For students, parents, or other payers wishing to pay their semester bill on a monthly basis, the University of Cincinnati offers payment plans via Educational Computer Services, Inc (ECSI).  Such plans provide an option for those persons who cannot pay the entire bill by the bill due date.  There is a small enrollment fee for each plan.  Keep in mind that you cannot sign up for a ECSI payment plan to pay off a past due balance.

• Already signed up for a payment plan?
  Students can access their ECSI Payment Plan Account online and Responsible Parties can access their plans through the Parent Portal.  You can also contact ECSI at (866) 927-1438.
  
  
• Before Signing Up
  Before creating payment arrangements with ECSI, the student, parent, or other payer needs to determine the necessary payment amount to pay a bill in full.  (Click here to view your bill.)
  
  For example, consider this fall semester bill:                                                                           
  

  	Debits		Credits
  Instructional Fee	4,562
  General Fee	398
  Info Tech and Inst Equip Fee	180
  Campus Life Fee	252
  Federal Pell Grant			2,775 CR
  Federal Direct Subsidized Loan			1,317 CR
  Balance Due:	1,300

In the above example, $1,300 is required to pay the semester bill in full.  If the payer opts to enroll in the plan before the first payment is due, ECSI will divide this amount into four monthly payments of $325.  This does not include the payment plan enrollment fee.  These payments are due to ECSI according to the schedule at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: A common mistake made by payers is not providing ECSI with the right budget amount needed.  The payer then assumes the bill will be paid in full; however, such mistakes can lead to late payment fees (assessed by the university) and service blocks.  Again, using the example above, consider if the payer informed ECSI that only $1,000 was required.  This would leave the sample bill with a balance due of $300.  ($1,300 - $1,000 = $300).  Because there is a balance due, the bill is subject to late payment fees and service blocks.

• Enrollment Process and Fees
  Once you have determined your correct budget amount, read the rest of the information on this page and click on the statement in red at the bottom.  This link will take you directly to the ECSI web site.  You are strongly encouraged to sign up by the earliest enrollment deadline to avoid any additional fees on your tuition bill.  Please note the ECSI enrollment and payment deadlines at the top of the page. (Click here for payment plan enrollment instructions)
  
  The ECSI payment plan is an interest free plan, but there is an initial enrollment fee.  The enrollment fee for each semester plan is $35¹.  
  
  How the ECSI Payment Plan is reflected on the bill
  Once the payer completes the ECSI payment plan agreement, ECSI will communicate to UC that the student has an ECSI payment plan.  Within a couple of business days the student's bill will reflect a "ECSI Payment Plan Budget".  Once UC receives your first payment from ECSI you will see "Payment(s) Received from ECSI Payment Plan" appear on your student bill.  As payments are received by UC, the budget on your bill will be reduced accordingly.
  
  The example below shows a sample bill after one ECSI payment is received by the university:                                                                          
  

  	Debits		Credits
  Instructional Fee	4,562
  General Fee	398
  Info Tech and Inst Equip Fee	180
  Campus Life Fee	252
  Federal Pell Grant			1,920 CR
  Federal Direct Subsidized Loan			1,680 CR
  ECSI Payment Plan Budget			1,344 CR
  Payment(s) Received from ECSI Payment Plan			448 CR
  Balance Paid in Full - Thank you

The remaining ECSI budget is $1,344.  The budget and payment amounts will change as payments are received from ECSI.  Please note:  UC only receives payments from ECSI once a week so your ECSI payments may not be reflected on your student bill for several days after you make the payment.  To confirm your payments were received at ECSI, please check your "ECSI Payment Plan Account" for more payment info.

• Financially Responsible Party For Payment 
  Parents or other third-party payers (uncles, grandparents, etc.) can enroll in the payment plan to pay their student's bill using the Parent Portal. Once logged in to the portal, select the desired student and then select "Sign up for a Payment Plan". Follow the on-screen instructions to successfully sign up for the payment plan. If "sign up for payment plan" is not an option on the menu then the student has not authorized that service for the parent/third-party payer. 
  
  
• Payment Methods - ACH and Credit Card
  Payments are not automatically deducted from your account. You may elect to have your payments automatically deducted from the account you designate directly to ECSI.
  To make payments via automatic withdrawal (ACH), simply provide the account and routing numbers of your checking or savings account.  

As an added convenience you may pay by credit card (MasterCard, Discover or American Express), however, there is a 2.5% non-refundable convenience fee if you use this option. 

• Payments are due on the 15th day of each month in the plan.  If a payment is returned because of insufficient funds you will be charged a $35 returned payment fee.
  
  
• Enroll:
  Student - I have read and understood the above information.  Continue to begin the payment plan enrollment process.
  
  Parent/Third Party - I have read and understand the above information.  Click here to access the Parent Portal and begin the payment plan enrollment process