FAQ

1. What is the Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts?

The Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts generates tuition bills and collects tuition, fees and other University-related charges including food and housing. The Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts also issues refunds to student’s accounts. The Repayment Office is also part of the Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts and collects tuition payments as well as manages past due institutional loans.

2. Where do I find the Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts?

The Office of the Bursar/Student Accounts is located on the second floor of Memorial Hall.

3. What are the office hours?

For office hours, please go to hofstra.edu/bursar and scroll down to Office Hours and Location. Please note that the Repayment Office is only open until 5 p.m. daily, except on days where the entire office closes earlier.

4. When will I receive a bill?

Bills are available for all students electronically via the Hofstra Portal. Fall bills will be available by the second week of June for all newly admitted registered students. eBills are available on the Hofstra Portal by the end of June for all continuing registered students. Payment for fall is generally due August 1st. It is imperative that students set up at least one Authorized User on the Hofstra Portal to receive important billing and payment plan information. Students and Authorized Users will be notified via email when a billing statement is available. In addition, students can now access real-time eBills by printing an On-Demand Statement from the Hofstra portal.

January eBills will be available the first week of November for all registered students. Payment for the January term is generally due the first week of December.

Spring eBills will be available in the third week of November for all registered students. Payment for spring is generally due the first week of January.

Please click hofstra.edu/deadlines for specific due dates for each semester.

IMPORTANT: If you make any changes to your account after your first eBill is available, always check your Hofstra Portal for your most updated billing information at my.hofstra.edu, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your Portal account will reflect the most up to date information.

5. When is payment due?

Fall semester charges are typically due the first week of August.
Spring semester charges are typically due the first week of January.
Please check hofstra.edu/deadlines for specific due dates for each semester.

6. What forms of payment are accepted?

Hofstra University conveniently accepts payments 24/7 through the Hofstra portal via electronic check with no associated fees or by credit card through a third-party company, PayPath/Heartland. Paypath charges a nonrefundable fee of 2.95%, (minimum $3), for all domestic credit cards. For international credit cards, effective 02/23/24, the service fee is 4.25%. Checks, money orders or 529 payments should be made payable to Hofstra University and include the Student ID. Please mail checks to Hofstra University – Office of the Bursar or drop in the secure mail slot in Memorial Hall 205 during regular business hours, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other payment services are provided by appointment only. Learn more about our payment options here.

7. Who do I make checks payable to?

Checks must be made payable to Hofstra University and in U.S. dollars.

8. How do I make a payment online?

Please refer to hofstra.edu/sfshowto for specific instructions.

9. Why is there a Returned Check Hold on my student account?

A personal check returned by the bank for any reason will be charged back to the student's account and the student's account will be assessed a $25.00 returned check fee. In addition, a hold will be placed on the student's account prohibiting access to many of Hofstra University's services.

When a personal check has been returned, the student must remit payment in the form of cash, certified bank check, money order or credit card to satisfy the outstanding balance or the student may also be subject to account restrictions, included but not limited to, cancellation of current term and future term classes for non-payment, restriction from payment by personal check, etc.

Hofstra University reserves the right to rescind the option to pay by personal check.

10. What if I do not receive a paper bill?

All students receive eBills, available through the Hofstra Portal. If you make any changes to your account (i.e., drop a class/add a class/add a dining plan/change a dining plan/add a room/change a room) after your first bill is received, check your Hofstra Portal for your most updated billing information at my.hofstra.edu, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your Portal account will reflect the most up-to-date information. In addition, students can now access real time eBills by printing an On-Demand Statement from the Hofstra portal.

11. How can I authorize others to view my bill and make payments on my behalf?

Please refer to hofstra.edu/sfshowto for specific instructions.

12. My financial aid is not reflected on my bill, who do I contact?

Please contact the Student Financial Services Suite at 516-463-8000 or via email.

13. What payment plans are available?

Hofstra University now offers several payment plan options. Enrollment in a payment plan allows you to divide your semester charges, after financial aid and any other expected funding, into manageable monthly installments. For all plans, payment may either be automatically debited from your checking account monthly or paid manually on or before the installment due date. Please refer to hofstra.edu/sfshowto for instructions on how to enroll.

14. What happens if I pay my bill late?

Late Payment Fees are assessed on all accounts that are not paid by the established due dates.

Fall Semester:
A $100 Late Payment Fee is assessed on accounts if not paid by the bill due date.
An additional $150 Late Payment Fee is assessed by September 15.
An additional $250 Late Payment Fee is assessed by October 15.

