Student Accounts handles the charging and collection of various fees including tuition, housing, food plans, health insurance and other fees to the student account. We also apply financial aid and payments to the student account.
Students receive a welcome email from our office to their Holy Cross email highlighting important dates, links, and processes.
Fall eBill released, notification sent to student’s Holy Cross email.
Fall payment is due in full.
According to Massachusetts State Law, if you are enrolled more than half time, you must be covered by an insurance plan that meets the Massachusetts Qualifying Student Medical Insurance Plan (QSHIP) requirements. The College has partnered with University Health Plans (UHP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to provide student health insurance for the 2024-2025 academic year. All students are billed for insurance every year. Each year a student must either complete the online waiver by August 15th in order to have a credit posted to their tuition account and to confirm continued coverage in another insurance plan or enroll in the health insurance plan.
More details about the Student Health Insurance Plan here.
Spring eBill released, notification sent to student’s Holy Cross email.
Spring payment is due in full.
According to Massachusetts State Law, if you are enrolled more than half time, you must be covered by an insurance plan that meets the Massachusetts Qualifying Student Medical Insurance Plan (QSHIP) requirements. The College has partnered with University Health Plans (UHP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to provide student health insurance for the 2024-2025 academic year. All students are billed for insurance every year. Each year a student must either complete the online waiver by August 15th in order to have a credit posted to their tuition account and to confirm continued coverage in another insurance plan or enroll in the health insurance plan.
The cost of the Student Health Insurance Plan is charged to the fall eBill in the amount of $2,403 for the 2024-25 academic year. We also offer a second semester policy for those students who do not enter the College until January. The cost for this policy is $1,364.00 and runs from January 1, 2025 through July 24, 2025.
Please note the waiver must be completed every year you are in attendance at the college. If you choose to enroll in the health plan this process must be completed each year. If coverage is not waived by August 15, 2024, students will be enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan.
In order for students to submit a Waiver of Health Insurance or to complete the Enrollment of Health Insurance, the student will need to access the University Health Plans website. The student will need to know their Holy Cross ID number and their Holy Cross email address (available in late May).
HOW TO WAIVE - After confirming with your current insurer directly that your current coverage is comprehensive, comparable and accessible, complete the "Waiver Form" online by August 15 annually.
HOW TO ENROLL - Complete the "Enrollment Form" online by August 15 annually. If you do not enroll in coverage or waive coverage, you will be opted into the plan by the College. Insurance cards will be mailed to the home address of domestic students, while for international students, insurance cards will be mailed to their on campus boxes.
If you have specific questions regarding the benefits, please feel free to contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts at (888) 753-6615. If you have questions about your tuition bill, please contact Student Accounts at (508) 793-2521.
Billing is electronic and sent to the student's Holy Cross email address. Students can add authorized users so others can view the bill and make payments.
A semester eBill includes tuition and fees, as well as any on-campus housing and food charges, if applicable. Financial aid is itemized on the bill. Work study funds are not applied to the eBill.
While students can access the information any time, family and authorized members can once they are added. To do that follow these steps: Log into STAR. Click the Billing/Bursar Office tile. Go to “Authorized Users” in TouchNet. Click on “Add Authorized User.”
We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but closed Fridays in July & August. We’re located in O’Kane Hall Room 159.
We’re happy to speak with you on the phone. We can be reached at 508-793-2521.
We accept online payments via TouchNet to offer our students and their families the option to pay the tuition balance online using a checking or savings account. We also accept credit cards as a form of payment with a convenience fee of 2.95%. Payments made online will show immediately on student accounts. There is a $10.00 fee for a returned check due to insufficient funds.
The Calculated Payment Plan is set up to pay the remaining balance due on the account after charges, financial aid, or any other payments are applied to the account. If new charges are added after enrollment in the plan, your monthly payments will rise. If you have non-plan payments or new credits after enrollment in the plan, your monthly payments will decrease.
The Calculated Payment Plan requires participants to provide a payment method so that the monthly installment payments are automatically scheduled and deducted from the account of your choice according to the payment plan schedule.
Please Note:
This is a secure, fast and easy way to pay with an immediate application to the student account. You can transfer funds from a checking or savings account by using use routing and account numbers. There is no fee for this method.
Credit or debit card payments are also accepted with a 2.95% convenience fee.
