Payment Options and Policies

While we do not accept cash payments, we do accept all of the following forms of payment.

Payment Options

Credit or Debit Card

Harvard Extension School accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. If the credit card information you submit is incomplete or if the credit card payment is declined, you are not registered in your course(s). To avoid a delay in the registration process, you should use a credit or debit card without a daily charge or transaction limit and enter the billing address exactly as it appears on your credit card statement.

Harvard Extension School is not responsible for fluctuations in international exchange rates or interest charges due to the timing of credit or debit card charges or refunds.

Checks

Harvard Extension School accepts e-checks, online bank checks, money orders, personal checks, and company checks made payable to Harvard Extension School. All e-checks and checks must be drawn on a US bank and include proper routing numbers. Starter checks, unnumbered or not personalized, are not accepted. Any bank collection charges are your responsibility.

Please note, if your only option is to submit payment via paper check, please be advised there may be processing delays. They can be addressed to: 
Student Financial Services
51 Brattle Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138

Checks may be converted and processed using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, under the rules governed by the National Automated Clearing House Association and the Federal Reserve Bank.

If your check or e-check payment is returned unpaid by your bank for insufficient funds, stopped payment, or account closure, you are assessed a $25 charge per returned item.

Authorized Users

You may authorize others (parents, employers, other third parties) to access your financial account information – to view your student account details and submit a payment directly to your account via credit card or electronic check (U.S. bank accounts only).

In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), your student financial records may not be shared with a third party without your written consent. Adding an authorized user serves as your written consent that an third party may view your account information and make payments on your behalf via the Student Finance Portal.

Please note that the courses in which you are enrolled for the term will be included on your financial statement, and will be visible to any authorized users you choose.

Authorized users:

• do not have access to your stored payment methods, academic records, or other personal information
• can only view permitted information through signing into the Student Finance Portal

To authorize a User:

• sign into the Student Finance Portal in MyDCE by selecting Financial Services at the top of the page.
• once you have consented to the Billing and Payment Terms and Conditions, you will find the Authorized Users link on the Finance Portal main page.

You may manage your authorized users by adding, deleting and editing authorized users information from the Student Finance Portal main page. You may authorize multiple users.

Please note that authorized user access is granted for the online portal only.  Student Financial Services staff are unable to discuss a student’s account details with an authorized user via phone or email. 

Payment Plan for Admitted Degree Candidates

The interest-free payment plan allows admitted degree candidates to pay in four installments each term. Payment plans are offered per term. You enroll in the plan for a non-refundable $35 fee each term.

Plan enrollment is open from the first day of course registration through the course change deadline, after which you can no longer enroll for the term.

You pay installments by the due date each month. Your monthly payment is based on your current term charges less payments and pending credits, including financial aid such as grants and loans. Any change to your student account balance will automatically update your installment amounts within 24 hours (an email notification will be sent to you when this occurs).

Charges for health insurance and other fees, such as program fees, are not included in the payment plan and are reflected in the amount due. Financial aid or outside award credits will be applied to the total balance before it is divided into installments.

Past due charges must be paid before the start of each term to remain eligible to participate.

To enroll in the payment plan, log into your MyDCE account and choose the “Financial Services” option. Once in the Student Finance Portal, choose “Payment Plans” and select the appropriate term. Any available plan will show up in the drop-down menu.

Financial Aid

There are financial aid options for students admitted to degree programs and the Premedical Program (see Admitted Students), as well as limited funding opportunities for students who are taking courses but are not admitted to a program (see Nonadmitted Students).

Harvard University Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP)

Harvard’s Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) makes it possible for University staff, faculty, part-time employees and retirees to take Extension School courses. See Harvard University Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) for more information.

Veterans’ education benefits and active military tuition assistance (TA)

Veterans may be eligible to receive education benefits through the Veterans Administration. Veterans and active military service members may be eligible to receive TA. See Benefits for the Military for more information.

Payment Policies

Student Account Billing

As a student, you have an account that includes individual charges and credits for each term. Charges include course tuition and other fees, such as health insurance fees, application fees, as applicable. Credits applied to your account may include a combination of payments, such as credit cards, personal checks, and financial aid. If you have an outstanding balance from a prior term, any payment is applied first to the oldest charges on your account.

To view your student account, log in to MyDCE and select “Financial Services” to enter the Student Finance Portal.

When you register online, your registration changes are automatically applied to your account. If your balance remains unpaid, an email notification is sent to you stating that you have a balance due. The balance is due by the payment deadline. Once that date has passed, any new balance is due immediately.

Stopping Payment on Checks or Credit Cards

Stopping payment on checks or credit cards is not a valid method of dropping or withdrawing from your courses. If you stop payment on a check or credit card without following Extension School policies and procedures for dropping or withdrawing from your courses, you are responsible for all course tuition and fees posted to your student account. Refer to Course Changes and Withdrawals.

Past Due Student Accounts

Your account is considered past due if you have not paid in full by the payment deadline. If your account remains past due, you risk being dropped from your courses and you remain responsible for all unpaid course tuition and fees.

You are not eligible to register for any classes at the Extension School or the Harvard Summer School, or to receive an official transcript, until your account is paid in full. If you are a degree candidate, you must be in good financial standing with Harvard Extension School and Summer School, as well as Harvard University, before your degree will be conferred.

Returned Check Policy

If your check is returned unpaid by your bank for any reason, Student Financial Services notifies you to make full payment by bank check, money order, or credit card.

If full payment is not received by the payment deadline, you risk being dropped from all of your courses, including waitlists. You are responsible for all course tuition and fees on your account.

Your account will be charged a $25 fee for any check returned unpaid for any reason. There are no exceptions to this policy.

If your check is returned unpaid by your bank, you may only use credit cards, bank checks or money orders as methods of payment to Harvard Summer School or Harvard Extension School for one year.

If you stop payment on a check, you are no longer eligible to pay by check.

Invalid Credit Cards and Credit Card Chargebacks

• If you request a credit card chargeback or attempt to pay with an invalid card, you are removed from your course(s) immediately.
• If you use a credit card without the cardholder’s knowledge or permission, you are removed from your course(s) immediately, blocked from future registration, and you may face prosecution.
• If you use another’s credit card and the cardholder requests a credit card chargeback, you are removed from your courses immediately.
• You are responsible for all course tuition and fees on your account.