Student Accounting & Cashiering

The Student Accounting & Cashiering Office is the central billing and collection point for Northwestern State University, and is responsible for managing the university billing, collecting, and cashiering functions.

Northwestern State University offers several options and methods of payments:

On-line: Online payments can be made with 24/7 available access. Students may login to myNSU and make an online payment by clicking pay my bill. The online system accepts E-check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

Students may also provide their parents with a parent pin:

• Log into myNSU and click pay my bill
• Click pay my bill online now, and in the parent pin section click – Add New, and complete the form.
• Parents will be sent an email with login information and password, allowing them to log into CASHNet and make online payments on the students behalf.

Foreign Payments: Flywire is a website that allows students to use foreign credit cards, sites like Paypal, and bank wires and transfers to make payments to Northwestern State University. It is a safe site that is available 24/7, with a help desk that assists customers in many different languages. Once the student makes a payment, it notifies NSU and the payment can be posted to the student’s account. To make an international payment please visit https://www.flywire.com/pay/nsula/.

Mail: Check, money order and credit card payment authorizations (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover) can be mailed to Northwestern State University, NSU Box 5669, Natchitoches LA 71497. Please, no cash payments! Please include the remittance stub from your bill statement and/or include your name and campus wide identification number with your payment to ensure timely posting of your payment.

In-Person: Check, money order, credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover) and cash payments can be made in person at the Cashier’s Window located on the 3rd floor of the Jimmy D. Long Student Services Building. The Cashier’s Window hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Friday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Important: The University does not accept credit card payments over the telephone. All credit card payments must be made online, in person or mailed with a signed authorization using the bill statement remittance stub or the credit card authorization form.

The following holds will be placed on a student’s account:

• 67 – Transcript Hold – Students with a balance of $5 or more
• 68 – Registration Hold – Students with a balance of more than $200

Holds will be placed on a student’s account after the final installment due date for the semester. This allows students with a balance to participate in early registration.

A student who has early registered and owes a financial balance of more than $200 from a previous semester must pay the previous balance to $200 or less to attend classes.

A student who has a financial balance greater than $200 will be dropped from classes by the established cancellation date.

An email providing the following information will be sent to all students who owe a balance of more than $200:

• NSU previous balance policy
• NSU payment options
• A specific date the balance is due to avoid registration cancellation
• NSU previous balance exception policy

Any student who has an approved Registration Exception Application or enough estimated aid to cover their balance will not be cancelled.

REGISTRATION EXCEPTIONS

If you have registered or want to register but owe a financial balance of more than $200 from a previous semester, you may qualify for an exception.  The registration exception process is meant to allow students to continue their education while actively participating in a repayment plan to the University.  The goal is to continue to reduce your past debt while ensuring your current debt is covered.

Steps to a successful exception

• Exhaust ALL financial aid opportunities. Complete all necessary paperwork for financial aid, including but not limited to a FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov).  All students should complete documents unless financial aid can determine that students are at their max or in default.
• Submit a detailed payment plan that addresses how both the current and previous balances will be paid by the end of the semester. You must demonstrate a commitment to paying your debt.
• If you fail to follow the agreed upon plan, exception status will be denied for the following semester.

If an exception to register with a previous balance is approved, and you are eligible for financial aid, Northwestern State University will apply your aid in the following ways:

• Non-title IV aid will be applied to any balance, current or previous.
• Title IV aid will be applied to any current aid year balance.
• Title IV aid cannot be used to pay a balance greater than $200 from a previous aid year.
• Students with financial aid greater than current award year charges will receive a refund.  Students are encouraged to pay any previous award year balance upon receipt of any refund as documented in their exception plan.  Failure to do so may result in future exception status being denied.

• An aid year begins in the Fall and continues through the Spring and Summer. Any Title IV aid awarded during an award year is used to pay for a balance in these semesters. It can also be used to pay up to $200 toward a previous award year balance.

Installment, late registration, and late payment charges will be assessed, and collection placement and credit bureau reporting submitted in accordance with university policy.

The Vice President for the Student Experience has authority to override any decision of the committee if unforeseen circumstances warrant such.

UNIVERSITY COLLECTION POLICY

 Accounts not paid by the last day of the semester will be referred to the University’s contracted collection agency in the timeframes listed below. The collection agency will pursue collections; however, a student’s account will not be reported to a credit bureau.

• Spring and Summer semester delinquent accounts are referred during the following Fall semester.
• Fall semester delinquent accounts are referred during the following Spring semester.

Uncollectible prior year student receivables are to be written off and referred to the Attorney General’s Office for collections.

Example:  Students with a balance from Summer 2019, Fall 2019, or Spring 2020 will be referred to the Attorney General’s Office as of June 30, 2021

Upon transmittal for collection, the student is responsible for collection/attorney fees in the amount of thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3 %) of the unpaid debt and court and other related costs. In addition, these debts may be reported to credit bureau agencies.