Business Office
The Business Office
At Benedictine University, the Business Office functions as the central hub for all tuition-related revenue and is the principal steward of student financial account information. Our guiding ethos is twofold: to excel in customer service and to uphold the financial integrity of the university.
Service Excellence:
- Ensuring students receive accurate and timely financial information.
- Providing flexible, competitive financing options, programs, and payment methods that cater to the needs of college students.
- Offering convenient services to all university stakeholders.
- Treating every customer with the utmost respect and dignity.
Financial Stewardship:
- Crafting payment policies that balance student affordability with the university’s financial objectives.
- Minimizing overdue and non-collectible accounts to protect the university’s financial health.
- Monitoring and reporting on student financial trends to influence and inform university policies, promoting both financial sustainability and educational accessibility.
By adhering to these core principles, the Business Office at Benedictine University not only addresses the immediate financial concerns of our students and their families but also ensures the long-term financial stability of the institution. Our commitment to respect, service, and fiscal responsibility creates a supportive and efficient environment for managing the financial aspects of university life.
Tuition and fees not covered by Financial Aid
The Business Office is responsible for the collection of tuition and fees not covered by Financial Aid. Tuition and fees are incurred at the time of registration. Benedictine University sends bills electronically. Each month, a new statement of account is generated and posted to MyBenU. You will receive an email notifying you that a new statement is available. You will receive a statement regardless if you have a payment plan set up. You may also receive a statement and not owe any money to the University. The statement reflects activity that occurred on your account since the last billing cycle (similar to your checking/savings/credit card statements of account).
Because we recognize each student has different needs and unique financial circumstances, we have administrators and staff available to provide tuition counseling for students and families on an individual basis. In general, we have found that individuals who have taken advantage of our staff’s expertise have been able to readily meet their financial obligations to the university. Our goal is to help guide you through the rights and responsibilities of financial aid disbursement and bridge the gap toward your tuition balance.
Payment Options/Deadlines
Tuition and fees are always due 7 days after the start of class. For doctoral students, tuition and fees are due according to signed Financial Agreement with the Business Office.
Tuition and fees are incurred at the time of registration. It is important to note that the electronic account statement is only a reminder of a payment due and that all payments are expected by the due date regardless of whether a statement is received. Account statements are generated each month and available to view on MyBenU. Please contact the Business Office at (630) 829-6503 if you need assistance viewing your statement on MyBenU.
Payments made by personal check, business check or online by ACH will be subject to a 3 business day hold to allow for clearance of funds. This hold will not be lifted until 3 business days have passed, regardless of your scheduled registration date. Any holds on your account must be satisfied before registration for the upcoming term will be allowed.
Graduating Students:
All financial obligations, including graduation fees, must be settled prior to pick-up of cap and gown.
WARNING! Acceptable methods of payment include Cash, Cashier’s Check, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover only. Personal checks will no longer be accepted to remove holds prior to commencement.
Any holds on your account must be satisfied before registration for the upcoming term. Payments made by secured funds (cash, credit card, money order, etc.) will release the hold the next business day. Payments made by personal check, business check, or online by ACH will be subject to a 3 business day hold to allow for clearance of funds. This hold will not be lifted until 3 business days have passed, regardless of your scheduled registration date.
If you have questions regarding an outstanding balance or a financial hold on your account, please contact the Business Office at (630) 829-6503.
Tuition and fees are incurred at the time of registration. For ALL programs, payment of tuition, fees and housing charges is due seven (7) calendar days after the first day of class unless the balance is covered by financial aid or set up on a payment plan.
Tuition is due by the tuition due date whether or not a bill has been received.
Electronic Check
Online payment by eCheck/ACH uses funds directly from a checking or savings account. Payments by eCheck are secure and are processed on BenU’s behalf through the TouchNet Payment Portal without assessment of any fees. Students may view and pay their accounts online. Instructions on how to make an online payment.
Credit or Debit Card
Visa, Discover, Amex, and MasterCard credit cards are accepted. Credit card payments will be processed on BenU’s behalf through the TouchNet Pay Path. All credit or debit card transactions will be assessed a non-refundable convenience fee. Payment by credit/debit card is not available when paying in-person, over the phone, by mail, or fax. Credit/debit card payments will only be accepted online.
