Payment Options

Penn State accepts the following payment methods:

eCheck

Paying with an eCheck is a fast and convenient method to pay the tuition

Tuition can be paid online with an eCheck (electronic check) by logging in to  LionPATH (Students) or the Student Account (Authorized Payers). Penn State has contracted with CASHNet to securely process online eCheck payments. Payments with an eCheck must be made from a personal checking account drawn on a US bank. An eCheck payment will appear on your monthly bank statement as "Penn State Univ Payment". There is no fee to pay by eCheck.

IMPORTANT: A bank debit card or credit card will NOT work when making eCheck payments. Your bank account number is not the same number that appears on your debit card. Only checks from regular checking accounts at U.S. domestic banks (including most credit unions) work for eCheck payments. Be sure to copy the routing/transit and account numbers very carefully from your check. If you are unsure as to whether or not your check can be used or what routing/transit and account numbers to enter, call your bank and ask them if your account can be used for ACH (Automated Clearing House), and verify the correct numbers you should use before you try to make your payment on CASHNet.

Location of bank routing and account number shown on image of a check

If you enter incorrect values, have insufficient funds, or, if you attempt to use a check that is not from a regular U.S. domestic bank checking account, CASHNet will return the transaction. All returned checking and savings payments are subject to a $25 returned item fee. 

As a security measure, an unsuccessful payment attempt or attempts will result on the system placing an irrevocable negative service indicator on your student account, which will prevent you from using eCheck as payment option for the duration of your studies at Penn State.

Penn State reserves the right to cancel a future semester enrollment due to a returned payment on the student account.

Credit Card

Tuition can be paid online by credit card/debit card

Payments by credit card can be made online by logging in to LionPATH (Students) or the Student Account (Authorized Payers). Penn State has contracted with CASHNet to securely process online credit card payments. We cannot accept credit card payments via mail, phone, or in person. A 2.25% service fee applies to each payment made by credit card/debit card.

We accept:

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Discover
  • American Express

Check or Money Order

We accept check or money order payments by mail

Note: All students at all campuses - If mailing a check or money order, print the Student Account Statement's remittance stub and mail it with your check or money order made payable to Penn State to:

Penn State 
Office of the Bursar
103 Shields Building
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802
 
*Please include your PSU Student ID on your check or money order.

IMPORTANT:

  • PLEASE ALLOW 5 BUSINESS DAYS FOR PAYMENT TO BE PROCESSED AFTER IT IS RECEIVED

International Payments

Flywire has been a partner of Penn State since 2012, which is why they are the only trusted option for sending international wire payments. For security reasons, Penn State does not provide its bank information to payers to send direct wire transfers. Please submit payments via Flywire.

Benefits of paying through Flywire:

  • Use secure, flexible options to pay from 240 countries and territories, in 140+ currencies (not applicable to US sanctioned countries)
  • Choose from convenient, local payment methods including bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more
  • Flywire saves students/families a significant amount of money compared to traditional banks by offering excellent foreign exchange rates. Families can also take advantage of Flywire's Best Price Guarantee for local bank transfers
  • Eliminate hidden bank fees - Penn State receives the correct amount
  • Easily track payments every step of the way via email and text alerts
  • Access around -the-clock multilingual support from Flywire's Help Center via email, phone, or live chat

To pay your tuition via Flywire log in to your Student Account in LionPATH and follow these steps:

  • Click on "My Finances" on top of the page
  • Select "Manage My Account/Make A Payment" to get to your Student Account Dashboard
  • Click on "Make a Payment", select the balance and click "Checkout"
  • Select “International Payment”
  • From here, you will be redirected to Flywire to complete your payment

Flywire Support & Resources:

How to Make a Payment (Chinese)

Region Specific Payments with Flywire 

 

Payment Plans

You can pay the balance due on your student account in full by the due date or choose to enroll in a Payment Plan and pay your balance in monthly installments. To use this method of payment you need to enroll in Penn State's Installment Payment plan every semester. 

Number of Installments:

  • Four (4) installment payments over four (4) months in fall and spring
  • Three (3) installment payments over three (3) months in summer
  • A $45 non-refundable administrative fee applies every semester you choose to enroll in the Installment Payment Plan.

