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Late Payment Penalties

When your account balance remains unpaid by the due date, the University will place a late fee and financial hold on your student account.

Late Payments

If your bill is unpaid at its due date, you may incur a financial hold on your student account.

Until all financial obligations are paid in full, the financial hold could cause:

  • Registration to be prevented
  • Diplomas to be held
  • Enrollment or degrees to be unconfirmed
  • You also are liable for any costs associated with collection of your unpaid bills, including, but not limited to, collection agency costs, court costs, and legal fees.

The late payment fee varies by the school or program:

  • School of Professional Studies (undergraduate degree programs): $100
  • All other Evanston-based schools and programs (including undergraduate): $200
  • Evening and Weekend MBA: $200
  • Physical Therapy: $200
  • Prosthetics-Orthotics: $200
  • School of Professional Studies (graduate degree programs): $200
  • Pritzker School of Law: $400
  • Feinberg School of Medicine MD Program: $400

For more information on these fees, see Late Fees FAQ.

Registration Holds

Financial registration holds are placed on student account balances that have a late or unpaid bill balance. Penalties could include:

  • Registration being prevented.
  • Enrollment or degrees being unconfirmed.
  • You also are liable for any costs associated with collection of your unpaid bills, including, but not limited to, collection agency costs, court costs, and legal fees.

Diploma Holds

Diploma holds are placed on graduating student account balances greater than $500.00 during the sixth week of the quarter or thereafter. Once a Diploma Hold is placed on a Student Account, the past-due balance must be paid in full for the diploma to be released.

To pay your student account balance:

  • Log in to CAESAR; Student Homepage appears
  • Go to Account and Payments tile > View My Account > View or Pay Tuition Bill
  • Northwestern University may refer your delinquent account to a collection agency if you fail to make acceptable payment arrangements.