Frequently Asked Questions

Don't see an answer to your question below? Contact our office directly at [email protected] or 814-949-5028.

How can I pay my semester bill?
The Bursar's Office accepts payment for the semester bill by personal check (payable to The Pennsylvania State University), money orders, cashier's check, and cash. Discover, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Echeck are available on LionPATH ONLY.

Where can I pay my bill?
The semester bill can be paid on LionPATH, by mail, at the Bursar's Office, W111 Smith, or at the Finance or Bursar Office of any Penn State location.

Why didn't I receive a semester bill in the mail?
All Penn State billing is now paperless. Tuition bills will no longer be mailed. Each time a payment is due, an email message will be sent to the student's official University email account announcing that the eBill is available. They will then be available to view and pay via LionPATH.

Should I receive a discount because my mother/father is employed at Penn State?
Information about tuition discounts is available on the University's Human Resources site.

Why does Penn State accept credit cards for the payment of tuition only over the internet?
Unfortunately, the Bursar's Office cannot accept credit cards over the counter, over the phone, or by mail. Student account payments can only be made by credit card via LionPATH (web-based system). Penn State accepts Discover, Mastercard, or Visa. There is a 2.0% convenience fee for each payment made by credit card. With this method, payments can be made at any time of the day from any location. Only students can access their accounts on LionPATH. Bursar staff and others cannot access individual student accounts nor enter a student's credit card number in LionPATH.

What is the Student Fee (Student Initiated Fee)?
The Student Fee (Student Initiated Fee) supports student-centered activities, services, facilities, and recreation to improve student life and is the result of a student-led initiative to be more involved in the creation and allocation of student fees. The Student Fee is calculated in the same way as the previously separate fees, based on the campus and the number of credits in which a student is enrolled. The Student Fee is mandatory, just as the previous fees. Adding credits on or after the first day of the semester could result in a corresponding increase in the fee. Dropping credits on or after the first day of the semester may not reduce the fee charged. For questions regarding the Student Fee, visit the Student Fee website.

I dropped a course, but did not receive any tuition adjustment, why?
You must reduce your credits below Full-Time (12 credits) before any adjustment is considered. In addition, the effective date of the drop, in conjunction with the length of the course, determines if any adjustment is due.

I am being billed as a nonresident of Pennsylvania. I would like to be considered a Pennsylvania resident for tuition purposes? What do I do?
A student requesting reclassification as a Pennsylvania resident for tuition purposes must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that her/his domicile is in Pennsylvania, and that her/his presence in Pennsylvania is not primarily for educational purposes. A student may challenge her/his residence classification by writing a letter, attaching supporting documentation, and sending it to the Residency Appeal Officer, 103 Shields Building, University Park, PA 16802. Penn State's Policy for Determination of Eligibility for Reclassification as a Pennsylvania Resident for Tuition Purposes is published in the Baccalaureate Degree Programs Bulletin and the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin. For further information about residency classification, see Frequently Asked Questions about Residency.

When does an undergraduate become an upper-division student?
When the student has completed 59.1 or more course credits, including credits earned through advanced placement or transferred from another institution. This may cause a mid-semester tuition increase.

Why are upper-division and graduate instruction more expensive?
Instructional costs are determined largely by who teaches the classes, how many students they teach, and what subjects they are teaching. Upper-division and graduate courses tend to be smaller in size, and more of these courses are taught by more senior faculty members than lower-division classes. These courses also involve more specialized instruction within the student's major.

Do you have any payment plans?
Visit the University's Bursar's Office site for more information on payment plans.