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FAQ - Costs & Billing

  • How much will my bill be?
  • Where’s my bill and how much do I still owe?
    • Your fall semester bill is first issued in early August, and your spring semester bill is first issued in early January - you will also receive subsequent monthly statements for any outstanding balance still owed. Bills will be available on STARS under B/R Billing Statement, and a notification will be sent to your WIU email when each bill is ready to view. Any remaining balance not paid by the bill’s due date will be assessed a 1% finance charge and rolled over to the next month’s bill. Failure to view a bill will not excuse finance charge assessments or payment of the account.

      You may view an itemized list of student account transactions on STARS under B/R Account Detail. Your B/R Account Detail will show what financial aid has already credited to your account, along with your current remaining balance. Subtract any expected fall financial aid (that has not already applied to your account) from your current balance to estimate what remaining portion of the balance you will be responsible for paying.

      Most financial aid, including loans, will credit to your student account just before the semester begins. If you have questions regarding your charges or remaining balance, contact the Billing & Receivables Office at (309) 298-1831.
  • Does the University offer any payment plans for tuition and room and board charges?
    • Yes, payment plans are available through the Billings and Receivables Office.
  • When can I expect a financial aid refund?
    • The earliest refunds are processed the weekend before the start of the semester if the financial aid credited to your university account is greater than your tuition, fees, room and board charges. Refunds are deposited into your bank account (see Direct Deposit Authorization). Refunds are processed daily by Billing & Receivables throughout the semester.
  • Why do I still owe a balance on my University account after receiving a refund?
    • Federal regulations state that Title IV awards (federal student loans, Pell, Perkins, SEOG) to tuition, fees, room and board - not miscellaneous charges. Please contact Billing & Receivables to authorize the University to apply this aid to miscellaneous charges such as parking tickets, medical services, finance charges, etc., and up to $200 from the previous academic year.
  • Am I able to charge books?
    • Books cannot be charged to your student account, and refunds from financial aid are not always available or may be insufficient to pay for your books. Please be prepared to pay for your books from your own personal resources.
  • Is it possible to obtain a short-term loan for books?
    • It is possible under limited circumstances. The Scholarship Office has funds available for students whose refunds (aid greater than University charges) are not available when the semester begins. Please note that aid applications, subsequent information requests, etc. must be submitted a month before school begins - aid applications received after that date and during the start-up of each semester will be processed after the semester is underway.
  • I need more aid - what should I do?
    • If you have any remaining financial need after your aid has applied to your student account, here are a few options to consider:
      • Review the Billing & Receivables Payment Plans to determine if there is a payment plan that would work for you and your family.
      • Consider pursuing student employment opportunities to help cover your expenses.
      • Contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if you are eligible for any additional federal student loans.
      • Review and discuss the Federal Parent PLUS Loan information on our website with your parent(s). A student whose parent is unable to obtain a PLUS loan may be eligible for additional federal student loans.
      • Review the private alternative student loan information on our website. Students who are unable to obtain a private loan will not be eligible for additional federal student loans.
      • If your family's financial circumstances have changed since last year (loss of job or benefits, death of a parent, etc.), and that change was not accurately reflected on your FAFSA, contact our office to discuss your individual situation with a financial aid advisor.
  • Is it possible to use current federal and state financial aid to pay a previous semester's bill?
    • No. However, some private lenders allow funds from private alternative loans to be used for a previous term's bill. Remember that the terms and conditions for alternative loans are less favorable than those for federal student loans.