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Colleges typically give you a few weeks or months after the start of the semester to pay your tuition and other fees. However, it’s possible to fall behind and end up with a past-due balance — like if you’re facing a financial emergency or other unexpected circumstances.
If this happens, you might consider using student loans or other financial aid to cover your past-due balance.
Here’s what you should know about using student loans for past-due tuition:
How to pay off past-due tuition
While having a past-due balance isn’t ideal, you have options that can help you get caught up on payments. Here are a few potential ways to get your account back in good standing:
1. Fill out the FAFSA to claim federal loans
If you need to cover college expenses (such as past-due tuition), your first step should be filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your school will use your FAFSA results to determine what federal, state, or institutional aid you’re eligible for.
For example, you might qualify for college grants, scholarships, or federal student loans — which you can use to cover your past-due balance as well as future education costs.
You can complete the FAFSA online by visiting StudentAid.gov. You’ll start by creating an FSA ID, which is your unique log-in information. If you’re completing the FAFSA as a dependent student, you’ll submit information for yourself and your parents. Visit the StudentAid.gov website for more information about dependency status.
Also keep in mind that the sooner you submit the FAFSA, the better — especially since some aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. Remember that the deadline is June 30, 2024 for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year — so you still have plenty of time to apply and avoid past-due balances in the future.
Learn More: When You Should Apply for a Student Loan
2. Speak to your financial aid office about emergency loans
Some colleges have emergency student loans available if you’re facing a short-term crisis. If your account is past due and your expected financial aid hasn’t come through yet, talk to your financial aid office.
You might qualify for an emergency loan through the school that will pay off your balance and let you register for classes.
In addition to assisting with emergency loan options, your school’s financial aid office can be a great resource to help you find opportunities for grants and scholarships you might qualify for, as well as work-study programs.
Find Out: How Student Loans Work
3. Use private student loans
A private student loan could also help you pay off a past-due balance if you’ve exhausted all your federal student aid. Private student loans typically have lower interest rates and longer repayment terms than personal loans, plus higher student loan limits.
Because of this, it’s a good idea to apply as far in advance as possible to give yourself plenty of time.
If you decide to take out a private student loan, be sure to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for your situation.
Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from our partner lenders in the table below in two minutes.
| Lender | Fixed Rates From (APR) | Variable Rates From (APR) | Loan amounts | Loan terms (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.09%+10 | 4.31%+10 | $2,001* to $400,000 | 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.24%+1 | 4.95%+ | $1,000 to $350,000 (depending on degree) | 5, 10, 15 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
|
3.19%+2,3
| 4.24%+2,3 | $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance | 5, 8, 10, 15, 20 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.24%+ | 4.15%+ | $1,000 to $99,999 annually ($180,000 aggregate limit) | 7, 10, 15 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 4.59%+8 | 6.76%+8 | $1,001 up to 100% of school certified cost of attendance | 5, 10, 15 |
|
||||
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.29%+ | N/A | $1,500 up to school’s certified cost of attendance less aid | 10, 15 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 3.190%9 - 16.99%9 | 4.37%9 - 16.490%9 | $1,000 up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance | 10 to 20 |
|
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your credit score. 100% free! |
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Learn More: How Long Does It Take To Get a Student Loan?
What happens when your tuition is past due?
If you don’t pay off your account by the due date, you risk some serious consequences that can affect your status as a student and your finances. These include the following:
- You might not be able to register for classes. If you don’t pay the past-due amount immediately, your current registration might be canceled. Plus, the school could prohibit you from registering for other classes.
- You can’t receive or view transcripts. Since your account is past due, you won’t be able to receive or view your transcripts. This makes it impossible to apply to other schools or graduate programs.
- You might end up with late fees. The school might charge you monthly late fees, which could add hundreds of dollars to your bill.
- The school could send your account to collections. If you don’t promptly pay the money you owe, your school could send your account to a collection agency. This could have a negative impact on your credit and damage your credit score, which will make it hard to qualify for other types of credit.
- You’ll be ineligible for financial aid. If your account is delinquent, you might become ineligible for current or future financial aid, including scholarships or grants.
- International students could lose their visas. To get a student visa as an international student, you have to be enrolled at a qualifying university. If your account is past due, your registration might be canceled, which can affect your enrollment status at the school. This might also affect your ability to get a student loan as an international student.
If your tuition balance is past due, it’s possible to get help. For example, a private student loan from Credible can help you get the funds you need to get current on your tuition. If you decide to take out a loan, make sure to only borrow as much as you need.
See Your Rates
Checking rates will not affect your credit
Keep reading: How To Go Back to School With Student Loans in Default
When is my balance considered past due?
An unpaid balance will typically become past due once your school’s payment deadline has passed. Keep in mind that individual schools will have their own policies explaining when an account is considered past due, though.
For example, your school might designate your account as having a past-due balance if you have $100 or more in unpaid charges.
- You owe money on your student account for any semester prior to the current term.
- You’re on a tuition payment plan for the current semester and miss a payment.
- You have a balance for the current semester.
If you decide to take out a private student loan to cover a past-due balance, remember to consider as many lenders as you can to find the right loan for your needs.
This is easy with Credible — you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.
See Your Rates
Checking rates will not affect your credit
Kat Tretina contributed to the reporting for this article.
