Text Box: FEE PAYMENT AND FINANCIAL AID AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Chances are good that your question has been asked before, perhaps many times. That's where an FAQ list comes in handy. But if your question isn't handled here, you can always call the IT Service Desk; their helpful staff specialize in answering all sorts of tech questions. Here's how to get in touch:    (208) 282-4357 (help)     help@isu.edu

Why does ISU charge me a convenience fee to use my credit card? 
Credit card companies make their money by charging a 2.75% fee on every credit or debit card transaction.  This fee is paid by whoever accepts the card.  Most merchants just increase the price of everything they sell to pass the cost along to their customers.  Tuition and fees for ISU, however, are set by the State Board of Education. We cannot increase tuition costs for everyone (nor would we want to) just so that some could pay with their credit/debit cards. 

ISU paid about $250,000 in processing fees for accepting student credit/debit card payments for fees, housing, tuition, parking tickets, etc.  With the online fee payment system, many more people use credit/debit cards to pay such things, more than doubling the amount of money ISU pays card companies.  After careful consideration, ISU decided to directly charge the fee to those who are using the credit/debit cards.  This will allow the University to use the money previously spent on processing fees to be used for other university programs that benefit all ISU students.  The entire amount collected for convenience fees goes to the credit/debit card companies—ISU does not keep any of those fees.  Also, because it is a charge for the transaction and goes to the credit card companies, it is non-refundable.

Why won’t ISU take my VISA card?
American Express, MasterCard, Diner’s Club, and Discover credit/debit cards allow us to charge users a 2.75% convenience fee.  This means the actual fee amount varies based on how much you are charging.  VISA, however, requires us to charge one flat fee—not a percent—regardless of how much is being charged.  For example, if we set the fee at $75 (about 2.75% of the in-state tuition amount) that same $75 convenience fee will apply to any VISA charge, including parking or computer account fees.  Obviously this is not acceptable, so ISU does not take VISA credit or debit cards for fee payments.

Is there any other way to pay my fees?
ISU remains committed to providing students with multiple options to pay tuition and fees.  The online fee payment system through BengalWeb makes fee payment simple and convenient.  Although we charge a convenience fee for using your credit card to pay your fees online, the other three fee payment options are free, with no additional fees added.

Electronic Payment
You can pay your fees electronically directly from your checking or savings account. This service is free and simple using the fee payment tools available in BengalWeb. You enter information from your account into our secure system and it transfers the money directly to ISU, usually within 1-2 business days.   For complete instructions, go to http://www.isu.edu/finserv/feepayment/

Cashier’s Office
You can pay in person using cash or a check.  See locations below.  (You cannot use a credit or debit card to pay in person.  All credit and debit card transactions must be done online through BengalWeb.)

Pocatello: Cashier’s Office, 2nd Floor Administration Building, Pocatello Campus
Idaho Falls: Student Services Office, Rm 218, 2nd Floor, Bennion Student Union Meridian: Cashier’s Office, 1311 E. Central Drive
Twin Falls:  No payments accepted in person.

Mail
You can mail your payment (check only) to the Cashier’s Office:  Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th, Pocatello, ID  83209.  Make your check out to Idaho State University and include your name and Bengal # on the check.
 (Note:  be sure to mail your payment in time so that it arrives before the fee payment deadline. If your payment is not received before the deadline you will be automatically disenrolled from your classes.)

Is ISU the only university charging convenience fees and not accepting VISA?
No.  Universities across the country are facing the same issues and are opting for this approach to trim their costs.  Some universities have simply stopped allowing credit/debit card payments altogether, since the processing costs have become so expensive.  ISU remains committed to offering many payment options to our students, so we still offer the option of credit/debit card payments with a convenience fee attached.

Can I use my VISA anywhere else on campus?
Yes.  You just can’t use it to pay your tuition and fees.  Paying with VISA is still an option at many other offices on campus, such as the Performing Arts Center, the Bookstore, and the Outdoor Center.  Anytime you pay fees online in BengalWeb, however, VISA will not be accepted. 

What if I don’t have an ISU computer account or a computer at home?
Many public libraries offer public computer access.  We also have one computer kiosk on the Pocatello campus that does not require an ISU computer account.  It is located in the basement of the SUB, across from the Barber shop. 

And finally, the ISU Oboler library has computers located right next to their Reference Desk that are available for public Internet Access during all library hours—free of charge.  (Plus they have friendly, helpful reference librarians who can offer assistance.)

Can I pay with my credit card at the Cashier’s Office?
No.  They won’t take debit cards either.  They will only take cash or check.  If you want to use a debit or credit card to pay your tuition or fees, you need to go to BengalWeb. 

The new CASHNet system doesn’t look very secure.  I don’t want to enter my bank info unless it is a secure site.
Rest assured it is fully secure.  Both CASHNet and ISU Security have verified that these pages are in fact secure.

When CASHNet is accessed via the My Account channel OR the Account Summary link (via the Online Fee Payment channel), the site will open up in a new browser window and display the visible signs that a secure site usually does.

For example, the page will display 'https' in the URL address.

And also a lock in the lower right-hand corner.

If CASHNet is accessed via the Pay Now Via CASHNet link (via the Online Fee Payment channel), the site is opened in a frame inside your portal rather than as a separate page, which makes it look like the CASHNet page is not secure. This is not the case, since the CASHNet site itself is still protected, even if the https and lock are not displayed in the browser.