In-Person
Payments in-person by cash, check, or money order can be presented at the Business Office during regular business hours. Check payments should be made out to Benedictine University.
By Mail
Check and money order payments can be mailed to the following address:
Business Office
Benedictine University
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6503
Please include your student ID number on any mailed payment.
Wire Transfer
Please email [email protected] for wire transfer information.
Benedictine University provides interest-free monthly payment options through MyBenU (administered by TouchNet). Students may set-up plans to manage their out-of-pocket tuition costs annually or per term, depending on their program. Students may enroll online through MyBenU or make a parent/guardian an authorized user to set up a payment plan. Click here for instructions on how to enroll in a payment plan. Please see the FAQ page for more information about payment plans.
Please note that you will continue to receive monthly account statements from Benedictine University while enrolled in a payment plan until your student account balance is paid in full. Any late payments may result in a late fee and financial hold.
- Single Term budgets (Quarter/Semester) – All Campuses – For a fee of $25, students can make monthly payments toward their tuition balance for a single term. The budget will automatically calculate based on your account balance. The budget will update when any changes are made to your account. Balances must be paid in full prior to the next quarter/semester registration or start date. Payments are due on the 1st of each month.
- Annual budgets (Fall and Spring Combined Tuition) Traditional Undergraduate Semester students only – For a fee of $40, students can make monthly payments toward their full-year’s tuition balance (June – May). Students must contact the Business Office to enroll in this plan. Enrollment is open until June 30th. The Business Office will determine your annual budget. Please note your budget may be adjusted throughout the year based on enrollment, fees, financial aid, etc. Payments are due on the 1st of each month and tuition for the spring semester must be paid in full with the May 1 payment.
For a $25 fee per session, students can enroll in a single tuition payment due at the end of the term/session (plus approximately a month’s grace period). Documentation of your approval in your employer’s tuition assistance plan must be submitted to the Business Office of Benedictine University prior to enrolling in this plan. An updated copy of your eligibility must be submitted annually. Students may fax this documentation to the Business Office at (630) 839-7482 or email it to [email protected]. After submitting the documentation, you will receive notification from the Business Office that you are eligible to enroll in the payment plan. Please note that tuition is due in full according to the deferred due date regardless of when individual employers reimburse their employees.
The Business Office will bill a third party (an organization, business or agency) for any and all charges on a student’s account if a valid authorization from the third party sponsor is received on or before the beginning of the course/term. Benedictine University will send an invoice to the third party after the add/drop period. Payment is due upon receipt of the invoice and is not contingent upon the student successfully completing the course. All authorized and nonauthorized charges not paid for by the third party will be the responsibility of the student.
***Failure to meet options by the payment deadline will result in a late payment fee of $100 and a financial hold placed on the student’s account***
Payment of tuition or fees with a check or ACH that is subsequently returned from the bank unpaid will result in a returned check fee posted to your student account. A student may not satisfy a returned check obligation with a personal check.
Policies
This process is designed to address extenuating circumstances that occurred during a given semester that prevented a student from receiving a partial or full refund for a course(s). If you believe your situation should be reviewed, write a letter of appeal describing the reason(s) and justification for seeking an exception to the University’s withdrawal and refund policy.
You must have withdrawn from the course(s) before you can appeal. The burden of proof shall be upon the student to prove his or her case by a preponderance of evidence in the written appeal. Be specific with extenuating circumstances, dates, the name of persons contacted and any steps you took to address the problem at the time it occurred. Attach appropriate documentation from your instructor, medical provider or other professionals as needed. Appeals over 1 year old will not be reviewed by the Committee.
Tuition and fees must be paid by respective due dates, regardless of appeals. If the student’s appeal is granted, a refund may be provided.
Students who have received financial aid should be aware that approval of your appeal may affect your financial aid status and does not necessarily relieve you of any financial obligation to the University. If an appeal results in a return of funds to the federal government, you will be responsible for repaying those funds immediately. This includes any refunds that you have received from the University and/or bookstore charges.
Email:
[email protected]
Students may also email their appeal (and accompanying information) to the Business Office at [email protected], who will then forward it on to the Financial Appeals Committee.
