How to Access and Pay Your University of Colorado Boulder Tuition Bill

As a student at CU Boulder, your tuition, fees, housing, and other university charges are consolidated onto one bill each semester Read below to learn how to access your student account, give bill access to parents or others, understand charges, and pay your CU Boulder bill through the available payment options

Accessing Your Student Account and Bill

Students can view billing details, account activity, and make payments through Buff Portal at buffportalcoloradoedu. Under “Student Finance” click on the “Tuition & Fees” card.

First fall semester eBills are available in mid-August with payment due in September. First spring bills are available in mid-January with payment due in February. Email notifications go out when new bills are ready.

Authorizing Parents or Others to View and Pay Bills

By default, parents and family do not have access to view or pay university bills. Students must authorize payers through Buff Portal:

• Log into Buff Portal and go to the Tuition & Fees card
• Click on “Account Setup” then “Authorize Payers”
• Enter the name and email address of the payer to authorize
• Create a login name and they will get email instructions to set a password

You can authorize up to 5 payers who will then have access to view bills and make payments. Each authorized payer receives email notifications when new bills are ready.

Understanding Tuition Bill Charges

Your CU Boulder student bill may include:

• Tuition
• Mandatory fees
• Housing and meal plan costs
• Health insurance (SHIP)
• Textbooks, supplies, and other CU Bookstore charges
• Grants, loans, scholarships, and other financial aid

Compare current charges versus anticipated aid to determine the amount you need to pay for the semester.

How Financial Aid is Applied to the Bill

If you completed all financial aid steps on time, your aid will begin disbursing to your student account about a week before classes start. It will show as anticipated aid until it actually disburses.

Federal aid like grants and loans can only legally pay certain university charges. To allow excess aid to pay all charges, authorize it through Buff Portal:

• Go to Tuition & Fees and click on “Account Setup”
• Select “Apply Aid to All Charges” to authorize excess aid to pay non-tuition charges

Options for Paying Your CU Boulder Bill

You have several payment choices including:

Pay Online

• Pay by eCheck (free) or debit/credit card (2.75% service fee) through Buff Portal
• Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express accepted
• Echecks pull funds directly from your checking or savings account

Pay by Phone

• Call 303-492-5381 to make a payment using a debit/credit card
• Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express accepted
• 2.75% service fee applies to phone payments

Pay by Mail

• Mail a check or money order with your payment stub to:

Bursar’s Office
2055 Regent Drive, 43 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309

• Allow 7-10 days for mailed payments to avoid late fees

Deferred Payment Plans

• Enroll in a payment plan to spread costs over 3-4 installments per semester
• $25 enrollment fee per semester, no interest charges
• Must enroll by September for fall plans, February for spring

Pay In Person

• Visit the Bursar’s Office in Regent Admin 175 to pay by cash, check, or money order
• Office open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Pay your CU Boulder bill in full by the published due date each semester to avoid late payment penalties or class cancellation for non-payment.

Understanding Billing Due Dates

Fall semester bills are typically due in late September and spring bills are due in late February. Check your individual eBill for the exact due date each term.

Due dates differ if you are enrolled in an academic session outside the standard semester dates. In that case, your bill is due about a month after the start of your particular academic session.

Late payment fees apply if the Current Due amount is not paid by the due date on your eBill. Failure to pay will eventually result in class cancellation.

Avoid Late Fees and Class Cancellation

To avoid late payment penalties and getting dropped from your classes for non-payment:

• Pay your bill in full by the deadline
• Enroll in a payment plan if you can’t pay in full
• Accept enough financial aid to cover the full balance
• Contact the Bursar’s Office if you expect difficulty paying on time

Recurring auto pay can help ensure you never miss a payment deadline. Late fees and being dropped from classes can significantly disrupt your semester.

Applying for a Payment Plan

If you can’t pay your bill in full by the due date, CU offers interest-free payment plans each semester. Payment plans allow you to spread your tuition and fee costs over 3-4 installments.

Payment plan enrollment opens in July for fall and December for spring. There is a $25 fee per semester to enroll. Installment amounts are automatically deducted from your authorized bank account or credit card.

Payment plans must be enrolled in by September for fall and February for spring to avoid late penalties on the initial bill due date. Log into Buff Portal to enroll in a plan.

Receiving Bill Notifications

Students receive email notifications when new eBills are available and important billing deadlines are approaching. Authorized payers you set up also get email notifications.

Ensure [email protected] and [email protected] are not blocked or going to spam so you receive important billing emails. Check your bill status regularly in Buff Portal.

Options If You Can’t Pay Your Bill

If you are experiencing financial hardship and unable to pay your CU Boulder bill on time, the following options may be available:

• Emergency Aid – Apply for short-term aid like a grant, loan, or scholarship

• Payment Plan – Spread costs over 3-4 installments per semester

• Parent PLUS Loan – Parents can apply to help cover college costs

• Private Student Loan – Can help bridge gaps if you’ve maximized other aid

• Tuition Appeal – Request an exception for late penalties or aid disbursement issue

Contact the Bursar’s Office at [email protected] or 303-492-5381 to discuss your specific situation if you anticipate difficulty paying your CU bill on time.

Managing your student account and understanding your university charges are key to avoiding financial issues. Log into Buff Portal to access your CU Boulder bill and tuition details. Pay using the available options before due dates to avoid late fees. And authorize parents or others to view and pay the bill if needed. Contact the Bursar’s Office with any questions about your student account.