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Student Accounts Frequently Asked Questions
  1. What is a Student Account?
  2. What is the difference between the Student Accounts Office and the Cashiers Office?
  3. What is EFT and ACH?
  4. I won't be here to pick up my Work Study check. What do I do?
  5. What is a Financial Aid Voucher and why do I need to give your office one?
  6. I go to school in Radford, why do I mail my payment to Baltimore, MD?
  7. Why have I been charged a $75 late fee?
  8. What is a bookstore voucher?
  9. I withdrew with a W, why can't I get a refund?
  10. I'm BLOCKED??????
  11. How long do I have to cancel my registration in order to get a refund in full?
  12. Am I eligible for the Virginia Educators reduced rate and how much is it?
  13. Why is the bill higher in the Spring Semester for On-Campus students?
  14. When will I receive my refund?
  15. If I have direct deposit set-up, can you apply my refund to my bank account?
  16. I didn't use all of my bookstore transfer, what happens now?
  17. I had a check returned, what do I need to do?
  18. What is Hope Scholarship/ Life Long Learning Credits?
  19. If I register at the beginning of the semester when is my tuition due?
  20. Why are PLUS loan monies posted to the student's account first?
  1. A student account is the account we charge tuition, fees, room, board, and other miscellaneous charges (room damages, short term loans, etc.). Since the student is the individual that will be receiving the service from the university, we bill the student.
  2. The Student Accounts area is responsible for inquiries, billing, posting aid, refunds and the Highlander Choice payment plan.

    The Cashier's area is responsible for posting payments, making departmental deposits, distributing paychecks, Stafford Loan checks, PLUS Loan checks, Short-term Loan checks, etc.
  3. EFT (Electric Funds Transfer) is the transfer of Stafford, PLUS, and Alternative Loans to Radford University from a lender. Lenders will electronically send monies and we apply those monies to remaining balances on student's accounts and process any necessary refunds. ACH (Automatic Clearing House) is a term used by banks for Direct Deposit. If you choose this option, you can have your excess monies deposited directly to your checking or savings account. The only requirement is to complete an ACH Agreement form (RU Direct) and attach either a voided check (for Checking) or savings deposit slip (for Savings). Once all documentation is received, it takes 10 business days to become effective.
  4. To have your pay check mailed, complete a form requesting your check be mailed. Once the check is available for pick-up we will mail it to you. If you fail to complete the request form, we will mail the check to your address listed on the paycheck after a waiting period. This form is availabe on our website.
  5. A Financial Aid Voucher is a deferment of payment until the funds are received and posted to the student's account. The following are reasons you will need to turn in a Financial Aid Voucher:
    • In order to save classes and to avoid late fees.
    • If aid has not been received after the semester has begun.
    • In order to charge your student account for meal plans.
    • To cancel your Highlander Choice account.
    • To remove a Student Account block only
  6. The university's bank has an automated processing center that can handle the large volume of payments and process them in a timely manner. Payments are posted to the student's account through an electronic transmission to our office. This allows us to answer your questions efficiently. Overnight mail sent to the lockbox will be delayed, please mail all express mailings to: Student Accounts, Tyler Ave, Walker Hall, Radford, VA 24142. You may still pay at our office in Walker Hall, but if you plan to mail during peak times please mail to our Lockbox.
  7. There are four reasons why a student could be charged a late fee:
    • Payment was received after the payment deadline.
    • Students that register during the drop/add time and do not pay or turn in a payment voucher on the day of registration.
    • If a student's check for tuition is returned and they do not make it good prior to the payment deadline, they will be charged a late fee.
    • If signed up for a payment plan and payment is received after the scheduled deadline.
    You may appeal a late fee by writing to our office. Please explain in detail why you feel you shouldn't be charged and send documentation to support your claim to: P.O. Box 6922, Radford, VA 24142. All appeals are evaluated by a committee and responded to as soon as a decision is made.
  8. A bookstore voucher is a way to use your Financial Aid refund before the funds are received by the university. You would just complete the form, choose the amount of your excess credit (max. $400 per semester or $200 per summer session) you would like to use toward your books and turn the form into our office or Financial Aid Office by the deadline stated in the Student Accounts brochure accompanying your billing statement. This voucher is only good at the Radford University Bookstore.
  9. If a student withdraws with a "W" after the Census Date they will not be eligible for a refund of tuition and fees. Please refer to the withdrawal policy on this web page. Exceptions to withdrawal procedures - Exceptions to the withdrawal procedures may be granted upon recommendation of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Student Development in cases of documented medical or other non-academic reasons.
  10. A block is the prevention of registration and receipt of transcripts or diplomas, by a university office. You will be given a block from the Student Accounts office for the following reasons:
    • Unpaid balance on tuition, fees, room, and board for returning students and graduating students.
    • Perkins Loan exit interview not completed.
    In order to clear the block on your account, you must pay in full or complete the required material before a Student Accounts/Cashiering employee will be able to remove your block.
  11. Students have up to the business day before school begins to cancel registration and not be charged any fees. Beginning the first day of school, a student will go through their academic advisor and withdraw from school. After the semester begins, a student must adhere to the school withdrawal or class withdrawal policies.
  12. Full-time Virginia educators (K-12) are eligible to apply for a reduced tuition rate for Radford University courses offered on and off campus. Educators (teachers,administrators, supervisors, etc.) can be enrolled for a graduate degree, additional endorsements or for re-licensure. Radford University has implemented this policy as recognition of the importance for Virginia educators to enhance their professional knowledge and skills. An application must be submitted each academic year. The following eligibility guidelines apply:
    • A baccalaurete degree is required for Kindergarten through grade 12 public and private school teachers, counselors, administrators, supervisors, librarians, and coaches. Admission to the Radford University Graduate College as a matriculated or non-degree student is required.
    • Eligible personnel must be full-time contractual employees of public school division or private school within the Commonwealth of VA.
    • Individuals on official leave from their assignments are eligible for reduced tuition.
    • There is no restriction on the number of hours that can be taken.
    • Courses for which educators request reduced tuition must be for professional development, not for planned career changes outside of education.
    For more information please call the Graduate College at (540) 831-5431.
  13. Before the Fall Semester begins, on-campus returning students pay a room deposit of $200.00. New students pay an enrollment deposit ($400 for residential students , $200 for off-campus students). Deposits are credited to the student account as a payment towards the Fall Semester. You are not required to pay deposits again for the spring semester, thus, this explains a higher bill for the Spring Semester.
  14. Financial Aid refunds are generated automatically once a financial aid overpayment shows on the account. Students that receive Stafford/PLUS loans electronically have the option of having those funds deposited into their checking/savings account (an ACH Agreement form must be submitted prior to money being received). All other financial aid refunds will be mailed to the student's local address within 14 days of funds being received. If an overpayment shows on your account, and it isn't created by financial aid, the student is required to request a refund in our office. We will have the student complete a form in order to start the refund process. If a request is not filed the overpayment would go toward the next semester as a credit. All financial aid refunds are sent to the local address as stated on the Registrar Office's system. If a local address is not available the default address would be the permanent address. It is the student's responsibility to keep a current address on file with the university in order to receive mailings in a timely manner.
  15. Direct Deposit is only offered for excess Stafford, PLUS, and Alternative Loan monies. All other excess financial aid monies must be refunded via paper check as well as, the following: out of pocket overpayments, private scholarship overpayments, and private loan overpayments(please see the FAQ- When will I receive my refund section concerning turn around times).
  16. If a student does not use all of the bookstore allotment in the time provided, the University Bookstore will provide our office with a list of students and the amount used. We apply the unused portions onto the student's account as a credit. If the account shows there is a credit due to the student we will process a refund (See FAQ-When will I receive my refund? concerning delivery times).
  17. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, the univerity's bank will automatically send it through for a second time. If the check is returned the second time, the university will assess the student account a $25.00 service charge and the student account may be subject to a 10% late fee with the maximum charge of $75.00 on the returned check. Repayment must be made upon notification with guaranteed funds including the service charge.
  18. Hope Scholarship and the Life Time Learning Credit are in simpler terms a Tax Credit. Congress passed the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 giving taxpayers 2 possible tax credits for tuition and fees paid after January 1, 1998 (details of the act may be accessed on our website, through a personal tax advisor, or through the IRS).
  19. Payment is due the day you register in order to avoid paying a 10% late fee with a maximum of $75.00 on the balance.
  20. Approximately 95% of all PLUS and Stafford loan monies are now received electronically by Radford University. The money is posted in the order it is received. Typically, the PLUS loan money comes in first and, therefore, is electronically received and applied to the student's account. Once the PLUS loan money is received, the parent is requested to authorize Radford University to whom the PLUS loan refund (if applicable) should be issued. If this creates an over payment, then it is at the discretion of the parent as to who should receive the refund. Stafford loan refunds are made payable to the student. The refunds are directly deposited into a checking or savings account of the student's choice or by paper check and mailed to the student's local address.