Payment Policy

Student registration is not complete until all financial obligations have been met by the established deadlines. Payment arrangements include monthly deferred installment payments and are set up using the Financial Planning Form. Payment arrangements do not include financial aid or loans not yet awarded by official notice from the Office of Financial Assistance.

A payment plan is available for each semester. Please see the Financial Planning Form for each specific semester.

Acceptable Forms of Payment

Payments can be made in the Business Office, mailed to the Business Office, or made online through Gateway. Payments can be made by check, money order, any major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), or cash. Please do not mail cash payments.

Payments can be made online using an electronic check (ACH) or any major credit card. To do so, students must

• Log in to Gateway
• Select My St. Mary's from the gold toolbar
• Look under Student and Financial Assistance
• Select Student Account
• Select Make a payment

Follow the instructions on the pop-up screen. Be sure to change the payment amount before you click submit.

NOTE: It is the policy of the Business Office to withhold processing a refund if the student has made a payment using a physical check or an electronic check for 10 business days.

New Students

New freshmen and transfer students who complete an early registration for fall or spring classes (i.e., during New Student Orientation) will have access to their bill via Gateway during New Student Orientation. Full payment, or acceptable payment arrangements, must be completed by Aug. 15 for the Fall semester and Jan. 15 for the Spring semester. If the payment deadline is missed, registration may be cancelled. Payment or payment arrangements made after a deadline, but prior to cancellation of registration, will incur a $150 late payment fee. If a student's registration is cancelled, the student will be required to re-register during open registration and will be subject to the same procedures and late fees as described for returning students.

Returning Students

Students participating in fall or summer priority registration will receive a notification by e-mail that their bill is available on Gateway during the spring semester. Students participating in spring priority registration will receive a notification by e-mail that their bill is available on Gateway during the fall semester. Full payment or acceptable payment arrangements must be received in the Business Office by the following deadlines:

Fall semester: Aug. 15
Spring semester: Jan. 15
Law Summer session I: May 15
Law Summer session II: July 5, if making a one-time payment
Undegraduate, graduate and Ph.D. Summer session I: May 15
Undegraduate, graduate and Ph.D. Summer session II: June 30, if making a one time payment

A payment plan is available for each semester. Please see the Financial Planning Form for the payment plan due dates

If a payment deadline is missed, priority registration may be cancelled. Payment or payment arrangements made after a deadline, but prior to cancellation of registration, will incur a $150 late payment fee. If a student's registration is cancelled, the student will be required to re-register during open registration.

When registering during open registration, full payment or acceptable payment arrangements must be made on or before the first day of class. Students registering during open registration will be charged a $150 late payment fee if payment or payment arrangements are not received by the end of the first day of classes.

Students who register after classes have begun will be charged a $150 late registration fee. Students who register after open registration will be charged an additional $150 late payment fee if payment or payment arrangements are not submitted by the day of registration. No new registrations will be permitted after the fifth day of class.