Financial Policy
Emerson College's policy is to provide educational programs, room and board, and social opportunities for students at a cost compatible with high quality education standards. Every effort is made to make these charges clear and prominent. Each student is responsible for understanding the charges and meeting financial obligations on time. While we understand that many students receive financial assistance from third parties, including federal financial aid, the ultimate financial responsibility belongs to the student.
The College's financial policies are detailed in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. They are summarized as follows:
Payment Policies
- Bills are payable in full prior to the beginning of each semester. See Undergraduate Billing or Graduate Billing for details and deadlines.
- Emerson generates electronic billing statements each semester. Statements can be viewed through TouchNet by logging in as a student through eCommon, or as an Authorized User through emerson.edu/payment.
- Students are responsible for paying their student account balances in full by the payment deadline, whether they have received statement notification or not. Students should adhere to the billing due date to avoid having their registration terminated. Students with unresolved account balances will be automatically deregistered. For additional information, read our Financial Policies. You can monitor your balance online by logging into eCommon.
- All balance and payment notifications are sent to students' Emerson e-mail addresses monthly. Students are responsible to maintain their correct e-mail addresses with the College.
Outstanding Accounts
- Students who are required to reside on campus based on Emerson's Residency Requirement:
- If your student account is not in good standing after the billing deadline (August 1 for Fall, December 15 for Spring) you will lose your on-campus housing assignment and will be administratively withdrawn from Emerson College.
- Your student account is considered in good standing if, by the billing deadline each semester, your room, board, tuition, and fees are paid in full; you have a pre-approved payment arrangement (approved by the Office of Student Accounts) that has been paid up to date; or you have financial aid (already approved) sufficient to cover your account balance.
- Students who are on-campus but not part of the Residency Requirement:
- If your student account is not in good standing by the billing deadline (August 1 for Fall, December 15 for Spring) your room reservation will be voided and you will be deregistered for the semester. You will be welcome to register once payment has been submitted in full, however students who lose their residence reservations will only be placed back on campus on a space-available basis.
- Your student account is considered in good standing if, by the billing deadline each semester, your room, board, tuition, and fees are paid in full; you have a pre-approved payment arrangement (approved by the Office of Student Accounts) that has been paid up to date; or you have financial aid (already approved) sufficient to cover your account balance.
- Failure to meet the initial payment due date directly or through written evidence of grants and/or loans results in the monthly assessment of a 1.5% finance charge, compounded monthly.
- For students accepted after the original payment due dates, an unpaid balance at the end of the fifth week of classes may result in:
- Cancellation of enrollment
- Denial of registration for future classes
- Denial of occupancy in a residence hall room
- Denial of the use of the college dining room, library, and all other college facilities
Cancellation of enrollment and denial of college services does not excuse students from paying their remaining balances.
Students are charged for damage, breakage, or loss of college property, including library materials.
Collections Policy
Student accounts not covered by financial aid or an approved payment plan will accrue monthly finance charges on the unpaid balance. Students with an unresolved balance at the end of the add/drop period may be withdrawn from enrollment at Emerson College. If a student account obtains a balance later in the semester, a balance hold will be added to the account which will block students from participating in registration for future semesters.
Students who leave Emerson College with an outstanding balance will be uploaded to our third party billing servicer, ECSI, and will be reported to the national credit bureau. Students who do not resolve their balance with ECSI will be reported to a collection agency and will be responsible for all collection fees and interest charges.
Billing Rights Summary
If you believe your bill is incorrect, or if you would like more information about a transaction on your bill, write to us at:
Emerson College
Office of Student Accounts
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
We must hear from you within 60 days of the bill that the item of concern first appeared. You may telephone us, but doing so does not preserve your rights. Please include in your letter:
- Your name, the student's name and student ID #
- The dollar amount of the suspected error
- A description of the error and an explanation, if possible, of why you believe the error occurred.
You do not have to pay the amount in question while we investigate, but you are obligated to pay the portion of your bill that is not in question.