Installment Plan Due Dates:

Fall Semester: 

  • 1st Installment Payment Due on TBD.
  • 2nd Installment Payment Due on September 22nd
  • 3rd Installment Payment Due on October 22nd
  • 4th Installment Payment Due on November 22nd

Spring Semester: 

  • 1st Installment Payment Due on January 22nd
  • 2nd Installment Payment Due on February 22nd
  • 3rd Installment Payment Due on March 22nd
  • 4th Installment Payment Due on April 22nd

Summer Semester:

  • 1st Installment Payment Due on May 22nd
  • 2nd Installment Payment Due on June 22nd
  • 3rd Installment Payment Due on July 22nd

Additional Fees:

  • $45 non-refundable enrollment fee - Covers all administrative costs.

Payment Plan Details:

  • Enrollment in the Installment Payment Plan can only be completed online after logging in to the Student Account.
  • The Installment Payment Plan is designed to accommodate only one payment plan per student per semester. Either the student or an Authorized User on the student account can enroll in the Payment Plan each semester. The person who enrolls in the Payment Plan (either the student or one of the student's Authorized Users) becomes the owner of the Plan. Only the owner of the plan can manage the Plan and payment method.
  • The first payment is calculated on the balance due after financial aid has been reflected on the semester balance. Please note, external awards (i.e., outside scholarships) or other third-party payments that have not posted to the student account will not be calculated into the plan installments.
  • All payments to satisfy the Payment Plan must be made online via the student account by the owner of the Payment Plan. All other payments and aid sources will only rebalance future installments of the Plan.
  • Students/Authorized Users enrolling in the Payment Plan can pay with either a credit card, an eCheck using a US bank account, or Flywire International Payments. Please note that auto pay is required for credit card and eCheck for auto-deduction of the remaining installments, but not for Flywire international payments. A non-refundable service fee applies to all credit card payments.
  • The Payment Plan balance is regularly adjusted to match the student account balance. This process is called rebalancing, and it happens every month, about ten days prior to when each installment is processed. Rebalancing may result in an increase in the total amount due within the Payment Plan. Rebalancing will also consider any current semester anticipated financial aid displayed on the Account Summary and Account Activity tabs when it calculates the Payment Plan balance.
  • IMPORTANT: Non-compliance with the Payment Plan Agreement (non-payment, returned payments, etc.) will result in the removal from the Payment Plan, which will restrict the ability to continue to enroll in the Payment Plan for future semesters.

Enrollment:

Who can enroll? 

Any student/Authorized User can enroll in the Payment Plan. Enrolling in the Payment Plan every semester is easy. The Payment Plan offer will appear on the Payment Plans tab on the billing and payment portal.

When do you enroll?

  • Once the Student Account balance due date for a semester is available to view/pay (August for fall, January for spring, and May for summer), students and Authorized Users will receive an offer to enroll in the Payment Plan. The offer will also appear on the Payment Plans tab.  
  • The earlier you enroll in a plan, the more installments you can have (four in fall and spring, and three in summer), so be sure to note the expiration date on each offer.
  • Once enrolled, you will receive notification of your subsequent installments in advance of their due dates.

What payment methods are accepted to enroll?

  • Students/Authorized Users enrolling in the Payment Plan can pay with either a credit card, an eCheck using a US bank account, or Flywire international payments. Please note that auto pay is required for credit card and eCheck for auto-deduction of the remaining installments, but not for Flywire international payments. A non-refundable service fee applies to all credit card payments.
  • Please note: the Payment Plan payment amounts will be adjusted, accordingly, if changes made to the semester class schedule (add/drops) result in an increase or decrease in the total amount due.

Late Payment and Negative Service Indicators:

Payment not received by the due date will result in a negative service indicator (financial hold) being placed on the account. Negative service indicators have multiple implications including not being able to register for a course/future semester, and if graduating a hold on receiving your diploma. Failure to make a payment by the due date may also result in the suspension of your Payment Plan and the assessment of a 1.5% late fee on the total outstanding balance.