Payment Options

Harvard Extension School accepts e-checks and paper checks. Checks must be drawn on a U.S.-based bank and be payable in U.S. dollars. Starter checks, unnumbered or not personalized, are not accepted. 

e-checks are preferred. You can submit an e-check online with your bank account and routing number. Payment will be posted to your account immediately.  

Paper checks are also accepted. If you send a paper check, it must arrive by the full payment deadline. Send checks to: Student Financial Services, 51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Payment will be posted to your account after we receive your check.  

If your check or e-check payment is returned unpaid by your bank for any reason, your account will be charged a $25 fee per returned item.  

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. 

We accept online payments by MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. Payment will be posted to your account immediately. 

If your credit card payment does not complete, you should call your issuing bank at the number listed on the back of your card.  

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. 

Harvard Extension School offers tuition payment plans. These interest-free plans allow you to pay your tuition in four installments.  

Plan enrollment opens on the first day of course registration. The first monthly installment is due on August 1 for Fall and December 1 for Spring. You may enroll after the payment plan start date. You will be prompted to pay for any missed installments.   

To view available plans and enroll in a payment plan, register for courses first. Then, log into MyDCE  and choose the “Financial Services” option. Once in the Student Finance Portal, choose “Payment Plans” and select the appropriate term. Complete the prompted steps to enroll in a plan.  

All plans carry a non-refundable $40 payment plan enrollment fee each term. Some plans require a down payment. You can view the terms of the plan available to you in the Student Finance Portal.  

Your payment plan eligible balance is the total of your tuition less any payments, including pending credits and estimated financial aid. If your tuition balance changes for any reason, your payment plan will automatically update within 24 hours. If you have already enrolled in a plan and add a course/s, please wait until your plan updates before making any additional payment.  

Charges for health insurance and other fees, such as program fees, cannot be included in the payment plan. If you are a degree student and will be waiving the health insurance coverage, please complete your waiver before enrolling in a payment plan.  

On-time payments should be made to remain eligible to participate in a payment plan.  

If your payment plan becomes past due, it may be canceled. You must then make immediate, full payment or you will be at risk of being dropped from all courses and waitlists. 

View the TransferMate demo video.

International Payments

TransferMate provides seamless international payments through your online student account. To use Transfermate, log into your student account, select “Make A Payment”, and choose “TransferMate INTL” from the drop-down menu. Follow the prompts to complete your transaction. There are no fees for international payments.

We recommend initiating payment at least two weeks before the full payment deadline. Even though funds leave your bank immediately, international payments can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to arrive. Payment will be posted to your account after we receive your funds. If payment is not received by the full payment deadline for your program, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. 

Domestic Bank Wires
If you cannot pay by e-check, you may initiate a bank wire from a US.-based bank through TransferMate.   
 
Log into your student account, go to ‘Make Payment’ tab, choose “TransferMate INTL” from the drop-down menu, and follow prompts to complete your transaction. Select the United States from the country menu for a domestic wire. TransferMate charges a $20 fee for domestic transactions. 

You may authorize others (family, employers, other third parties) to access your financial account information. This will allow them to view your student account details and submit a payment directly to your account via credit card or e-check.  

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.

Authorized User access is granted for the online portal only. Student Financial Services staff cannot discuss a student’s account details with an Authorized User via phone or email. 

The courses in which you are enrolled for the term will be included on your financial statement and will be visible to authorized users. 

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 Add or Remove an Authorized User:

• Sign into the Student Finance Portal in MyDCE by selecting Financial Services at the top of the page.  
• Choose “Authorized Users” from My Profile Setup.
• Choose “Add Authorized User”. You may add more than one authorized user.
• Choose “Authorized Users” to delete a user or to edit their access.

Financial aid options may be available to admitted degree candidates and Premedical Program students (see Admitted Students). Limited funding opportunities may be available to students not admitted to a program (see Nonadmitted Students).

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

Veterans and active military service members may be eligible to receive education benefits through the Veterans Administration. Active military service members may be eligible to receive tuition assistance through their branch of service. See Funding for Veterans and Active Military for more information.