Tuition & payment
Payment dates, late fees and refunds
Three dates decide whether a semester costs you money you did not need to spend: when the bill is due, when late fees start, and the last day a dropped course is still refundable. They are not the same date, and nobody reminds you.
5th class day
Tuition and fees are due
11th class day
Late fees begin (fall and spring)
60 days
From the final paper bill to collections
The due date and the late-fee date are different
All tuition and fees are due on the 5th day of class. That is the date the university expects payment to be complete.
Late fees are assessed only on a balance that is unpaid and not enrolled in a payment plan, after the 11th class day in fall and spring — or after the 5th class day in summer and winter terms.
The gap between the two is a buffer, not a new deadline. If you wait until the 11th day to start an international transfer, the money will very likely not arrive in time.
Three ways to avoid a late fee
- Pay the account balance in full
- Enrol in a payment plan
- Notify the Treasurer’s Office of third-party funding or additional financial aid expected after the first disbursement
The late-fee rules, line by line
- Late fees are not removed once posted.
- The balance must be paid, or a payment plan entered, before the assessment date.
- Payments made or received on the day of the late fee are still charged. Cheques must arrive before that day.
- The university’s own example: if the late fee posts on 13 September, payment must be made — or the office notified of additional funding — on 12 September or earlier.
Late fee dates — Fall 2026
25 September · 23 October · 13 November
Dropping a course and refunds — Fall 2026
To receive a refund of tuition and fees, a course must be dropped within its refund period, or before the course begins. Drop after that window and the charges stand in full.
14-week courses (August start, December end)
| Refund | Drop between |
|---|---|
| 100% | 19 – 25 August |
| 75% | 26 August – 1 September |
| 0% | 2 September onwards |
Courses of 10 weeks or less
| Refund | Courses starting in August | Courses starting in October |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 19 – 20 August | 12 – 13 October |
| 75% | 21 – 24 August | 14 – 15 October |
| 0% | 25 August onwards | 16 October onwards |
December 2026 interim term: 100% refund on the first day of class only.
Check two things before dropping
- Check the refund period for that specific course, or ask the Treasurer’s Office whether a refund will be issued.
- If you receive financial aid, ask the Financial Aid Office whether dropping affects it or triggers a charge-back.
How a refund reaches you
Excess aid and credit balances are issued automatically. You receive them one of two ways:
Two ways to receive a refund
| Method | How to set up | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Direct deposit | In myBill, choose the Refunds tab. Multi-factor authentication must be enabled before adding an account. | Account verification takes up to 6 business days. Once issued, funds are available within 48 hours depending on your bank. |
| Posted cheque | Used when no direct deposit is set up. The cheque goes to the billing or mailing address on file — keeping it correct is the student’s responsibility. | If a cheque is lost, you must wait 14 business days before filing a Student Affidavit Form to have the funds reissued. |
The catch for international students
Direct deposit works only with a US bank account. Newly arrived students often do not have one in the first few weeks — exactly when the first refund run happens. Without a US account the money comes as a cheque to the address on file, so check that address in the system during your first week.
Disbursement and refund schedule — Fall 2026
Fall 2026 dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7 August | Final paper bill and e-bill for the summer term are sent |
| 3 September | Financial aid disbursed |
| 4 – 7 September | Refunds sent to students (estimated window) |
| 25 September | Late fee assessed |
| 16 October | Disbursement for students with second-part-of-term courses only |
| From 19 October | Refunds for that group (estimated) |
| 23 October | Late fee assessed |
| 13 November | Late fee assessed |
Treasurer’s Office contact
Source: kb.astate.edu — Treasurer’s Office Important Dates · kb.astate.edu — Late Fees · kb.astate.edu — Refund Dates Fall 2026 · Updated Aug 22, 2026
Frequently asked questions
I am transferring money from abroad. How early should I send it?
International transfers usually take 2–5 business days, longer if a correspondent bank holds it for checks. Send at least a week before the deadline. Remember that a payment received on the late-fee day is still charged — what counts is the day the money reaches the university, not the day you sent it.
Does a payment plan avoid the late fee?
Yes. The university states late fees apply to a balance that is unpaid AND not enrolled in a payment plan. Enrolling before the assessment date is one of the three ways it lists to avoid the fee.
If I drop a course in week three, do I get money back?
For a 14-week Fall 2026 course, no — the refund drops to 0% from 2 September, and term starts on 19 August. The window is far shorter than most people assume. Always check the refund period for that specific course first.
A late fee has posted. Can it be removed?
No. The university states late fees are not removed once posted. If you believe a tuition charge itself is wrong for another reason, there is a separate tuition and fee adjustment appeal through Student Accounts.
My parents pay. How do they follow the bill?
The student has to add them as an Authorized User in myBill before they can see bills or pay. See the step-by-step guide on the Authorized Users page.
Ready to study in the USA at A-State?
Book a free 1-on-1 session with our admissions team — pathway, scholarships, documents and visa in one meeting.