How come I don’t see my Financial Aid award in my balance on BengalWeb?
There’s a pretty good chance it’s because you haven’t finished the acceptance process.  Your financial aid won’t be applied to your ISU balance until you finish that process.  It’s not hard, just go to BengalWeb and look for the My Financial Aid channel in the Finances Tab.  The Accept Financial Aid Awards link is right there—just click on it and work your way through the 5 tabs it shows.  Here’s a link to complete instructions if that will help:  http://www.isu.edu/tigeri/bengalweb/fa-awards.shtml

Where can I find the Student Health Insurance Waiver Form? 
Idaho code says you have to have health insurance if you’re going to go to Idaho State University full time, so you pay for a health insurance plan as part of your tuition and fees.  If you already have health insurance or are covered by your parents or spouse, you can apply to have that health insurance fee waived.  You only have a limited amount of time to submit your waiver each semester, so don’t procrastinate.  There’s more information in BengalWeb under the Finances tab.  Look for the Student Health Insurance channel on the right, and click on the Waiver FAQ link—it will answer all your questions including how to find the waiver form and what the deadline is. 

What is the Parent PINs part of CASHNet for?
This is a cool new feature of CASHNet that basically allows you to set up a PIN so others can access your account and make payments for you (parents, grandparents, generous bosses).  You can even set it up so that they each have a separate PIN and can’t see anything but their own payments (helpful if your parents don’t get along, for example). 

What is CASHNet?
CASHNet is a secure program that allows students to pay their fees online, using credit cards, debit cards, or electronic transfers from their banks.  CASHNet also allows you to have your excess Financial Aid money transferred directly into your bank account.  And finally, we will be offering an Installment Payment option—via CASHNet--if you want to make payments over time.  You can access CASHNet through the Finances tab in BengalWeb. 

I’m having difficulty getting my fees paid, but I don’t want to lose all my classes when they disenroll.  What should I do?
If you are having legitimate difficulties getting your fees taken care of by the fee payment deadline, you need to contact the Finance office as soon as possible and let them know what is going on so they can help. The new Priority Enrollment Policy is aimed more at clearing classes of people who have signed up but don’t really plan to attend or who signed up for a new section but never got around to dropping the old one.  Whatever you do, don’t wait until after the disenrollment date, because then their options for helping you become much more limited.  Just call them:  (208) 282-3000.  Do it now.

Do I have to have a checking account to use the electronic transfer option to pay my fees?
No, you can make a transfer from a checking or savings account, either one.  Just walk through the steps in BengalWeb—it’s pretty simple.

What is the Priority Enrollment Policy I keep seeing references to?
This policy is aimed at opening up classes so students who have paid their fees can get in and the classes can be as full as possible.  We’ve noticed for a number of years that many classes have 2 or 3 people listed on the rolls who never, ever show up for class.  Eventually, at mid-terms perhaps, they drop off the rolls, but in the meantime that empty spot is being saved for a student who never shows up—and there are often students eagerly awaiting those spaces.  The Priority Enrollment Policy simply disenrolls everyone who hasn’t paid their fees from all their classes.  AND…it puts a special hold on those disenrolled so they can’t go in and re-register until the hold is lifted, giving those who have paid fees a chance to adjust their schedule. 

How do I get my financial aid money?
Our system applies the financial aid you've accepted automatically to your tuition and fees if you've set up eRefund or mails a check to you via your mailing address.

If you signed up in advance to have your refund or excess financial aid directly deposited into your bank account about 2 weeks before school started.  We continue to authorize additional deposits daily, as they are approved.  Once authorized, a direct deposit will appear in your bank account within 2-4 business days.

This gives the system time to check on the account info you provided and make sure it works right.  Once you’ve set it up, the system automatically deposits your change check rather than mailing it.  To set things up, go in to BengalWeb and find the Finances tab.  Then look for the eRefund link.  Click there and follow the instructions—it’s pretty simple.

How do I set up direct deposit (eRefund) to get my refunds automatically deposited into my bank account?
If you signed up in advance to have your refund or excess financial aid directly deposited into your bank, the university began authorizing those refunds about 2 weeks before school started.  We continue to authorize additional deposits daily, as they are approved.  Once authorized, a direct deposit will appear in your bank account within 2-4 business days.

This gives the system time to check on the account info you provided and make sure it works right.  Once you’ve set it up, the system automatically deposits your change check rather than mailing it.  To set things up, go in to BengalWeb and find the Finances tab.  Then look for the eRefund link.  Click there and follow the instructions—it’s pretty simple.

What if I don’t get the automatic deposit set up early?  What happens to my financial aid? 
Your accepted financial aid is automatically applied to your fees.  Any excess financial aid will be printed out as a check and mailed to your mailing address.  It’s an automatic process.

I’m so confused by all these changes and I hate computers.  Where can I go to get some help?
Of course you are welcome to call us anytime you have questions—our staff want to help you navigate this often confusing process.  For info about your account, call (208) 282-3000.  For help with your financial aid, contact 282-2756.  If you need help with technology issues (like accessing BengalWeb, for example) call (208) 282-HELP (4357). 

Will I get a tuition statement from ISU in the mail?
We do not send out tuition statements or bills anymore.  You need to go online and see what your tuition and fees are.  Just go to BengalWeb and look under the Finances Tab.  There are two or three different links that will show you your account information.