TUITION PAYMENT PLAN – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
1.What is the Tuition Payment Plan?
The Tuition Payment Plan is a payment plan offered by Nelnet Business Solutions (NBS) at Howard Community College. The plan allows students to pay their tuition and fees on a monthly basis over a specific period of time.
2.How does the Tuition Payment Plan work?
The payment plan is set up to pay tuition and fees by a direct debit to the participant’s bank or credit card account on a monthly basis.
3.Where can I get more information on the Tuition Payment Plan? Information is also available on the college’s web page at Brochures are also available at the Cashier’s Office in RCF-212 and also at the Finance Office front desk in RCF-201.
4.Can I enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan for non-credit courses?
The Tuition Payment Plan is only offered for credit courses. Non credit students with high tuition balances should visit the Finance Office (RCF201).
COSTS
1.Is there a fee or interest charge to enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan?
Yes, the enrollment fee is $25.00 per semester. There is no interest calculated on the balance.
2.Is this a one-time fee only or is it charged every time I enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan?
The $25.00 fee is charged every semester the student enrolls in the Tuition Payment Plan. Students need to enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan and pay a new application of $25.00 for every semester in which they would like to participate in the Tuition Payment Plan.
3.Are there other hidden fees?
No, there are no hidden fees; however, Nelnet Business Solutions charges a
Non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee for any returned payment.
4.How much is the returned payment fee and how does it work?
The returned payment fee is $30.00. This amount is charged separately from the monthly payment amount. Each failed payment will be re-attempted 2 additional times. For Example a failed payment of January 5th will be re-attempted on January 20th and if failed again, then on February 5th along with the regular payment of February.
ENROLLING IN THE TUITION PAYMENT PLAN
1.How do I sign up for the Tuition Payment Plan?
Simply go to You will find the instructions on how to enroll on this page.
2.How do I know my payment plan application is complete and has been accepted?
Once you complete your application, accept the Terms and Conditions of the payment plan and hit the submit button, you will receive an email confirmation from Nelnet Business Solutions (NBS). This confirmation is sent to the responsible party (person responsible for making payments) which can be a parent/ guardian or the student himself.
3.Can I use a debit card to enroll?
Yes, debit cards can be used and they are entered as credit card on the application. The student/responsible party should be aware of amount limits which are tied to debit cards if they decide to use a debit card instead of using a checking/savings account.
4.What if I change banks while enrolled in the plan?
As long as the account holder is the same, this change can be made by calling NBS at 1-800-609-8056 and providing the identifying information or online at
5.Are there any deadlines?
You should enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan by the payment due date posted by the college. Please see the college website at then click “When to Pay?” for a link to the college’s payment due dates.
6.What do I need to complete the Tuition Payment Plan application? The instructions to enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan are located on HCC’s web site at
7.What if I am not comfortable in providing my bank information on-line? NBS is a reputable company that offers and manages payment plans to hundreds of educational institutions throughout the country. The payment plan application and payments are processed on a secure website by a secure processor.
8.Do I have to pay anything when I enroll?
$25.00 enrollment fee is due immediately and depending on the enrollment date, you may be required to pay the down payment at the time of your application too. Please see planfor more information or stop by the Cashier’s Office in RCF-212 or the Finance Office front desk in RCF-201.
MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE TUITION PAYMENT PLAN
1.What are the payment dates?
Payments on the Tuition Payment Plan are processed on either the 5th or the
20th of each month, depending on the student’s selection.
2.Are the payment dates fixed?
You can either choose the 5th or the 20thas your payment date. Once selected, payments are withdrawn on that date from your account/credit card every month. For payments that are attempted but failed on the due date because of insufficient funds or stop payment, a second and third attempt is made on the subsequent draw dates. For example, if a student’s payment is rejected on the 5th of the month, then it is re-attempted on the 20th of that month and if it is rejected again then it is attempted on the 5th of the subsequent month along with the regularly scheduled payment on that day.