When sending a check or money order, please include the student’s full name and Holy Cross ID number on the front of each check and mail payment to:
Student Accounts/Bursar
College of the Holy Cross
1 College Street
Worcester MA 01610
Wire and international payments use https://payment.flywire.com/pay/payment
Utilize the digital distribution option if your plan offers it. Be mindful of payment deadlines as distributions can take several business days.
If you’ve been awarded a Federal Direct Loan
This loan may be Subsidized, Unsubsidized or a combination of both. A Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is awarded based on financial need.
Financial need is determined by the Office of Financial Aid. The federal government pays interest on the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan while you are in school. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on need. The interest that accrues on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, while in school, must either be paid monthly or deferred and capitalized (added to the original loan balance).
Federal Direct funds are disbursed directly to the tuition account in two disbursements, half to the fall semester and half to the spring semester. Students receiving a Federal Direct Loan will be notified via email when the funds have been disbursed to their tuition account.
Please note: Federal Direct Loan regulations allow students 14 days from the date of notice that the loan was applied to their account to notify the school if they wish to have the loan canceled. Students should notify the Office of Financial Aid of their intent to cancel the loan. Students who request their Federal Direct Loan be canceled will be responsible for any resulting balance on their billing statement.
Please refer to the Office of Financial Aid page for directions on completing the Entrance Interview and Promissory Note which must be completed before the loan can be disbursed.
If you've been awarded a Holy Cross Loan
The Holy Cross Loan is an institutional loan program offering a fixed interest rate to students who demonstrate financial need. The loan is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid and is administered by the Office of the Bursar with a limited amount of funds available each year. This loan was put in place in response to the expiration of the Federal Perkins Loan program.
Students may be awarded a Holy Cross Loan in an amount not to exceed $6,800.00 over four years - the distribution to be determined by the Office of Financial Aid. The Loan carries a 6% fixed interest rate. Repayment begins three months after separation from the College. Students have 5 days from the date of the disbursement to the student account to notify the school if they wish to have the loan canceled.
No interest accrues until the start of the repayment period which begins three months after the student borrower ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. The repayment period is 10 years, and this loan is not eligible for deferment.
Students must sign a promissory note every award year that the Holy Cross Loan has been included with their Financial Aid award. The Office of Student Accounts notifies students over the summer via their Holy Cross email account with instructions regarding the entrance interview and promissory note. Students are strongly advised to carefully read the materials that are included with the entrance interview and promissory note so that they fully understand the responsibilities attached to this loan product.
If you will be receiving a Federal Direct Plus Loan
The Federal Direct Plus Loan is a low-interest loan available to the parents of dependent students who are attending college at least half-time.
The interest rate for 2022-2023 is fixed at 7.54% with options to enter immediate repayment (60 days after the full disbursement of the loan) or to defer repayment of interest and principal until after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
The interest rate for 2023-2024 will not be determined until June 2023.
There currently is a 4.228% origination fee deducted from the proceeds of the loan. Therefore, families should be applying for 4.228% more than what they need for the bill to cover this fee. This fee will change for all loans with a first disbursement date on or after October 1, 2023 to a percentage yet to be determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Loan funds are disbursed directly to the College in two disbursements, half for the fall bill and half for the spring bill.
The maximum amount that can be borrowed is the cost of attendance less any other forms of financial aid.
The following charges are not allowed to be included when calculating how much to borrow on a Federal Direct Plus Loan: parking tickets and parking decals, library fines, lost IDs, summer housing and other miscellaneous charges. These charges will need to be paid out of pocket via cash or check from a checking or savings account.
To apply for the Parent Plus Loan, please do the following:
The Financial Aid Office will automatically receive the status of the Federal Direct Plus Loan request one to two business days after the application has been submitted, after which the Office will process the loan, if approved.
Please Note: When entering the loan amount requested, parents have the option to specify an amount or simply borrow the maximum amounts for which they are eligible. To minimize families’ overall debt burden, the College STRONGLY recommends families only borrow what is needed and use that as the requested amount, as opposed to simply borrowing up to the maximum eligible amount.
Since the Federal Direct Plus Loan will not appear as an anticipated credit on the tuition bill until the Office of Financial Aid has received all of the required paperwork, we strongly recommend that families begin the loan application process early. Students receiving a Federal Direct Plus Loan will be notified via email when the funds have been disbursed to their tuition account.
