Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


Answers

What is a student account?

Each student that attends WPI will have a financial account with the Accounting Office. This student account will include charges/payments for tuition and fees, room and board, and other charges, as applicable. All of the charges will be billed using our e-Bill process.

What is e-Billing?

e-Billing is a convenient and reliable alternative to paper bills. You will be sent an email notification to your WPI email account when an e-Bill is available for viewing. You also have the ability to give access to authorized users to view your e-Bills and/or make e-Payments. Each person with access to the e-Bill can receive an email notification when a new e-Bill is generated if you provide their email address.

There are several reasons why e-Bill is the official billing method at WPI. The primary reason is to provide faster and easier service to our students and their parents or guardians. The vast majority of students and parents are familiar and comfortable with the web culture. It has become commonplace to perform many daily transactions and communications via email and the Internet. Many universities and institutions around the country are using electronic billing as their primary method of billing. In addition to providing more efficient service, electronic billing also results in time and monetary savings to both the student and the institution. As a highly respected technical institution, WPI strives to provide services electronically.

Can I receive a paper bill instead of the e-Bill?

All enrolled students will receive an e-Bill. If you want a paper copy of your bill, you can log into the e-Bill system to print a copy of your e-Bill.

How do I set up an authorized user? How can my parents view my e-Bill?

A person other than the student may have the ability to view the e-Bill as an authorized user. Students must first sign into the Web Information System (Self Service) and setup their authorized user in the system. A login name and password, assigned by the student, is used to securely view the e-Bill. The authorized user can also have an email address added to their profile so that an email notification will be sent when a new e-Bill is generated. The student must give the login name and password to the authorized user. Students have the ability to cancel authorized user access at any time by signing into Web Information System (Self Service) and deactivating the authorized user’s login ID. More than one authorized user can be set up for a student.

What if I do not view an e-Bill?

If the recipient of the e-Bill does not view the e-Bill within 5 days, a reminder e-Bill will be sent. It is the responsibility of the student to read the e-Bill and arrange for payment by the due date. Email notifications will be sent to the student wpi email address and authorized users when an eBill is available for viewing.

How do I log into Web Information System (Self Service)?

Students will receive an email in their WPI email account when a new e-Bill is available for viewing. This email will have a link to the Web Information System (Self Service) where their WPI ID and password will be used for authentication. The email received by authorized users will link directly to the e-Bill site to login and view the e-Bill. Make sure that the computer does not have a Pop-Up Blocker that will block the access to your e-Bill.

What is the difference between my e-Bill and my Account Detail By Term in Web Information System (Self Service)?

The e-Bill is a web-based presentation of your student account. It represents a snapshot in time of your student account. It will show the same information that would have been on a paper bill. If any new transactions occur, these transactions will show on the next e-Bill. The Account Detail By Term provides access to your most up-to-date account activity.

How can I find out my account balance without having to call the Accounting Office?

You can view your Account Detail By Term in Web Information System (Self Service) or view your Total Balance Due on the e-Bill site.

What happens if I do not pay on time?

Students that do not pay the e-Bill by the due date will be charged a late payment fee.

What forms of payment are accepted?

WPI accepts e-Check or credit card payment (MasterCard, Discover, American Express) by logging into the secure student Web Information System (Self Service). There is no fee to make payment using e-Check. Credit card payments are assessed a 2.75% service charge based on the transaction amount. Other forms of payment include paper check, wire transfer and Tuition Management System (TMS) Payment Plan . See Methods of Payment for more detail on all payment options.

What is e-Check?

WPI allows students and authorized users to make secure online payment with an e-Check by accessing Web Information System (for students) or the e-Bill system (for authorized users). There is no service charge for making a payment with e-Check. Payment with e-Check will create an ACH transactions to your checking or savings account.

Do you accept credit cards?

Credit card payments can be made online through Web Information System (for students) or through the e-Bill system (for authorized Users). A processing fee of 2.75% is added to the total payment. MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted. VISA is NOT accepted.

If my bill shows a zero (0) amount due, what does this mean?

On the E-Billing web page, if your amount due is ($0.00), you have either a zero or a credit balance. You do not need to make payment. A credit balance will not show as the amount of the credit, as the amount that is displayed is Balance Due. If you have a credit balance, the balance due is zero. On the Web Information System page, you will see the account balance including credit balances. This is different from balance due.

What is a Financial Hold?

A financial hold will be placed on your university transcript and registration privileges if you have an unpaid balance on your student account.

Does WPI offer any type of payment plan?

Yes, Tuition Management Service (TMS) offers a Monthly Payment Plan that allows the student or parent to make monthly payments. Visit the WPI Payment Center for more details.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: Jul 22, 2008, 08:40 EDT
[WPI] [Home] [Back]

Accounting and Treasury Office - Worcester Polytechnic Institute - 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Phone: +1-508-831-5203 - Fax: +1-508-831-5064 - bursar@wpi.edu