Paying for School
Everything you need to know about navigating paying for college.
Helping You Navigate the Cost of Your Education
At Concordia University Irvine, we’re here to help you and your family make a clear plan for paying for school. On this page, you’ll learn how to read your bill, how to make payments, what payment plans are available, and what to do if your financial situation changes.
Understanding Your Student Bill
Your student bill brings together your tuition, fees, and housing charges along with your financial aid and payments. Read on to understand how your bill is calculated and what to expect each semester.
What’s Included in Your Direct Cost of Attendance
Your student bill reflects your tuition, fees, and room and meals (if applicable). It also includes any financial aid, scholarships, and payments that have already been applied.
Bills are emailed to the addresses you list in MyRecords before each semester begins. Even if you don’t receive an email, you’re still responsible for meeting all payment deadlines.
Payment Deadlines
All tuition, fees, housing, and meal costs must be paid by the posted deadline to avoid a $100 late fee.
Things to keep in mind:
- Tuition charges are assessed when you register for courses.
- Room and board charges appear after Housing assigns your placement.
- Any changes that increase your charges after the payment deadline must be paid at the time the change occurs.
- Nonpayment does not count as an official drop or withdrawal.
Housing and Room and Board Payment Policy
To check into campus housing, your tuition, fees, and room and board must be paid by the deadline.
If you decide to withdraw from housing, contact the Office of Residential Life and complete the required forms. Refunds follow the same timeline and percentages as tuition and fees. If you withdraw or are removed from housing, your meal plan will be turned off, and you will be responsible for any remaining meal plan costs.
Fines and Other Charges
Housing, library, and other fines must be paid by their departmental deadlines. Unpaid or unappealed fines are added to your student account and are considered delinquent. For questions, contact the department that issued the fine.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Recipients
If your financial aid or scholarships do not fully cover your semester charges, you’re responsible for paying the remaining balance by the payment deadline. See Alternative Ways to Pay.
On your bill, the Credit/Anticipated Credit section shows any aid the University has already received on your behalf. If you believe aid is missing or not showing correctly for:
- Federal, state, or institutional aid: Contact the Financial Aid Office.
- Outside scholarships or grants: Contact the source of your scholarship or grant.
To help us assist you quickly, please include:
- Your full name and student ID number
- The semester(s) in which you received the late payment fee
- The circumstances that you wish to be reviewed
Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
You must be enrolled full-time (12+ units that count towards your degree) to be eligible for financial aid. If you plan to take fewer than 12 units, it’s your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office. Please visit the Financial Aid Office or email [email protected] if you plan to enroll less than full-time.
Ways to Pay
Choose the payment method that works best for you and follow the steps below to complete your payment.
Pay Online (Most Popular)
You can view and pay your bill online:
- Log in to MyRecords
- Select My Student Bill
- Review your charges and choose Pay Online
Online payment details:
- Accepted: eCheck/ACH from U.S. bank accounts
- Not accepted: credit cards, debit cards, Venmo, Cash App, or other payment apps
- Available for: tuition, housing/meal costs, deposits, fees, and most fines
Wire payments are accepted — email the bursar for instructions.
Give a Parent or Other Payer Access
If someone else helps pay your bill, you can give them secure access:
- Log in to MyRecords
- Select My Student Bill
- You’ll be redirected to Transact
- Scroll to Send a Payer Invitation and enter their information
The invited payer will receive an email with access to view and submit payments.
Pay In Person
You may make payments in person or drop off your payment in the drop box at:
North Grimm Hall, 1st Floor
Accepted forms of payment: cash, check, money order, cashier’s check.
NOTE: Do not put cash, Registrar, or Financial Aid documents in the drop box.
Pay by Mail
Mail checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders to:
Concordia University – Bursar’s Office
1530 Concordia West
Irvine, CA 92612-3203
Make payments payable to Concordia University and include the student ID number in the memo.
Payments from Employers or Other Sponsors
If an employer or outside agency is paying your tuition:
- Email documentation with billing details to the Bursar by your due date.
- If the sponsor pays Concordia directly, request a Tuition Assistance Form.
- If the sponsor does not cover your full charges, you must pay the remaining balance by the deadline to avoid late fees.
Posting of Scholarships
- Privately funded scholarships (e.g., CNH District, LCMS) are applied to your bill after Concordia receives the check. You may pay your bill minus the scholarship amount, but email the Bursar to keep your account current and avoid Bursar holds and late fees.