You may be allowed up to 10 years to repay.
During a deferment, you are approved to temporarily postpone payments on your loan, and no interest accrues. You might apply for a deferment, for instance, if you planned to attend graduate school or enter an organization such as the Peace Corps, or if you were unemployed for an extended period. For further details, see the Deferments and Forbearance section.
Forbearance is an alternative for borrowers not eligible for a deferment. During forbearance, your loan payments are postponed or reduced for a limited time. Interest continues to accrue. For further details, see the Deferments and Forbearance section.
Under certain conditions, you may have all or part of your loan canceled. This means you will never have to repay the canceled portion of the principal you borrowed or the accrued interest. Please contact the Bursar Office for more information, 508-793-3493.
Under the terms of your Perkins Loan, you have certain rights and responsibilities. Some are listed below; for further details, contact the Bursar's Office at (508) 793-2521.
Your Rights
As a Perkins Loan borrower, you have the right to the following information. Holy Cross will provide this information before you leave school.
You also have the right to a grace period before your repayment period begins. Your grace period begins when you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time status. The exact length of your grace period is shown on your promissory note.
When you take out a student loan, you're agreeing to take on certain responsibilities. Some are listed below; for further details, contact the Bursar's Office at (508) 793-2521.
It's your responsibility to:
Holy Cross recognizes that, after graduation, your life may take an unexpected turn that temporarily makes it necessary to put your loan repayments on hold. So in certain circumstances, the College may grant you a deferment or forbearance on your Perkins Loan.
What it is: An approval to temporarily postpone payments during which time interest ceases to accrue.
When to apply: If attending graduate school, joining the Peace Corps or during a temporary period of unemployment.
How to apply: Deferment request form
Other notes: Deferments vary depending on when your loan was disbursed. If your loan was disbursed before July 1, 1993, check your promissory note for the deferments that apply to that loan. Otherwise, contact the Assistant Bursar. To avoid late charges, continue making scheduled payments until you are notified that a deferment has been granted.
What it is: Loan payments are postponed or reduced for a limited and specific period; interest continues to accrue. May be granted in 12-month or shorter intervals for up to three years.
When to apply: If you were temporarily unable to meet your repayment schedule, but not eligible for a deferment.
How to apply: Forbearance Request Form - Be prepared to provide documentation to support your request.
Other notes: To avoid late charges, continue making scheduled payments until you are notified that the forbearance has been granted.
The Student Accounts Office issues all refunds to students withdrawing from Holy Cross or taking an approved leave of absence. If you're withdrawing or leaving Holy Cross, please call or stop by to let us know. Doing so will help ensure that we get your refund to you as soon as possible.
If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the College during the semester, then tuition, room and board will be prorated according to the schedule below. Any Holy Cross grants, loans, or scholarships will be prorated according to the same schedule such that the percentage of charges applied is equal to the percentage of Holy Cross funds retained. Holy Cross fees are not refundable, including health service fees, student activity fees, visual arts fees, medical insurance, computer installment payment plans, late fees, leave of absence fees, dormitory fines, parking fines, library fines and any other miscellaneous fines or charges.
| Leave or Withdrawal Date | Amount Charged | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FALL SEMESTER | Tuition | Housing | Food |
| On or before 8/26/2024 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 8/27/2024 - 9/9/2024 | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| 9/10/2024 - 9/23/2024 | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| 9/24/2024 -10/7/2024 | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| 10/8/2024 - 10/21/2024 | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| On or after 10/22/2024 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Leave or Withdrawal Date | Amount Charged | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SPRING Semester | Tuition | Housing | Food |
| On or before 1/21/2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 1/22/2025 - 2/3/2025 | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| 2/4/2025 - 2/17/2025 | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| 2/18/2025 - 3/3/2025 | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| 3/4/2025 - 3/17/2025 | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| On or after 3/18/2025 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
The exception to the policy above is that housing and food plan fees will be refunded after the 10/22/2024 and 3/18/2025 point only if the withdrawal or the leave of absence occurs due to disciplinary action, medical hardship, or closure of all College residential housing. Under these circumstances, refunds of room and board will be calculated on a daily basis based upon the number of days that room and board are offered for the semester.