Mail to:
Benedictine University
Attn: Financial Appeals Committee
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Send a Fax:
Financial Appeals Committee
(630) 839-7482
- Student writes a letter documenting the justification for the appeal.
- Student obtains supporting documentation:
- Family Related
- Death in the family – must provide obituary or funeral notice
- Student taking care of ill or disabled family member – must provide documentation of illness and need for continuing care
- Medical
- Must have signed documentation from a physician’s office stating the severity of the condition, dates of office visits and treatment and the general circumstances or nature of treatment. The letter or documentation must also note the impact of the condition on the student’s ability to attend class and/or perform class requirements, the duration of the problem (how long student will be unable to attend class) and if the student will be capable of resuming their academic studies.
- If hospitalized during the term being appealed, student may provide a copy of hospital bill and/or discharge papers
- Military Deployment
- Must provide a copy of military orders
- Work Related
- Involuntary changes in employment schedule or job transfer – must provide letter from supervisor using the letterhead of your organization verifying in writing the reasons for which you are requesting an exemption.
- Transfer to or attendance at another institution
- Official enrollment verification by a member of the Office of the Registrar or other official at the enrolling institution on institutional letterhead or other official document, stating the start and end dates for the appropriate quarter/semester in question.
- Family Related
3. Student submits the appeal to the Financial Appeals Committee by email, mail or fax.
4. The Financial Appeals Committee generally meets twice a month. Once the committee has reached a decision about an appeal, the student will be sent a letter or email stating the decision and action to be taken next by the University or student.
If the appeal is APPROVED, the student’s account and/or academic record will be adjusted accordingly. An administrative fee of $250 may be charged to your student account to offset the costs of registration, billing and the committee’s time to investigate your claim.
If the appeal is PENDING ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, the committee is requesting additional documentation in order to make a final decision. The student will have 30 days to submit the additional documentation or the appeal will be denied.
If the appeal is DENIED, the student will have 30 days to submit additional documentation to support the circumstances.
Tuition appeals will not be approved in the following instances:
- Student’s failure to confirm a drop made using MyBenU.
- Student errors in judgment or irresponsibility involving transportation, availability of finances, academic ability or time management.
- Misinterpretation or lack of knowledge of published University policies and procedures.
- Dissatisfaction with course content or delivery of instruction or a personal conflict with the instructor. These appeals should be brought to the attention of the dean.
- Dissatisfaction with academic progress in course. These appeals should be first brought to the instructor and if unable to resolve, brought to the dean.
- Request for reimbursement of non-refundable fee.
- Non-attendance or minimal attendance of class. Appeals for non-attendance will only be considered if the student did not attend any classes for all courses during the given semester. This type of appeal requires the student to provide supporting documentation from the instructor(s) confirming non-attendance in the course(s).
- Lack of knowledge of course requirements prior to registration and attendance.
- Non-qualification, late application, or loss of eligibility of financial aid or scholarships.
- Non-receipt of account statement prior to payment due date (account information is available online at mybenu.ben.edu).
- Student errors resulting in the delay of administrative processes relative to registration or the delivery of financial aid status or funds.
- Voluntary acceptance of employment or other activity impacting ability to attend classes.
Please choose one of the PDF documents below:
Lisle Campus (Traditional Programs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tuition is due 7 days after the 1st day of the term/class, or 7 days after registration (whichever comes later).
Failure to make payment or have other accepted payment arrangements in place by the deadline will result in a late payment fee of $100 and a financial hold on the student’s account. Financial holds restrict all academic activities, which include course registration, participation in graduation, and diploma release. You are notified via your ben.edu email address when a financial hold is placed on your account.
The most efficient and timely way to make a payment to your account is to pay online at MyBenU. For help on how to make an online payment click here. Additional payment options can be found on this page under “Payment Options”
A non-refundable convenience fee will be added to the cost of any electronic payment with a credit or debit card. Credit or debit card payments will no longer be accepted over the phone, in-person, or by mail. BenU has partnered with TouchNet Pay Path, a third-party company that processes credit and debit card payments. This allows students and authorized users to pay their account online with a credit or debit card. BenU accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express cards.
When you process an online credit card payment you will receive a message asking that you agree to pay a service fee for the convenience of using a credit card. You can review the total amount before processing your payment. The convenience fee is non-refundable.
