FAQs
Click the links below to find answers to the most common Steps to Success questions.
Billing
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What happens if I don't pay my bill on time?
If you do not pay your bill on time, a $30 late charge will be assessed each month and a hold will be placed on the student account preventing future registration or releasing transcripts. If any portion of the balance is from tuition, an additional $100 non-payment of tuition charge will be assessed.
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Will I receive a revised bill if I drop or add classes or receive late financial aid?
No. You will not receive a revised bill. In QuikPAY, you may view your revised balance and current balance due.
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How do I receive my bill?
Monthly billing notices are electronically sent to a student’s CMU e-mail account. Students are responsible for opening their CMU e-mail daily for communications from the university. Paper bills are not sent through the mail.
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Will I receive a monthly billing statement for room and board charges?
Yes. Charges for the entire semester’s room and board will appear on the first monthly billing statement via e-mail prior to the beginning of each semester (August and December). After that, the charges will be carried forward in the "Total Balance." Payments are due as stated on the monthly billing statement.
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What is the difference between "Account Balance" and "Amount Due"?
The total balance is the entire balance for the account, while the amount due is the amount that is due on that month’s billing statement.
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Can I have the tuition broken down into monthly payments?
Yes. The CMU Payment Plan is a monthly installment plan that allows semester charges to be paid over a series of electronic fund transfer payments, which are deducted on the fifth day of the month. For more information on the CMU Payment Plan, click here.
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What types of charges will appear on my monthly statement?
Typical charges include tuition and fees, telephone charges, room and board, health services, bookstore charges, parking violations, technology services, and Campus Cash.
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How does a student pay for books?
The UC Bookstore allows all enrolled student to charge their academic materials to their university student account. The charges will appear on the next electronic monthly statement. Students can also pay directly at the bookstore.
Financial Aid
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What forms are needed to apply for financial aid?
For federal, state, and most institutional aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA each year. This includes the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. Additional applications are necessary for Bulletin and department scholarships, as well as summer financial aid.
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If my parents are divorced or legally separated, whose information must be provided on my FAFSA?
When completing the FAFSA, the custodial parent and current spouse (if any) must complete Section 3 of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. The non-custodial parent is not required to report any information.
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How is it determined how much money my family can contribute each year?
When students complete the FAFSA, the federal processor uses a system developed by Congress that determines the expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is an estimate of the family’s ability to pay for post-secondary education.
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What do I do with my Award Notice?
The Award Notice lists the cost of attendance (COA) at CMU. The amount of financial aid you have been awarded at CMU is listed in the “Type of Aid” section on the Award Notice. It is not necessary to return the Award Notice to CMU if you are accepting all of the offered aid.
You must return a copy of the Award Notice to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid if you have made adjustments to the offered loan or work-study awards or you are receiving other outside assistance. The Award Notice does not necessarily reflect you cost to attend the university.
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Do I have to go to a bank to get an application for a Stafford Loan?
CMU participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program. No separate application is necessary. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will notify you of your eligibility for a student loan, and provide instructions to activate the loan if you complete a FAFSA.
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My financial aid does not equal my demonstrated financial need. How can I get more aid?
Alternative student loans and/or PLUS loans for parents are available up to the cost of attendance.
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Do I need to tell you about a scholarship that I am receiving from my high school or an organization in the community?
Yes. If you are receiving federal aid, we are required to include the scholarship in your package. In addition, most scholarship donors send the checks to the University and make them payable to CMU and the student. This is done to verify enrollment. Informing us early reduces the number of corrections that must be made to your package and allows us to begin processing any loans included in your package.
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If I don’t achieve the GPA required to renew my scholarship by the end of the fall semester, will I lose my scholarship?
No. The GPA for scholarships is reviewed at the end of the academic year, so you will have two semesters to meet the requirement.
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If I don’t have a work-study award and do not qualify for financial aid, can I work on campus?
General Student Assistance (GSA) positions are open to all students regardless of financial need. These positions are posted outside of the Student Employment Office, on their Web site, and on the job hotline.
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How will I be paid for working on campus?
An on-campus job is paid bi-weekly for the hours you have worked. The earnings you receive are not applied to your student account; you will receive a paycheck.
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Is there anything a student must do before Federal Direct Loan proceeds are applied to his/her account?
