December 31none5January - May
January 1 - January 27
20%
4February - May
January 28 - February 24
40%
3March - May
February 25 - March 25
60%
2April & May
March 26 - April 26
80%
1May

 

 

ANNUAL / ACADEMIC YEAR PLAN (Fall and Spring Terms):

10 Payments, $45 enrollment fee. Plan enrollment closes after November 25.

For plan management purposes, the Annual plan is considered as two separate plans, one for the Fall term charges and the other for the Spring charges. The percentages collected during late enrollment in the Fall term only apply to the balance established for the Fall term.

Enrollment Period

Required

Down Payment

Number

of Payments

Months

of Payments

June 1 - August 3none10August - May
August 4 - August 27
20% *
9September - May
August 28 - September 24
40% *
8October - May
September 25 - October 27
60% *
7November - May
October 28 - November 14
80% *
6December - May


 

* This percentage is based on the amount dedicated to the Fall term portion of the payment plan.

 

SUMMER TERM CHARGES PLAN

2 Payments, $25 enrollment fee. Plan enrollment closes on June 25.

Enrollment Period

Required

Down Payment

Number

of Payments

Months

of Payments

May 1 - June 4none2June - July
June 5 - June 25
50%
1July

To Top