- Departmental scholarships (e.g., Music, Athletics) are posted when the department submits information to Financial Aid.
Book Vouchers
Students with expected excess financial aid (typically from loans) may request a book voucher to charge bookstore purchases to their student account.
Request vouchers by emailing the Bursar at least three weeks before classes begin.
Work-Study and RA Payroll Deduction
You may designate Work Study or RA pay to go directly toward your student account.
Complete the Student Employee Tuition Payment Agreement (found in the Student Employee Handbook). This form must be completed every academic year.
Alternative Ways to Pay
Concordia offers several options to help you and your family manage tuition costs in a way that works for your budget, and we’re here to help you choose the option that fits your situation.
Payment Plans
Our interest-free Payment Plans are available each semester through Transact and allow you to divide your tuition balance into smaller monthly payments instead of paying all at once.
How to Enroll
- Log in to MyRecords
- Go to My Student Bill
- Select My Student Bill again to enter Transact
- From the Student Summary section, scroll to Payment Plans and follow the prompts
You will be asked to enter a Plan Amount for the semester. Use the Calculating Cost Worksheet to determine the correct amount. If you have questions regarding your Plan Amount for the payment plan, please contact the Bursar’s Office at (949) 214-3075 or email the Bursar.
Note: Payment plans cannot be used for past-due balances. If you have a prior balance, email the Bursar for options.
| Semester Payment Plan | Application Fee (non-refundable) | Months Covered | Number of Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | $35 | May – July | 3 |
| Fall | $35 | June – December July – December August – December September – December | 7654 |
| Winter (MCAA Only) | $35 | November – January | 3 |
| Spring | $35 | January – May February – May March – May | 543 |
Parent PLUS Loans
Parents of dependent undergraduate students may apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan to help cover any remaining balance after other financial aid is applied.
Parent PLUS Loans are:
- Federal loans offered through the U.S. Department of Education
- Credit-based
- Limited to a maximum of $20,000 per academic year
- Eligible for payment deferment while the student is enrolled at least half-time
If a PLUS Loan application is denied, students may become eligible for additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds.
Alternative Loans
Students and families may also choose to apply for a private educational loan through a lender of their choice.
Private loans may be helpful when:
- You’ve exhausted federal loan options
- You prefer to borrow privately based on credit
- Your parent is not applying for a Parent PLUS Loan
- You need coverage beyond what other aid provides
Because terms and conditions vary widely by lender, we encourage you to compare interest rates, repayment options, and fees before applying.
Financial Aid and FAFSA
Most students use a combination of financial aid and payments to cover their educational costs. Concordia encourages all students, regardless of household income, to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filing the FAFSA helps determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid, including the Cal Grant for California residents.
Concordia University Irvine School Code: 013885
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Your resource for important financial aid policies and disclosures.
Talk With Your Admissions Counselor
Fill out the form to schedule an appointment with your counselor
Refunds, Holds, and Fees
During your time at Concordia, you may see a refund, hold, returned payment, or fee in your account. Here’s what each one means and what to do next.
Refunds
Refunds from excess aid may be requested after the first day of classes. All financial aid requirements and documentation must be completed and approved first.
For the fastest processing, ensure you have the following on file:
- A valid bank account
- A current mailing address
Set up direct deposit using the online authorization form.
Financial Holds
If you have a past-due balance, a Bursar Hold will be placed on your account. This blocks class registration and is removed once payment is received.
Holds may take up to five days to clear. To expedite removal, email a copy of your payment receipt to the Bursar.
Returned or Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Payments
If your payment is returned by your bank, it will be reversed, and a Returned Payment Fee will be applied. Common reasons for returned payments include:
- Insufficient funds
- Closed account
- Invalid routing or account number
- Paying from a non-transactional account
You will receive an email if a payment made to your account does not go through once we are notified by the bank of the rejected payment. It is your responsibility to immediately pay the outstanding balance and fees. Your account may also receive a Bursar Hold, and you may be unable to use our online payment system.
Late Fees
If you miss the payment deadline, a late fee will be applied.
If you have extenuating circumstances regarding your late payment, resolve the rest of your balance (not including the fees) and email [email protected] with:
- Your full name and student ID number
- Semester(s) in which you received the late payment fee
- Explanation of your circumstances
Get in Touch
If you have questions about tuition and fees, please contact the Bursar’s Office.
Bursar’s Office
North Grimm Hall, 1st Floor
1530 Concordia West
Irvine, CA 92612-3203
Phone: (949) 214-3075
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (949) 214-3073
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.