<p>My son’s school charged half the tuition before the start of the semester and the other half midway each semester. They always applied scholarships first so for his four years of undergraduate I never paid any money until half way through the semester. It was quite a deal. For my D’s school, money was due early in August.</p>
<p>The ONLY time when you will know the tuition, fees, and other charges is on the first day of the freshman year. After that day, money requirements get fuzzy and fuzzier until the last day of classes when the school makes their final attempt to squeeze you and graduating student. Even after that happy day of graduation, the school turns to begging and pleading on the phone, emails, and post, never cease or desist. :)</p>
<p>I have to pay the fall semester bill by Monday for our son. Already paid daughter’s bill. They take credit cards and there is no fee. Yes, the cash back is nice.</p>
<p>Yes, we get bombarded with begging and pleading from four schools.</p>
<p>DS’s school does not accept credit cards. Payment is due in mid-August and early January. (both about 2 weeks before school starts). They do have a 10 month payment plan, I don’t believe it actually costs anything extra to enroll. But since we’re pulling the money out of his 529 plan I find it easier to just do 2 payments per year. After that money runs out and we go into the home equity loan, maybe I’ll switch to the 10 month.</p>
<p>Many schools utilize a payment plan with a management company, generally payments divided into 4 or 5 equal plans per semester, or the option to pay in full by August 1st. There is usually a nominal fee to take advantage of this program - a one time fee of anywhere from 20-70 dollars per semester.</p>
<p>OP - A word about payment plans … not all are alike! At D’s school the 10-payments plan began in May or June (it changed at some point). Full pay (i.e. single-payment) wasn’t due until the end of September, so we just waited until then and sent a check. Credit cards were accepted if you paid a 3% fee. YMMV (and probably will).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info. I do feel like I have some idea what my possible scenarios are. I’ll just be prepared for the worst (lump sum early in summer), and be glad if I can take advantage of one of the other more attractive options (no fee monthly payments with no fee credit card 
)</p>
<p>Now all we have to do is work really hard on earning the privilege to spend all this money!</p>
<p>we pay a monthly payment for both kids using electronic check- college charges a fee for credit card payments although I would have loved to be able to take advantage of points accrued. My S school payment plan spans June - March My D school spans July- April. 10 months either way you slice it.</p>
<p>ihs76, when you are researching the actual schools your student is interested in attending you will be able to find the information in the undergraduate student area of the web pages. It is not in the admission or prospective students area. Look in the cashiers or bursars office, or tuition payment section of the student web pages. That will give you a better idea of what is possible for you since each school is different. DD’s school offers several payment plans, but I chose not to pay the fees to use them.</p>
<p>I thought putting the fall charges on a credit card looked good, for amassing points, until I noticed the little thing about a 2.6% “convenience fee”. It wasn’t THAT convenient.</p>
<p>Fall charges are due August 20th for a state date a week later.</p>
<p>For our kids, there is NO extra charge for using credit cards, so we have been paying the kids’ U expenses by credit card. When S moved off campus so that his housing was no longer part of the U billing, we started paying his bills every semester by the due date. D’s bill we use the payment plan (pay a small fee each semester) so that it’s not so onerous.</p>
<p>Each school is quite different. My sister’s kids’ Us never allowed credit card payments without paying a fee so she always paid by check. Since each school is different ASK the bursar’s office & be sure to check hidden fees so you don’t have nasty surprises.</p>
<p>If you have a little spare cash, some schools will let you pay all 4 years tuition up-front. The advantage is its frozen at the current price. If tuition continues to increase at say 7% per year, that can be a good return.</p>
<p>^^ unfortunately little short on spare cash :)</p>
<p>Yeah, well, me too, but I felt rich for a moment when I was typing that.</p>
<p>I believe that also assumes your child will choose to (& have the grades to) remain at that same U for all 4+ years. I’m not sure what happens when the student and/or U need to part ways.</p>
<p>It also may not work if your child is getting any merit or other aid.</p>