Student Accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining To:
Account Holds
Financial Aid Refunds
Student Accounts Office Hours
Paychecks
Check Cashing
All About Payments
Release of my Student Account Information
Tax Credit for Tuition and Qualified Expenses 1098-T Form
Why is there a hold on my account?
A Student Accounts hold is placed when there is a past due or outstanding balance. Other University departments may place holds for specific departmental reasons. For more information, and to find out which department has placed the hold, please call Student Accounts at (509)-963-3546 or log into SAFARI.
If you have signed up for direct deposit, your refund should be deposited to your bank account approximately 2 days after the refund shows as posted to your SAFARI account. If you have not received your refund within 3 days of the date it was posted, please contact Student Accounts at sfs@cwu.edu or at 509-963-2225.
If you have not signed up for direct deposit, your refund will be issued as a paper check and will be mailed to the Mail/Preferred address you have in SAFARI, as of the date the refund was posted your account. If you do not have a Mail/Preferred address, your refund will be mailed to your Home/Permanent address. Refunds are mailed within 2 days they are posted to your account. Please allow several days for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to deliver your refund.
Visit the Financial Aid website for answers to important dates and any other financial aid related questions.
Student Accounts is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. (except federal holidays). Payments received by the Cashiers after 4:30 p.m. will be posted the following day.
When are paychecks distributed?
Paychecks are available on the 10th and 25th of each month. If the 10th or 25th falls on a Saturday, paychecks will be available on Friday the 9th or 24th. If the 10th or 25th falls on a Sunday, paychecks will be available on Monday the 11th or 26th.
Does the Cashiers Office cash checks?
No, our policy does not allow for the cashing of checks. All Central Washington University checks (refunds, payroll, etc.) can be cashed at US Bank.
Where do I go to make payments on my student account? What forms of payment are accepted?
The Cashiers' Office is located in Barge Hall, 1st floor (Room 104). Payments can be made in person, by mail (CWU:Attn Cashiers' Office, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7490), or online from the Student Accounts website or from the CWU home page by pointing the computer's mouse to the "Make a Payment" link located at the bottom of the page. Methods of payment accepted by the Cashiers' Office are cash, check, money orders, cashier's checks, and traveler's checks.
Does CWU accept credit and debit cards? CWU accepts VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Credit card payments can only be made through the Make a Payment link on our website and cannot be made on the phone, by mail or by email.
Why is there a convenience fee?
In order to provide the convenience of an online payment portal, a Convenience Fee of $3.00 will be charged for the use of the online payment system. This fee will be added to your total payment and is Non-Refundable. This amount is subject to change with increases in cost for providing this service or an enhanced service in the future.
Is there any way I can avoid paying the convenience fee?
YES. You can avoid paying the $3.00 convenience fee. If you pay by mail at the address above or bring a check, money order, cashier's checks or traveler's checks to the Cashiers/Student Accounts Office you won’t be charged a convenience fee. Remember to always include your CWU ID number on the check.
Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?
NO. Credit card payments cannot be made over the phone, by mail, or by email. This is to ensure the confidentiality and protect your credit information.
If I make a credit card payment in error, will my convenience fee be refunded?
No. The convenience fee is not refundable even if the payment, to which it relates was made in error, is canceled, refunded, or charged back.
If I use my debit card to pay my student account charges in the web, will I be charged the convenience fee?
Yes. If you use your debit card like a credit card to pay your student account charges, you will be charged the $3.00 convenience fee. Your account will also be charged the convenience fee for payments with checking or saving accounts.
Are other Universities charging a convenience fee for credit card transactions?
Yes. Credit card convenience fees are not unique to CWU. Many other universities in Washington and throughout the nation currently charge convenience fees for credit card and web transactions.
If I pay my tuition and fees with a credit card through the web and then later have a credit on my account, how will the overpayment be refunded to me?
We will refund the credit card that was used to make the payment that resulted in an overpayment. If your credit amount is more than the payment made with the credit or debit card, the remainder will be paid in check form or if you are set up for direct deposit, it will be sent electronically to your bank.
Can I specify which charge my payment goes to?
Yes, you may specify to the Cashiers which charge you want your payment to cover if your account is current. However, if you do not specify which chargers the payment should pay or if your account is past due it will pay the oldest charges first.
Can I make a payment plan to pay my account?
Payment plans are ONLY offered to students that are not enrolled in the current quarter to avoid placement with a collection agency. These students typically have a hold on their account and their university services have been suspended. Establishing a payment plan will not remove the hold and reinstate university services. Your hold will be removed when your payment plan is fulfilled. Establishing a payment plan will prevent your account to be placed with a collection agency and collection costs to be added to your balance. Payment plans not honored by the debtor will be immediately cancelled and the account placed with a collection agency without further notice.
Students enrolled in the current quarter must pay their tuition charges by the due date set by the Registrar, their housing charges by the due dates set in their Housing Contracts, and their bookstore or other charges immediately. Failure to do so will trigger the assessment of late fees and other penalties
Can I establish a payment plan with CWU or pay directly to CWU if my account has been placed with a collection agency?
NO. Accounts placed with collections agencies must be negotiated with and paid directly to the agency that is servicing your account. Any payment for an account in collections received by Central – in person, by mail, or on the web – will be notified immediately to the collection agency and the corresponding collection fees added to your account, without exception.
How can my parents get information about my student account?
You need to authorize CWU, in writing, to give information about your student account to your parents or significant others. Without your authorization we will not give information about your account, even if your parents are paying for your educational expenses. You need to fill out the Release of Information Form and return to Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Office or at Bouillon Hall, room 204. Note: Federal Law does not allow us to release any detailed information about the student's account without his/her written permission, regardless of who is making the payments. You can also allow them to access your account online using your SAFARI access.
When will I receive my 1098-T form? Can I get a duplicate of my form? Where do I get more information about the Hope Scholarship and the Lifetime Learning tax credits?
The 1098-T forms will be mailed by January 31st. You can view and print all your 1098-T information on-line!! Go to: Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS). For detailed information about the tax credit, go to IRS Publication 970.
