ASU does not directly accept credit and debit cards for payment of tuition and Student Account charges, but has arranged for a third-party vendor to accept MasterCard, Discover, and American Express when payment is made online. The third-party vendor, Nelnet assesses a 2.75% service charge for processing the transaction. The service charge in not paid to ASU and is not refundable, even if the related payment to ASU is refunded.
ASU made the decision several years ago to stop accepting credit card payments for tuition and other student account charges after careful consideration because of the significant and rising cost to the University of credit card processing fees. The cost of accepting credit cards was paid out of with tuition and other University revenues, reducing revenue available for campus services to all students, regardless of whether or not they used a credit card to make payments. The savings realized by ASU because of this change helps fund, for example, library acquisitions, more faculty, classroom upgrades, and other student enhancements.
The University has made arrangements for a third-party vendor, Nelnet, to accept student account payments online with three of the four major credit/debit cards: MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Nelnet assesses a 2.75% service charge for processing your credit card payment.
Visa does not permit the assessment of a service charge and therefore cannot be accepted by Nelnet. If in the future Visa changes its merchant rules to permit the assessment of a service charge, we will work with Nelnet to add this as a payment option.
Yes. The ASU Bookstore, Intercollegiate Athletics Ticket Office, and other ASU departments that currently accept credit cards will continue to do so. No service charge is assessed for these payments and Visa will continue to be accepted.
Yes. eChecks are ASU’s preferred payment option and are accepted online with no service charge. Similar to a debit card, the eCheck electronically debits a checking or savings account. eChecks are accepted at no cost to the student and are a fast and easy payment option. Please see the
eCheck FAQs under Student Account Payment Options for more information.
You will receive two emails after a credit card payment is made. One email confirms the actual amount paid to ASU and applied to your ASU charges. The second email confirms the 2.75% service charge assessed and charged to your credit card by Nelnet.
The 2.75% service charge is nonrefundable. Nelnet assessed the service charge for the processing of the original credit card transaction and therefore it is nonrefundable, even if the related payment to ASU is refunded.
Colleges and universities across the country have made similar changes to their credit card payment policies. Some are choosing not to accept credit card payments and others to offer credit card payments through an outside vendor, subject to assessment of a service charge.
The rate was determined by our vendor. The University is not directly accepting credit or debit card payments for Tuition and Student Account payments; they are being accepted by our vendor who is assessing the service charge for the processing of the credit card payment. The service charge is not paid to ASU and is not refundable, even if the related payment to ASU is refunded.
