Administration & Finance Division

AFD SERVICES

Student Accounts

Fall 2017 Payment Dates:    Current Students 07/10/2017 • New Freshman 08/07/2017 • New Transfers 08/14/2017

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Parent FAQ's

We hope that the information provided on our site will answer your questions adequately. However, please keep in mind that Cal Poly cannot provide any person, including a parent, specific student account information until the student in question has given us written permission to do so.

Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA)

Upon officially registering for their first class, and in accordance with FERPA guidelines, the student must supply Cal Poly, as required per department, written authorization to release information to any person chosen by that student - this includes the parents.

Please take a moment to discuss this matter with your student. If your student decides to give the necessary written authorization, you may use the link below to access the authorization form:

FERPA - Authorization to Release Information

Please fax your completed form to 805-756-2774 or email it to us at studentaccounts@calpoly.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions by Parents

  • How do we know when registration fees need to be paid?

    See Fee Payment Schedule for more information about fees and payment policies. This page includes:

    • Housing fee information
    • Dining fee information
    • Registration rotation link
    • On line payment link (check or credit card)
    • Parking fee information link

    Want to make a registration fee payment?

    Online payments - make payments through your checking account (this is a free service!), or by credit card (Visa not accepted; a small transaction fee will be assessed).

    Mailing in a check: It takes approximately 7 to 10 working days for a mailed payment to get to campus and be processed. Given this expected time delay - and the possibility of disenrollment due to non-payment of fees (please review the Registration Fee Payment Policy link above), Cal Poly strongly recommends that payments be made through our on line payment options (eCheck or credit card). If you need help navigating the on line payment system, please do not hesitate to contact our Cashier's Office staff at 805-756-2256. We are here to help!

    If you need to mail in your registration fee payment, please make your check payable to Cal Poly and reference the Empl I.D. and student's first and last name clearly. Mail to:

    Cal Poly
    University Cashier's Office
    1 Grand Avenue
    San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

  • Does Cal Poly send bills when fees, housing and meal payments are due?

    Cal Poly does not send bills. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of due dates for registration fees, housing, and meal plans. Please refer to the Fee Payment Schedule for general information (amounts and important links), when registration fees are charged to the student's Cal Poly account, and when/how students are expected to pay.

  • Do we need to pay registration fees in advance if our student is going to receive financial aid?

    Registration fees are automatically deferred for each quarter a student will be receiving a financial aid disbursement. This includes grants, student loans, and some scholarships. The registration fees are deducted from the financial aid when it comes in and any remaining financial aid is disbursed to the student as early as the first day of school. The methods used for disbursing remaining aid to the student are either ACH (electronic direct deposit into the student's personal bank account of choice) or a paper check mailed to the student's current mailing address.

    Because students sometimes forget to update their address information, Cal Poly strongly recommends that students sign up for direct deposit to avoid possible delays caused by mailing time and/or address problems.

    Students who are NOT receiving financial aid in a given quarter are subject to the Registration Fee Payment Policy terms for non-financial aid students - which include automatic disenrollment if fees are not paid by the indicated deadline

  • Our student has decided not to attend Cal Poly this quarter, and we have already paid registration fees.  How do we get a refund?

    Cal Poly's Refund Policy.

    NOTE: All refunds must be initiated by the student.

    Refund disbursement requests are processed by the Student Accounts Office. Electronic (direct deposit) refunds and mailed checks are processed twice each week. Allow 10 business days from the date of process for any mailed checks to be received. The student also does have the option of leaving the refund credit on account for the following quarter's registration fee payment.

    Please refer to the Refund Policy link (above) for information specific to each type of refund request.

  • Who should we talk to if we have questions regarding our student's financial aid eligibility and parent PLUS loan information?

    Financial Aid Eligibility

    For information about eligibility for all types of financial aid funding, email the Financial Aid Office or call: 805-756-2927.

    Disbursement Questions (for all types of financial aid funding)

    Financial aid is disbursed in increments of 1/3 per quarter (fall, winter, spring). It is disbursed to the student's Cal Poly student account as early as the first day of school, providing all requirements and paperwork are in place (have your student check their TO DO list from their Cal Poly portal). Note: Cal Poly cannot disburse financial aid funds to the student's Cal Poly account until the student is enrolled in the required amount of units. If the student has completed all other requirements and paperwork, but still has not received their financial aid disbursement it usually means they have not yet enrolled in enough units. Once they have, the aid will disburse automatically.

    Email the Student Accounts Office if you have questions once the financial aid has been disbursed.

    Or call: 805-756-1428

    Important Parent PLUS Loan Disbursement Information

    Like all other financial aid, Parent PLUS loan funds will automatically be applied to the student's Cal Poly account and will be used to pay any outstanding charges. Once all charges have been paid, excess parent PLUS loan funds, if any, will be disbursed to the parent by check (mailed), unless the parent submits a written request authorizing Cal Poly to disburse the excess Parent PLUS loan funds directly to the student.

    Parent PLUS Loan Authorization to Disburse Excess Funds to the Student

    You may email your your completed form studentaccounts@calpoly.edu or fax it to the Student Account Office: 805-756-2774.

Pay Online

Students Pay Here

Parents Pay Here

Note that any online payments using a credit or debit card will incur a 2.75% Non-refundable Convenience Fee.

Important Dates

Date Description
07/10/2017 Fall 2017: Dates Fees Charged
Current Students
08/07/2017 Fall 2017: Dates Fees Charged
New Freshman
08/14/2017 Fall 2017: Dates Fees Charged
New Transfers
08/21/2017 Fee Past Due Date
View all dates