<p>Good day, all.</p>
<p>I was just going over my D’s account at Brandeis to see how much of a check would need to be sent in for the fall semester payment in 4 weeks.</p>
<p>I was a bit surprised to see that the total was higher than I thought it would be by about $500. At first, I thought that her acceptance deposit had not been credited to her account yet. I checked and saw that it had been, however.</p>
<p>So, off to the itemized list we went. There, snugged in at the bottom, is a $500 “University Fee”. You can’t find any reference to this fee anywhere on their site. It’s not on the cost of attendance worksheet (which does list one-time-only fees for seniors and freshman). But, it stands alone on the bill for a first-time student.</p>
<p>So, am I correct that this is a one-time “pay the $500 because we say so” fee, or am I missing something ?</p>
<p>Best regards,
George</p>
<p>And, a year later, answering my own question.</p>
<p>The $500 deposit is applied towards your first year bill. There is also a $500 "University Fee" that's essentially a school fines / room damage deposit. No room damage, no hit, and the $500 carries over to the next year. Make it through 4 years, and you get it back.</p>
<p>So, end of the day, the deposit is just that - a deposit applied against your bill. Last year, the first year of the new fee, there wasn't much documentation on the reason for the fee, so it looked like a one shot. It's not.</p>
<p>
[quote]
University Deposit
Beginning Fall 2007, all Undergraduate students in the Class of 2011 and beyond will be required to pay a $500 University Deposit. The University Deposit is not deducted from the first semester's charges. The University Deposit will be held in reserve for possible future punitive charges posted to a student's account, (i.e. unpaid parking fines, unpaid library fines, residence hall damage, returned check fees, etc.). The Statement of Account mailed by Student Financial Services will reflect any transactions charged and paid for by the University Deposit. At the start of each academic year, the deposit will be replenished to the original amount. Any amount used to pay the prior year's punitive charges will appear on the Fall semester bill and will be due by the published Fall due date. When the student graduates or withdraws from the University, any unused portion of the deposit will be refunded to the student. If a student decides not to enroll at Brandeis University, the deposit will be forfeited.
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<p>Financial</a> Services | Brandeis University</p>