3.Do I get a bill to remind me?
NBS corresponds with the responsible party by emails.
4.Do I make the monthly payments to the college cashier?
No, once enrolled in payment plan, you do not make any payment to the college. Your tuition is paid by the payment plan.
5.What if my parents/grandparents are paying for my tuition?
Anyone including the student can be the responsible partyfor making payments through the payment plan. It is important to note that the responsible party must remain responsible for the entire length of the payment plan.
6.What if I want to change the bank or credit card account from which my payments are withdrawn?
You can simply call NBS at 1-800-609-8056 and provide them with the bank or credit card information or visit
7.What if I am not able to meet the payment obligation on a given date?
Contact the Cashier’s Office at 443-518-1862 or stop by the cashier’s office in RCF-212.
ADDING/DROPPING COURSES AND ADJUSTING THE TUITION
PAYMENT PLAN
1.Can I add or drop classes after enrolling in the Tuition Payment Plan? Yes. Although adding and dropping classes will result in a change in your balance due to the college, there will be no action required on your part. Your payment plan balance will be adjusted automatically. You can review your payment amount on to your scheduled payment date. To view your account information, you will need your agreement number, access code, and the Institution ID (Summer: 0H931, Fall: 09323, and Winter/Spring: 09286).
2.What happens if I drop all my classes? Will the payment plan stop? If you drop your class(es) during the refund period, your payment plan will be automatically adjusted when the automatic balance updates are processed by the college. If the drop results in a zero balance, your payment plan will automatically become dormant and no further payments will be withdrawn from your account. NBS will notify the responsible party of this change by email.
3.When will I get a refund if I drop all my classes?
You may be eligible for a refund if you drop your classes during the official refund period. Any amount that you have paid through the Tuition Payment Plan prior to dropping your classes will be refunded to you when funds are received by the college from NBS. It could take anywhere from 10 to 15 business days after the payment date for the college to receive funds. The refund will be processed within approximately one week of the funds being received by the college and applied to your account.
4.Is the refund processed to my credit card?
Regardless of the original payment method, all refunds for the Tuition Payment Plan are processed via electronic fund transfer depending on the student’s refund preference through BankMobile.
5.What if the paying credit card belonged to my parents?
The refunds will still be processed by electronic fund transfer according to the student’s refund preference through BankMobile.
FINANCIAL AID – SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
1.How do I account for my financial aid?
If you are receiving a partial financial aid/scholarship award and would like to budget the remainder of your tuition balance into the Tuition Payment Plan, the Tuition Payment Plan will automatically budget the remaining balance owed.
2.How do I get my money back when my financial aid is disbursed?
If the disbursement of financial aid award results in a credit balance on your account, you will receive an electronic fund transfer from the college through BankMobile according to your refund preference.
3.Is my Tuition Payment Plan immediately cancelled once my financial aid is awarded?
Once your financial aid is awarded and it covers your full balance with the Tuition Payment Plan, your payment plan will become dormant and no more payments will be withdrawn from your account. If your financial aid award only covers a part of your balance, your payment plan will automatically adjust to budget the difference.
SEMESTER SPECIFIC CONCERNS
1.What choice do I have if I take a winter or summer class?
Winter charges are combined with the spring charges into a single semester called Winter/Spring, therefore students now can enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan for their winter classes, even if they are only taking a winter class. The Tuition Payment Plan is also available for summer starting in 2011.
2.Do I need to sign up separately for each semester?
Yes, a separate application is needed for each summer, fall and winter/spring semester.
3.Can the summer and fall tuition be combined in the Tuition Payment Plan? No, summer and fall are two separate semesters. Accordingly, a separate application is required to enter into a Tuition Payment Plan for each semester.
4.What if I wish to avoid overlapping payments for summer and fall Tuition Payment Plans?
You can structure monthly payments for fall to avoid overlapping payments for summer and fall Tuition Payment Plans. You can select 20th of the month payment date for one term and the 5th for the other.