Payment Policies

Full payment of tuition and fees is required at the time of registration. The Extension School does not offer an installment or deferred payment plan.

A $50 nonrefundable late fee is charged when you register during the late registration period.

Student account billing

All students have an account that includes individual charges and credits for each term. Charges include tuition and other fees, such as registration and late fees, health insurance fees, and program fees, as applicable. Credits applied to your account may include a combination of payments, such as credit cards, personal checks, and financial aid. If you have an outstanding balance from a prior term, any payment is applied first to the oldest charges on your account.

To view your student account, log in to online services with your DCE ID and PIN and select “View Balance” and make account payments.

If you register online, you receive a registration and payment confirmation by e-mail. If additional charges are applied to your account at a later date, a billing statement is mailed to you showing the balance due. The balance is due within 10 days of the date on the billing statement.

If you register using a paper registration form, an account statement is mailed to you confirming your registration and payment information. If additional charges are applied to your account at a later date, a billing statement is mailed to you showing the balance due. The balance is due within 10 days of the date on the billing statement.

Stopping payment on checks or credit cards

Stopping payment on checks or credit cards is not a valid method of dropping or withdrawing from your courses. If you stop payment on a check or credit card without following the Extension School protocol for dropping or withdrawing from your courses, you are responsible for all tuition and fees posted to your student account. Refer to the section on course changes, drops, and withdrawals.

Past due student accounts

Your account is considered past due if charges are not paid in full within 10 days of the date on your first billing statement showing a balance due. If your account is past due, you are notified by mail and offered an opportunity to complete your payment. If your account remains past due, you may be removed from your classes, and you remain responsible for all unpaid tuition and fees. You continue to receive billing statements until your balance is paid in full.

You are not eligible to register for any classes at the Extension School or the Harvard Summer School, or to receive an official transcript, until your account is paid in full. If you are a degree, certificate, or diploma candidate, you must be in good financial standing with Harvard Extension School and Summer School, as well as Harvard University, before your degree, certificate, or diploma will be conferred.

Returned check policy

• If your check is returned unpaid by your bank for insufficient funds, stopped payment, or account closure, Student Financial Services notifies you and allows you 10 days to make full payment by cash, money order, or credit card.
• If full payment is not received within 10 days, you are removed from your course(s).
• You are responsible for all tuition and fees on your account.
• You are charged a $25 fee for any check returned unpaid for any reason.
• If your check is returned unpaid by your bank, you may only use cash, credit card, or money orders for Harvard Summer School or Harvard Extension School for one year.
• If you stop payment on a check, you are no longer eligible to pay by check.

Invalid credit cards and credit card chargebacks

• If you request a credit card chargeback or attempt to pay with an invalid card, you are removed from your course(s) immediately.
• If you use a credit card without the cardholder’s knowledge or permission, you are removed from your course(s) immediately, and you may face prosecution.
• If you use another’s credit card and the cardholder requests a credit card chargeback, you are removed from your courses immediately.
• You are responsible for all tuition and fees on your account.