Spring Semester:
A $100 Late Payment Fee is assessed on accounts if not paid by the bill due date.
An additional $150 Late Payment Fee is assessed by February 15.
An additional $250 Late Payment Fee is assessed by March 15.

January and Summer Semesters:
A $50 Late Payment Fee is assessed on accounts if not paid by the bill due date.

Payment Plans:
A $100 Late Payment Fee is assessed on accounts for each monthly installment payment paid after the scheduled due date.

15. Payment Plan FAQ-Detailed Resource for Payment Plans

16. What is the refund policy if I drop a class(es) or withdraw from the University?

Please refer to the Academic Leave and Withdrawal page for further details on the policy. Refund of tuition charges is based on the date the course is officially dropped through the Office of Student Accounts. The refund of tuition schedule can be found on the deadlines page.

17. How do I submit a refund request?

Refund requests may be submitted online through your student account at my.hofstra.edu. by following these steps:

Click on Hofstra Online on the left side of the screen.
Then under Student Services, click on Student Accounts.
Next, select the Student Refund Request Form.

You may also submit refund requests via email, via telephone at 516-463-8000, or in person at the Student Financial Services Suite in Memorial Hall.

18. When can I expect to receive a refund?

You may track the status of your refund request through your Portal account under the Student Account section of the Hofstra Online area. Refund requests typically take up to 15 business days to be processed and an email will be sent to your Pride account once it is completed.

19. What is a Title IV Authorization Form and why should I complete it?

Hofstra University, in compliance with federal regulations, must obtain the voluntary permission from the student (or parent, if a Parent PLUS loan) to apply Federal financial aid proceeds to pay for charges related to a prior term, future term or charges other than tuition, fees, food and housing on the student’s account.

The authorization form remains in effect while you are a Hofstra University student (including breaks in enrollment). It may be rescinded at any time (See Title IV Rescind Form).

By signing the form, any excess financial aid (either student or Parent PLUS) will be permitted to be applied to prior, future or certain miscellaneous charges on your student account (such as traffic fines, library fines, and replacement ID cards). Importantly, this will help prevent an “account hold” for unpaid charges, which would block you from registering for future semesters, obtaining grades, and other University services.

20. Why is there an Accounts Receivable hold on my student account?

Student accounts that are not paid in full are assessed late payment fees according to the University’s published schedule and incur an Accounts Receivable Hold. This hold prohibits the student from participating in Hofstra’s Open Registration process and may prohibit participation in the annual Fall Room Selection process. In addition, the University reserves the right to withhold diplomas, certificates, and other University services until all financial obligations have been satisfied.

Be sure to check your Portal account to ensure your student account is paid in full before important deadlines, such as Open Registration and Fall Room Selection process.

Summer and fall registration typically opens in March.
January and spring registration typically opens in October.
Room Selection process typically begins in March.

21. What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to protect the confidentiality of student education records. The law states that no one outside the institution shall have access to a student's education records, nor will the institution disclose any information from those records without the written consent of the student.

22. How can I permit others to discuss my student account with Hofstra personnel?

At the post-secondary level, parents have no inherent rights to inspect a student’s education record. The right to inspect is limited solely to the student.

Parents may gain access to non-directory information (grades, GPA, etc.) only if they obtain consent from the student.

The preferred method to allow access to parents is through the my.hofstra.edu Portal whereby the student can, at his or her discretion, grant access to his or her records online. A consent form, FERPA Student Release, is also available at the Student Financial Services Suite in Memorial Hall, or can be downloaded from Hofstra’s web site.

Be sure to check out the attached link for more important information including tuition and fees and printable forms hofstra.edu/sfs/bursar.

The University reserves the right to change costs, dates, and procedures at its discretion.

23. Why am I a being charged a fee for Maintain Matriculation?

Students are said to maintain matriculation when engaged in academic pursuits that do not include registration for classes. Students maintaining matriculation are considered ‘registered’ at the University for the term in which they are maintained. Examples of academic pursuits include, but are not limited to, work on a thesis and completion of course work where a grade of incomplete was received. Students who are candidates for graduation or who are enrolled solely in non-credit bearing course work will be registered as Maintaining Matriculation by the Registrar and will be charged the published Maintaining Matriculation fee.

24. Where can I find more information on Form 1098-T?

Visit the Form 1098T FAQ.

FAQ

General Information:

Billing and Payments:

Payment Plans:

Refunds:

Miscellaneous:

Forms: