Student Financials

Financial Policies

Students are individually responsible for their financial obligations to the University. All students are charged tuition based on their primary academic career at the University.

A student whose University account is overdue or who is in any manner indebted to the University will be denied the recording and certification services of the Office of the Registrar, including the issuance of a transcript or diploma, and may be denied readmission until all obligations are fulfilled. The Division of Enrollment Services may stop the enrollment or cancel the completed enrollment of a student who has a delinquent account or debt.

Once the outstanding debts have been paid, the student will need to obtain clearance from a member of the Division of Enrollment Services before being allowed to register, request a transcript, or receive a diploma from the University.

The Division of Enrollment Services may assess all attorneys' fees, other reasonable collection costs (up to 50%), and charges necessary for the collection of any amount not paid when due. Matriculation in the University constitutes an agreement by the student to comply with all University rules, regulations, and policies.

1. Payment of Accounts

Payment of tuition, fees, room, board, and all other charges is done online through the My SF eSpace option in Access.SMU. Students select the method of payment, either electronic check or credit card. Paper checks may be sent to Enrollment Services, PO Box 750181, Dallas TX 75275-0181.

A check returned dishonored will constitute nonpayment of account and must be replaced by cash, cashier's check, or money order. This may result in withdrawal from the University and the requirement that the payment of the student's account for future terms be made by cash, cashier's check, or money order prior to enrolling. A $30 charge will be assessed each time a payment is returned. Anyone giving two checks returned dishonored forfeits the privilege of cashing checks on campus. Students are responsible for payment being received in the Division of Enrollment Services by the due date. No confirmation of receipt of payment will be sent. Invoices of charges are sent to the student’s SMU electronic mail account. If an invoice has not been received two weeks prior to the due date, the SMU Division of Enrollment Services should be contacted. The enrollment of students whose accounts remain unpaid after the due date may be canceled at the discretion of the University. Students enrolling after the official University due date must pay at the time of enrollment.

If proceeds from state and federal loans are to be used to pay a student account, the check must be in the Division of Enrollment Services for distribution by the payment due date.

2. Schedule Changes

A student who drops a course during the scheduled add/drop period, but remains enrolled in other courses, will not be charged tuition and fees for the dropped course. (Undergraduates pay the same tuition for 12-18 term credit hours.) There will be no reduction in tuition billing for any course(s) dropped after the scheduled add/drop period. A student who drops all courses will be canceled or withdrawn, depending on the date of the transaction. Please refer to the withdrawal refund policy.

3. Late Enrollment/Late Payment Fee

Any student enrolling for classes during the Late Enrollment period will be assessed a $50 Late Enrollment Fee. Additionally, any student whose account remains unpaid after the payment due date will be assessed a $100 Late Payment Fee at the time the account is past due.  After the monthly payment due date has passed a 1.5% past due fee on the unpaid balance will be assessed to all accounts.

4. Student Refunds

If the proceeds from student loans have been received by SMU prior to the first day of class, and the student is eligible for a refund, the Division of Enrollment Services will automatically begin processing refunds for mailing at the time the proceeds are posted to the student's tuition account. Federal regulations state that the earliest date a refund can be processed, if the funds are on the tuition account, is 10 days prior to the first day of class. Additionally, federal regulations require SMU to process refunds within 14 days from the first day of class of a student's primary academic career. If loans are received after the first day of class, please allow 14 days from the date the proceeds are applied to the tuition account for a refund to be mailed. Refund checks will be mailed to the student's mailing address provided to the Office of the Registrar, unless the Division of Enrollment Services is notified otherwise. If a check is not received, a replacement refund check will not be issued until three weeks after the original check was mailed. At that time, a stop payment will be requested and a replacement refund check will be issued.

All refunds, except PLUS loans and the SMU Monthly Payment Plan, will be made payable to the student. If the refund is issued by check, the student may request in writing that the refund be sent to another party. Any outstanding debts to the University will be deducted from the credit balance prior to issuing a refund check.

If at any time a credit (financial aid, dropped course, or overpayment) appears on your SMU account as a result of a credit card payment, the refund will be credited back to your credit card up to the amount charged. If additional credit remains, we will issue a refund check for the student.

Refunds also can be sent electronically to a student’s bank account. The student sign up for direct deposit through ACH at Access.smu.edu: click Student Services, Finances, Finances Home, Account Summary and My SF eSpace. This process eliminates the wait for the mail. ACH Refunds are quick, secure and convenient.

Refunds are continuously processed throughout the year as financial aid is applied to student accounts.  Students may call or come by the Division of Enrollment Services to check on the status of a refund 14 days after funds have been applied to the tuition account.

5. Withdrawals from the University

Students desiring to withdraw from the University must initiate a Student Petition for Withdrawal form, secure approval from their academic dean, obtain authorization from Student Account Services within the Division of Enrollment Services, and submit the form to the University Registrar. The effective date of the withdrawal is the date the Student Petition for Withdrawal is processed in the Office of the Registrar. No refunds are made without an official withdrawal. Discontinuance of class attendance or notification to the instructors of intention to withdraw does not constitute an official withdrawal. Students who reside in University housing must secure clearance from the Office of Residence Life and Student Housing.

Medical withdrawals allow a daily pro rata refund of tuition and fees. However, a medical withdrawal includes requirements that must be met prior to re-enrollment at SMU. The medical director, psychiatric director, counseling and testing director, or the vice president for student affairs must authorize medical withdrawal. Authorization may be obtained prior to or after withdrawal, but preferably no later than 21 days after withdrawal.

6. Room and Board

Print version Legal disclosures Site Index© Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75205, 214-768-2000