If a student is a recipient of Federal Title IV financial aid, a federal refund formula applies that measures the actual number of days enrolled during the semester. Federal student aid earned depends upon the percentage of the semester attended by the student. Refunds to those programs are required by federal law to be the first priority and must be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Loan, Subsidized Loan, Federal Plus Loan, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal SEOG. A student is not eligible for a refund until all Federal Title IV programs and other scholarships are reimbursed as required and all outstanding balances with the College have been cleared.
There will be no refund of tuition or fees in the event that the College determines that all courses must move to a virtual format, all residential housing must close, or as a result of any other changes to programs or activities.
The College will provide refunds of room and board under the following circumstances in which a student remains enrolled and has not withdrawn or taken a leave of absence.
The cost of education today is a significant investment, and unexpected health issues can disrupt plans for some students.
For this reason, as a supplement to the College’s refund policy, we offer the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. to protect against financial loss in the event a student must take a leave or withdraw from the College of the Holy Cross due to a serious illness or accident before completing the semester.
This insurance is voluntary, inexpensive, and provides protection for some of your financial investment for the semester. The TRP provides coverage for tuition, housing, food, health service fee and activity fee student account charges should a student suffer a serious illness or accident and leave the College before the semester is completed. Leaves or withdrawals for reasons other than personal injury or sickness would not be covered by the Dewar Tuition Refund Plan.
Participation in the plan assures a 75% refund throughout the semester even though the College’s own refund policy may have expired at the time of the student’s leave or withdrawal.
The purchase deadline is the first day of classes of the fall semester. The 2024-2025 academic year cost is $583 for students residing on-campus and $452 for students not residing on-campus.
Enrollment forms with complete details are mailed to students in June, or an application may be completed online at collegerefund.com/home. If you have any questions, please contact A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. at (617) 774-1555.
Please review The Tuition Refund Plan brochure for 2024-25.
IRS Form 1098-T is filed by the College of the Holy Cross for each student who is a United States citizen or permanent resident and for whom reportable transactions are made for a calendar year. Your personal financial records serve as official supporting documentation for your federal income tax return. The information on the 1098-T form is only provided to assist you. This form should be given to the individual who declares the student as a dependent on their annual tax return and will assist them in determining eligibility for an Education TaxCredit.
The following information is not a substitute for professional/government tax counseling or for reading Internal Revenue Service publications. Holy Cross staff cannot provide tax advice to students or their families.
The College of the Holy Cross mails the IRS Form 1098-T every year at the end of January to the student’s permanent home address. Current students may also access their 1098-T on their STAR account. Go to the Finances section, click on the “go to” drop down box, select 1098-T form, and then select the year that you wish to view.
Alumni can access their 1098-T through the Holy Cross Alumni Records Center.
A Holy Cross Book Voucher allows students to use their anticipated financial aid refunds to purchase books and limited classroom supplies through the Holy Cross affiliated MBS Direct/BNC Services website before their financial aid award is disbursed to their account. To qualify for this voucher, the student’s tuition account must reflect a credit balance for the semester.
If you are eligible:
Purchasing Textbooks
There are many different editions, translations and revisions to required books and the only way to be absolutely sure that you are receiving the correct book is to buy your books through the Holy Cross Bookstore affiliated MBS Direct/BNC Service website.
What to know when you are ordering books:
The College is committed to being transparent about its billing and payment policies/procedures and collection requirements. We want our students to be aware of these policies and thus their responsibilities. Our goal is to help our students understand the cost of their education and the financial policies associated with their enrollment at the College.
While information is available on the College’s website, to further support transparency about financial costs and policies, beginning with the enrollment period for the 2022 Fall Semester, the College will require students to complete a Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA). Under this agreement, each will acknowledge and agree to their financial obligations and understanding of the related financial policies of the College. The FRA, in conjunction with our website, eBill, letters and other documentation, helps define the College’s expectations for payment and allows us to clearly inform students of our policies related to billing, late payments, contact methods, IRS Form 1098-T, etc.
As each semester’s registration is considered a separate commitment for which a student must accept financial responsibility, the FRA must be completed online on your STAR account every semester prior to accessing your backpack for course enrollment. If a student chooses not to complete the FRA, they will not be permitted to participate in the course enrollment process. Once you have logged into your STAR account, you may access the FRA by clicking the link to the Student Center or by selecting the FRA from your To Do list. The process itself should only take a few minutes. You must take the time to read the FRA carefully before submitting an electronic signature. Once completed, you will be able to access your backpack and begin the course selection process.
