policies
Understanding our financial policies helps ensure a smooth experience with our services. Review the information below to learn about billing procedures, payment methods, and other important policies.
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Maintaining aid eligibility
SFS may be required to make adjustments each semester to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of aid.
refunds and withdrawals
Dropping from one or more classes, or withdrawing from all courses in a semester, may impact your financial aid and bill.
Billing Due Dates
Student bills are provided online only. Students are encouraged to establish authorized user access to the TouchNet billing system to allow parents or others to receive billing statements and make payments.
Charges are calculated using pre-registrations, room sign-up information, and data supplied by the Admissions Office. Email notifications concerning student accounts will be sent periodically until the bill is paid in full. Students may view their accounts on Student Self-Service on MaineStreet.
Due dates:
A late payment fee of $50 per month will be charged on past due balances.
Before the due date for the fall, spring and summer semesters, students should use the Anticipated Resources area of Student Self-Service on MaineStreet to notify the University of any credits from other sources that are not shown on the billing statement (i.e. alternative loans, College Savings Plans, Parent PLUS Loans).
(After logging into the MaineStreet Portal, click the Student Center Tile. Select the compass icon in the top right corner. Click on Navigator > Self Service>Campus Finances> Anticipated Resources)
Outside scholarships should be reported to the Office of Student Financial Aid on MaineStreet (After logging into the MaineStreet Portal, click the Student Center Tile. Select the compass icon in the top right corner. Click on Navigator> Self Service > Campus Finances > Accept/Decline Awards > Report Outside Aid).
The University expects the student to be financially responsible. All accounts are carried in the name of the student, regardless of the source of payment. Invoices are emailed to the student, not the parent. All charges are payable in full by the due date on the invoice. After that, a $50.00 late payment fee may be assessed. Financially delinquent students will be subject to the following administrative sanctions:
They may have a hold placed for receiving an official certified copy of their transcript and diploma. Under Maine law, the University must provide current and former students their official transcript or diploma upon request, regardless of a past due balance or debt owed to the institution. Students with a record hold due to a past due balance should contact the Student Accounts Office to request a temporary removal of the hold so the student can then request their official record(s) through the University Registrar’s Office or available self-service options. Those with past due balances of $2,500 or more must enter into a payment plan before the hold is temporarily removed and their record(s) can be requested. For more information about this process, please see University of Maine System Administrative Practice Letter IX-K.
They may be prevented from registration or pre-registration at any campus in the University of Maine System.
The University of Maine System or its campuses may disclose (directly or through its collection agencies) to a credit bureau organization that the student has failed to pay an assessed charge.
The University of Maine System or its campuses may use in-house collection efforts, commercial firms, legal services, and the State of Maine Bureau of Taxation for collection on the accounts.
The financial requirements of the University, changing costs, state and legislative action and other matters may require an adjustment of these charges and expenses. The University reserves the right to make such adjustments to the estimated charges and expenses as may from time to time be necessary in the opinion of the Board of Trustees up to the date of final registration for a given academic term. The applicant acknowledges this reservation and agrees to the financial terms and conditions of the University by the submission of an application or by registration.
Billing Information for Financial Aid Recipients
As it becomes available each semester, financial aid is disbursed (applied) to your student account. At the time of disbursement, you must meet all eligibility requirements for each type of aid or the aid will be delayed and/or canceled. Due to federal financial aid regulations, some types of aid take longer to process than others. Any credit balance created by the disbursement of financial aid is normally direct deposited to your bank account or mailed to you by the start of each semester, unless you have requested that funds be held on your account. Refund checks are not available for pick-up in the Student Business Services Office.
Disbursed and Anticipated aid is listed on your University of Maine bill. If you have aid that is not listed on your bill, use the Anticipated Resources area of Student Self-Service on MaineStreet ((After logging into the MaineStreet Portal, click the Student Center Tile. Select the compass icon in the top right corner. Click on Navigator > Self Service>Campus Finances> Anticipated Resources) to let the Student Business Services Office know the amount and type of assistance you still expect to receive. Charges covered by “anticipated resources” will be deferred, but you are expected to pay any remainder by the due date. If your anticipated resources includes a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, reduce the amount by 1.066% for the origination fee. List this amount on your anticipated resources screen.
Failure to notify SFS of any anticipated resources – and to provide the payment of any amount due after accounting for anticipated aid – by the due date will result in assessment of a late fee and could eventually result in a registration hold being placed on your account for the upcoming semester.
Away/Multi-Campus Students
Prior to any financial aid funds being made available, Away and Multi Campus students will need to:
Lifetime Learning and American Opportunity Tax Credit Information
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (“Act”) provides taxpayers with higher education tax incentives, including two tax credits for payments made for qualified tuition and related expenses (not including room and board) for post-secondary education. For the “Lifetime Learning Credit,” a taxpayer may claim up to $2,000 per return. For the “American Opportunity Credit,” a taxpayer may claim up to a $2,500 credit per student claimed as a taxpayer’s dependent. A full explanation of these tax benefits can be found in the IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education.
The act imposes a reporting obligation on all eligible educational institutions that charge qualified tuition and related expenses. The University of Maine System will provide the IRS Form 1098-T by February 1st of the next calendar year, reflecting the following information:
The same information will also be provided to the IRS.
Whether a taxpayer may take advantage of these benefits depends on the taxpayer’s individual facts and circumstances.
The preceding summary is for informational use only and should not be relied upon for tax planning purposes. Neither ECSI nor the University of Maine System can provide legal or tax advice on this matter. Please refer to IRS Publication 970 or consult with your own personal tax advisor.
Native American Student Information
For questions pertaining to Native American Student Charges and account status, please contact SFS.
For questions pertaining to Native American Student Waiver status, please call the Wabanaki Center at 207.581.1417.
Student Financial Appeal Process
The following is an appeal process for students who dispute financial claims by the University of Maine System or one of its campuses; i.e., tuition, fees, room and board, and amounts due on outstanding student loans.
Students should submit a written statement to the Assistant Bursar or other designated campus official stating the amount and nature of the disagreement and why they feel the charge is incorrect.
Students should submit their written appeal within thirty days of the initial billing of a disputed charge. The Assistant Bursar or other designated official should respond in writing to the student’s complaint within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal.
If the Assistant Bursar or other designated official’s decision is considered incorrect by the student, the student may appeal that decision (within thirty days) in the following order
a. To the Chief Business Officer or equivalent official as designated by the campus.
b. To the President of the campus, whose decision shall be final.