If payment in full is not received by the due date and your charges will not be covered by financial aid, you must be on a payment plan in order to avoid assessment of a late payment fee and financial hold to your student account. Please note that tuition for the Fall term must be paid in full with the December 1st payment and tuition for the Spring term must be paid in full with the May 1st payment. Summer tuition payment plans begin June 1st with final payment on August 1st.
Payment plans vary depending on your program. You will only see payment plans applicable to your program when you go to enroll. All payment plans have an enrollment fee which is due upon enrollment. Payments are due on the 1st of every month, and a late fee is assessed when the payment is late. You may also receive a financial hold for late payments.
Ideally you should enroll before the start of your course(s). This will maximize the number of installments available to you. The length of enrollment is dependent on your program and the payment plan.
With the exception of the annual plan for traditional undergraduate students, all payment plans auto calculate based on your account activity. If you have pending financial aid, the payment plan will deduct the anticipated aid from your plan’s balance. If you have been offered loans and you will not be using them, you must notify [email protected] from your BenU email address so that they can be removed from your account and your payment plan can recalculate.
You will be notified via your ben.edu email address when there are any changes to your payment plan enrollment (such as an increase in your monthly installment). Please note that if you have scheduled payments and your payment plan amount increases, the new amount will be processed. If your scheduled payment needs to be canceled, you need to contact the Business Office at [email protected].
Your term balance is the charges and credits that occurred within one given term. The term balance does not include a balance or credit that might be remaining from a previous term. Your student account balance is the total balance of all your semesters/terms at the University. In the example below, each term has it’s own balance and if you add the two together (3,200 + 5,200) you get your student account/total balance of $8,400.00.
Fall:
Tuition……$5,000.00* Fees…………..$200.00 Payment…$2,000.00 Term balance: $3,200.00 (5,000 + 200 -2,000)
*All numbers are for example only |
Spring:
Tuition……$5,000.00 Fees…………..$200.00 Term balance: $5,200.00 (5,0 |
Anticipated aid shows the expected credit that will be posted to the student’s account. These amounts are typically based on full time enrollment and are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office staff after the add/drop period is over and before being posted to the student’s account. All programs (Pell, MAP, institutional aid, Stafford and PLUS loans) have separate criteria that must be reviewed each term before aid is posted. The post date for anticipated aid that appears on the account statement refers to the expiration date of that aid. If those aid amounts are not posted to your student account by the post date listed on your bill, please contact the Financial Aid Office for explanation.
Financial aid is not credited to student accounts until the 2nd week of the term (after the 100% add/drop period). Students should have received, or will be receiving an award letter from the Financial Aid Office. To determine their out-of-pocket expenses, students/parents should take the total invoiced amount for the term, and subtract that term’s portion of their financial aid. Note: Federal Work Study should NOT be included (this is not an award, it is received as a paycheck only if the student works on campus). Loans may be disbursed minus up to 4% bank service fee(s).
Students are able to set up authorized users through MyBenU. An authorized user is a person you select to give access to your financial information. You can give access to as many people as you would like. After logging into MyBenU and clicking on Make a Payment, you will be redirected to the TouchNet homepage. On the homepage, click on Authorized Users and follow the instructions on the next page. You can remove access from an authorized user at any time. The user will have access to financial information only, not any academic records such as grades. The authorized user will have their own link and login information to view account statements, make payments, and set up payment plans. Please note: setting up an authorized user does not grant FERPA permissions (see below).
The student is financially responsible for his/her BenU account and is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). However, students may grant permission for others to receive information regarding their account. Benedictine University offers a Authorization for Release of Confidential Information to Parent(s) Form, which may be completed and submitted by the student to provide consent. The completed form may be mailed, dropped off or faxed to the Office of the Registrar at 630-829-6663.
Future registration is not allowed on accounts with past due balances. In order to have the hold removed, you must pay your account balance.
A private/alternative loan can take 4-6 weeks for processing. It is important to apply and secure the loan in a timely fashion to avoid any delays in removing the hold. The hold will not be released just because a loan application has been certified. It must go through the loan process with the lender so the University knows the funds have been secured.
If a credit balance appears on your account as a result of a loan disbursement or other Title IV funds, the Business Office will process a refund within 10 to 14 days.
