Employer Deferred Payment Plan
The Employer Tuition Assistance Deferred payment plan is available to Western Michigan University students who qualify for their employer’s tuition reimbursement program and is contingent upon class completion and/or receiving a final grade before the employee is reimbursed. This payment plan allows the amount of tuition and mandatory fees eligible for reimbursement by the employer to be deferred until 30 days after the end of the semester. Any amount of tuition and mandatory fees not eligible for reimbursement by the employer must be received before the student can be enrolled into this payment plan.
COST
A $50 non-refundable enrollment fee is due when enrolling in the plan. Please carefully consider the payment method utilized for the enrollment fee as this payment method will be used for the automatic payment that occurs 30 days after the end of the semester.
All credit/debit card transactions are subject to a convenience fee of 2.95% or $3, whichever is larger. This transaction fee does not apply to payments set up with a checking or savings account.
FINANCIAL AID AND THE PAYMENT PLAN
An employer tuition benefit counts as a resource when calculating financial aid, which could reduce the amount of financial aid the student may be eligible for. Any financial aid you receive will first pay toward your outstanding balance for the term. Therefore, your employer’s tuition benefit could adjust or reduce your financial aid awards, even if your financial aid has already been paid. If you have any questions regarding the impact on your financial aid, please reach out to Bronco Express at (269) 387-6000 or email @email.
PAYMENT PROCESSING
The deferred charges will be automatically processed from your account 30 days after the end of the semester. All credit/debit card transactions are subject to a convenience fee of 2.95% or $3, whichever is larger. This transaction fee does not apply to payments set up with a checking or savings account.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Students with a prior term account balance of less than $100 or who are presently enrolled in the Employer Deferred or Military Benefit Deferred payment plan and who qualify for their employer’s tuition reimbursement program which is contingent upon class completion and/or receiving a final grade before the employee is reimbursed. Students with a prior term account balance over $100 and who are not already enrolled in the Employer Deferred or Military Benefit Deferred payment plan for a prior semester must pay that balance before they can enroll.
HOW TO APPLY?
To apply for the Employer Deferred Payment Plan each semester, you will need to:
- Complete and sign the application/promissory note. This form must be dated within 30 days of the start of the semester.
- Have your employer complete the Employer Tuition Benefit Verification Form This form must be dated within 30 days of the start of the semester and should be submitted with the application/promissory note.
Please submit your Application and Promissory Note and Employer Tuition Benefit Verification Form to: Western Michigan University, Accounts Receivable, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5210, fax the form to (269) 387-4227, or email the form to @email. Please direct any questions to (269) 387-4141. A new Application/ Promissory Note and Employer Tuition Benefit Verification Form must be submitted each semester. We strongly recommend emailing your form so that you retain a copy for your records.
A notification will be sent to your WMU email account regarding the approval or denial of your application. If you are approved, Accounts Receivable will email you instructions for enrolling online in the Employer Deferred Payment Plan. You must enroll in the plan before the payment plan closes for each term. A $50 non-refundable enrollment fee is due when enrolling in the plan. Please carefully consider the payment method utilized for the enrollment fee as this payment method will be used for the automatic payment that occurs 30 days after the end of the semester.
The student, not the student’s employer, is responsible for the timely payment of the deferred charges. This payment is due in full 30 days after the end of the semester, regardless of the status of the employer reimbursement.
DEADLINES AND DUE DATES
The University begins accepting applications 30 days before the start of each semester and continues to accept applications until 30 days after the semester starts. Students are strongly encouraged to submit applications early in the enrollment period to allow for adequate processing time. Late applications will not be accepted.
Summer II 2024 Employer Deferred Payment Plan
| Applications Accepted | Payment Plan Closes | Automatic Payment Date |
| 5/24/2024 | 8/15/2024 | 9/16/2024 |
Fall 2024 Employer Deferred Payment Plan
| Applications Accepted | Payment Plan Closes | Automatic Payment Date |
| 07/26/2024 | 12/14/2024 | 1/13/2025 |
Spring 2025 Employer Deferred Payment Plan
| Applications Accepted | Payment Plan Closes | Automatic Payment Date |
| 12/5/2024 | 4/25/2025 | 5/26/2025 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to re-apply each semester for the Employer Deferred Payment Plan?
Yes, you are required to apply and be approved each semester. The $50 non-refundable payment plan enrollment fee is charged each term in which you use the payment plan.
With the Employer Deferred Payment Plan, will Western Michigan bill a student’s employer directly?
No. Invoices and/or statements will be issued to the students, or to any authorized user the student may set up through their GoWMU account. No documents will be sent directly from the University to your employer. If a student is interested in third-party billing, please see the information located at https://wmich.edu/accounts-receivable/students/third-party-billings.
If my employer is late reimbursing me, may I wait for their payment and be allowed an extension on the tuition due date?
No. The student, not the employer, is responsible for the timely payment of the deferred student account charges for the term. Full payment is required 30 days after the end of the semester, regardless of when the employer reimburses the student. It is the student's responsibility to pay the balance in full on or before the deferred tuition due date.
Once enrolled, can I be removed from the Employer Deferred Payment Plan?
Students may request to be removed from the Employer Deferred Payment Plan, but all outstanding tuition and fees will become due immediately and the $50 enrollment fee will not be refunded. Failure to make immediate payment may result in late payment charges, and make you ineligible to apply for the Employer Deferred Payment Plan in the future. Additionally, the balance owed may be sent to a third-party collection agency with collection fees added to the balance. Any delinquency may also be reported on your credit report.
What fees can be enrolled in the Employer Deferred Payment Plan?
Only tuition and fees (i.e., class fees and mandatory fees) are eligible for enrollment in the payment plan.
What happens if I don’t have sufficient funds with the payment method utilized for the deferred charges?
You will be charged a $25.00 returned payment fee. Any future classes may be dropped and you may become ineligible to utilize the employer deferred payment plan in the future. The balance may be sent to a third-party collection agency with collection fees added to the balance. In addition, any delinquency may also be reported on your credit report.