Paying online is the fastest and safest way to post payment to your account. When you pay online, the transaction posts immediately to your statement of account, clearing the balance due by the amount you paid. You may choose from one of the following payment methods:
Student Access Only
Important: these online web payment portals are intended for current term tuition and fees. If you need to pay past due tuition and fees from a prior term, please visit the Collections page on this site.
Resources
Please consider paying online when feasible, as it is fast, convenient, and safe. If you are unable to remit payment this way, you may utilize one of the following options. For our safety and your peace of mind, we cannot accept cash payments, either in person or by mail.
Mail a Payment - Personal Check
Please make all checks payable to The Ohio State University and include the student's name and OSU ID number in the Memo line. Failure to include this information with your payment may result in processing delays.
Submit your personal check payment to:
The Ohio State University
PO Box 183248
Columbus, OH 43218-3248
Payments must be postmarked by the fee payment deadline in order to avoid late fees. Please allow 1-2 weeks from the time you send your payment for it to post to your account. All mailed payments are processed within 2-3 business days of receipt at the Office of the University Bursar.
Resources
Mail a Payment - 529 College Savings Plan
We recommend contacting your College Savings Plan administrator to begin the withdrawal process at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to the fee payment deadline to ensure that funds are received by the fee payment deadline. As proof of enrollment for the term, you may submit to your plan administrator a copy of your statement of account.
College Savings account payments should be made out to The Ohio State University. Each item sent should include the student's name and OSU ID number. Failure to include this information with your payment may result in processing delays.
Submit your 529 College Savings Plan payment to:
The Ohio State University - 529 Plan
PO Box 183248
Columbus, OH 43218-3248
For 529 payments sent via FedEx, UPS or other courier that requires a physical mailing address (non-PO Box), please use:
The Ohio State University - 529 Plan
2nd Floor, Student Academic Services Building
281 W. Lane Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Payments must be postmarked by the fee payment deadline in order to avoid late fees. 529 payments are not necessarily mailed the day you request the funds, as companies require processing time prior to mailing. We recommend initiating your 529 withdrawal 4-6 weeks prior to the fee payment deadline. All mailed payments are processed within 2-3 business days of receipt at the Office of the University Bursar.
Note: if a refund is generated from excess 529 funds, it will be issued to the student.
Resources
To submit a check in person, please visit the secure payment drop box on the first floor of the Student Academic Services Building (across from the elevators). Your check should be made payable to The Ohio State University and include the student's name and OSU ID number in the memo line. Failure to include this information with your payment may result in processing delays.
The payment dropbox is regularly checked by a member of the Office of the University Bursar payment processing team.
Other Wire Transfer Options
If you are unable to make a foreign currency wire transfer through our online web payment portal, please contact the Office of the University Bursar at bursar@osu.edu to explore alternate arrangements.
Ohio State's Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP) allows you to divide the cost of tuition, fees, and housing (if you live on campus) into installment payments. The deadline to enroll in TOPP is by the second installment due date of a term.
Resources
TOPP Enrollment Details
TOPP enrollment is optional. To participate, you must sign up each semester through your My Buckeye Link account. A $30 non-refundable enrollment fee is assessed each term you enroll and due with the first payment plan installment.
When you enroll in TOPP, you automatically authorize any federal financial aid on your account to pay non-institutional charges that you may have incurred which are TOPP eligible (for example, Student Health Insurance).
For assistance with TOPP, please contact Buckeye Link.
TOPP Installment Due Date Schedule
The first TOPP installment and $30 enrollment fee are due at the semester fee payment deadline. Subsequent installments are due approximately every 30 days after the first installment. Installment due dates may fluctuate based on semester start dates. Please refer to your statement of account for exact due dates.
Sample TOPP Payment Installment Due Date Schedule
Enrollment in TOPP after the first installment due date may reduce the number of installments available for the term. For example, if you enroll in TOPP for Autumn semester after the first installment due date, your charges may split into three installments instead of four, resulting in a larger balance due per installment.
Pay TOPP Installments
To make a payment toward a TOPP installment, choose from one of the payment methods outlined on this page.
If you pay online, you must manually initiate a TOPP installment payment ahead of each due date; automatic account withdrawals are not available. We recommend setting a recurring calendar reminder to help you remember to make your monthly payment installment prior to the due date.
Charges Ineligible to Enroll in TOPP
Most charges assessed to your student account are eligible to enroll in TOPP. The following charges CANNOT be enrolled in TOPP.
These charges are due as noted on your student account.
Changes to TOPP Installment Amounts
Changes made to your account after a TOPP installment due date will adjust your remaining TOPP installment amounts equally. Changes can include, but are not limited to adding or dropping courses; financial aid adjustments; and housing and/or meal plan changes.
TOPP Late Fees and Non-Payment
Failure to pay by the due date listed for each installment may result in late fees being assessed to your account:
Additionally, nonpayment of TOPP installments may result in the addition of a financial hold and/or finance charges to your account, the dropping of future registration, and other consequences as outlined in the Financial Responsibility Statement.
To avoid having a late fee assessed to your account, please submit your payment in a timely fashion. The following payment processing timelines are intended as a guide to ensure your payment arrives on time. Note that mailed timelines may increase at peak periods in mid-August, late December, early January, late April, and early May. During these periods, allot extra time.
Electronic Payments - ACH and Credit Card
Electronic payments post to your statement of account immediately upon transaction completion. This is the preferred method for making payment.
Mailed Personal Payments
Mailed personal payments are processed within 2-3 business days of receipt by the Office of the University Bursar. Please allow 1-2 weeks from the time you send your payment for it to arrive at our office. Your payment must be postmarked by the fee payment deadline in order to avoid late fees.
529 College Savings Plan Payments
529 College Savings Plan payments require processing time with your plan provider and are not necessarily mailed the day you request the funds. We recommend initiating a withdrawal from your 529 account as soon as bills are available approximately 4-6 weeks before the fee payment deadline. 529 payments are processed within 2-3 business days of receipt by the Office of the University Bursar.
Foreign Currency Wire Transfer Payments
Foreign currency wire transfers must be fully complete before they will post to your student account. Typically the process takes 5-10 business days from the time you initiate the payment with your home (foreign) bank.
Paper checks must be correctly completed in order to be accepted. Please carefully review your check for errors prior to submitting it using one of the payment options outlined in the section above.
How To Complete a Paper Check
The following payment acceptance policies ensure that Ohio State adheres to highest standards of fiscal stewardship while mitigating risk to the institution and to you.
Acceptable Checks with Proper Identification
The following are considered acceptable checks with proper identification:
The following payment types are not accepted by The Ohio State University.
Returned Checks and Rejected Web Payments
If you submit a paper check or electronic payment and it is returned from the bank, your balance will become immediately due. Additionally, your account may be subject to a $30 returned check charge. You will be notified via email if your payment has been returned. Reasons a payment could be returned include:
Additional reasons a paper check payment could be returned include:
You are encouraged to submit a replacement payment as soon as possible after you are notified of the return to avoid collections activity on your account. When you submit your new payment, please also include $30 for the returned check charge in addition to the original amount.
If you made your payment online and it was rejected for insufficient funds in the account, your ability to pay online in the future may be restricted. Please contact the Office of the University Bursar for additional information.
Multiple instances of payments being returned from any bank may result in a hold being added to your student account. Your payment options may also be limited, requiring you to pay your bill using only certified funds (i.e., cashier’s check or money order). If the situation requires it, further disciplinary action may also be taken.