Our school delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/. Even if you are not currently expecting a refund from BenU, there may be a refund for you in the future as a result of a dropped class, or receiving financial aid that you were not anticipating. Selecting a refund preference ensures you will receive your refunds in a timely manner. You can set up your preference by logging into MyBenU, clicking the Student Financial Account tile, and clicking on BankMobile Refund Selection.
For a $25 enrollment fee, students can enroll in a payment plan with a single tuition payment due at the end of the term/session (plus approximately a month grace period).
- Documentation of your approval in your employer’s tuition assistance plan must be submitted to the Business Office of Benedictine University prior to enrolling in this plan. An updated copy of the policy must be submitted annually. Students may fax this documentation to the Business Office at (630) 839-7482 or email [email protected].
- After submitting documentation showing eligibility, the student will be notified by the Business Office that they can enroll in the payment plan.
No, tuition is due on the published due date, even if a student’s company is late with reimbursement. Regardless of when the employer reimburses the student, it is the student’s responsibility to pay the balance in full on or before the tuition due date. Students who experience this delay from their employers typically pay tuition using a credit card.
No. Students are responsible for paying their tuition accounts in full by the extended single-pay due date whether or not they have received their grades. There is no additional extension for this plan.
No. Students are responsible for paying their tuition accounts in full by the due date whether or not they have received their grades. There is no additional extension for this plan.
Tuition must be paid in full or enrolled in a payment plan before the payment deadline. If financial aid is expected to cover the full amount of tuition, fees and housing (if applicable), all financial aid documents must be submitted by the payment deadline. Please note: Students are responsible for paying any balance not covered by financial aid or tuition discounts by the payment deadline.
Tuition is due by the tuition due date whether or not a bill has been received. A statement of account is generated monthly and available on MyBenU. A student may always view the most up-to-date information at MyBenU.
Book vouchers may be used at the online Benedictine University bookstore and students to purchase required books and supplies. They cannot be used to purchase non-related coursework items such as food or clothing. Book vouchers are available beginning two weeks prior to the start of the term through the middle of the second week of the term. They are available for online students three weeks before the term to allow for shipment of the book(s). A voucher will be issued only when a credit balance is anticipated due to financial aid credits that will exceed account charges. The maximum voucher amount is $800.
If your anticipated aid is greater than your outstanding charges, Lisle and Mesa campuses and Online students can use the voucher system by selecting the payment option of Student Financial Aid when purchasing your books online via https://benu.ecampus.com/.
Your student account will be charged for the amount of the book voucher used. This charge may take a couple of weeks to post to your account. If you receive a refund check from Benedictine University but the voucher amount has not been charged to your student account (review account on MyBenU), please contact the Business Office at (630) 829-6503 as you may need to return a portion of the refunded amount. NOTE: In order to qualify for a book voucher, your financial aid must be packaged and complete. For students enrolled in a cohort or learning team, please remember that each loan disbursement is required to cover a scheduled amount of credit hours and weeks. Because of this, it’s possible to have a credit balance showing on MyBenU after a loan disbursement, but not be eligible for a book voucher.
The 1098-T is an IRS form used to report educational-related expenses. Beginning with the 2018 tax year, institutions are required to report on payments received (Box 1). The dollar values recorded on the 1098-T are calculated based upon qualified transactions occurring between January 1 and December 31 of the tax year.
Benedictine University is unable to provide students and families with any tax opinions or advice. If you are not paying taxes or your income is too high to qualify, you do not have to do anything with this form. If you think you received it in error, please disregard it. Questions regarding individual eligibility for education tax credits such as the Hope Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit should be referred to your income tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at (800) 829-1040 or http://www.irs.gov. See Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education; Form 8863, Education Credits; and the Form 1040 or 1040A instructions.
The IRS tax laws state that all tax documents must be mailed by January 31st. Benedictine University has until January 31st to send out all 1098 tax documents. Please login to your MyBenU account to see if your tax form is available. From the Main Menu, click on the Student Financial Account tile–>Account Services–>View 1098T. If you haven’t received the form in the mail, the form is also available to print using the online service. If you have not received a 1098T and cannot view it online, you may not be eligible to receive one. Please contact the Business Office at 630-829-6503 for further explanation.