Frequently Asked Questions
How are tuition charges determined?
You will be assessed tuition and fees based upon your student category and residence. If your permanent residence, for over one-year, has been Rhode Island, you may apply for in state status at the Records Office in Building 4. In addition, to be considered independent of his/her parents, a student must not have been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for two years, and the student must have resided in Rhode Island for at least one year. If you possess a baccalaureate degree you will pay graduate tuition. If you have been accepted into a second undergraduate degree program, you will pay undergraduate tuition. It is your responsibility to inform the College of your status so that you are correctly billed.
Back to top
What is E-Billing?
The college has upgraded its system to send students an electronic billing statement each semester. E-Billing (electronic billing) is now the official billing method at Rhode Island College. It is reliable, convenient and provides faster and easier service for students and parents – and is greener than paper billing.
Back to top
What does that mean for you as a parent or guardian?
Your student will be sent an email when his/her E-Bill is available for viewing. This email is sent only to the student’s official RIC email address, so it is very important that your son or daughter check RIC email regularly. Bills will be posted in your student's MyRIC account. Your student may give you access to view his or her E-Bill, make payments and can set you up as an authorized user. For a paper copy of the bill, your student has to log into his or her MyRIC account to print a copy.
Back to top
How does it work?
For Students: Log into
MyRIC and select the link under
Campus Finances to make a payment and follow the instructions.
To set up a parent/guardian as an authorized user:
- Log into your MyRIC account.
- Click on Campus Finances > Make a payment > add NEW Parent (bottom left next to Parent Pins)
- Assign your parent a username and password as directed
- Authorized users (like a parent) who provide an email address will also be sent E-Bill notifications
For Parents: You will need to have your student authorize you to make the online payment (see process above). Once authorized, you will be sent a link via email from CashNet (Higher One) to complete the transaction.
Back to top
When are tuition bills due?
Tuition bills are due approximately two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Students are responsible to review their registration to verify it reflects their enrollment intentions for the semester Students have a two-week Add/Drop period in which to adjust their schedules. A one hundred percent (100%) refund of tuition and fees (except transcript, matriculation fee and orientation fees) is granted for courses dropped during this period. Drops after this period will not be eligible for a refund of tuition or fees.
Students have a one-week Add/Drop period in which to adjust their schedules each summer session. A one hundred percent (100%) refund of tuition and fees is granted for courses dropped during this period. Drops after this period will not be eligible for a refund of tuition or fees.
Ways to Pay Your Tuition Bill
1. Electronic payment
Through the electronic payment option, you can pay by credit card or e-check.
Credit card payments will have a convenience fee of 2.75 percent added to each credit card transaction. There is no fee for electronic check processing. Students utilizing the Optional BankMobile Vibe Account should process as an Electronic Check Payment (ACH) and provide the bank routing number and account number.
For Students: Log into
MyRIC and select the link under
Campus Finances to make a payment and follow the instructions.
For Parents: You will need to have yourstudent authorize you to make the online payment. Once authorized, you will be sent a link via email from CashNet to complete the transaction.
2. Mail a check
Bursar's Office
Rhode Island College
600 Mt.Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
3. In-person payment by cash or check. Credit Card payments are accepted electronically only.
You may pay in person by cash or check at the Bursar's Office during regular business hours,
Building 4, East Campus.
Back to top
Will I be dropped from my classes if I don't make payment by the due date of the bill?
Students are responsibility to pay all tuition, fees and other associated costs assessed as a result of their registration and/or receipt of services. Payment is due by the appropriate due date of the billing invoice.
Failure to make satisfactory payment arrangements may result in assessment of a $50.00 late fee on the account.
Back to top
What types of payment does the college accept?
The Rhode Island College Bursar's Office accepts cash and checks. The Bursar's Office does not accept credit cards.
Payment by cash may only be made in person at the Bursar's Office,
Building 4, East Campus.
Payment by credit card can only be made online.
A convenience fee of 2.75 percent will be added to each credit card transaction. American Express, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
Payment by electronic check may only be made online.
There is no fee for electronic check
processing.Students utilizing the Optional BankMobile Vibe Account should process as an Electronic Check Payment (ACH) and provide the bank routing number and checking account number.
Payment by check will be accepted in person at the Bursar's Office or by mail.
Click here to read all Bursar's Office payment options.
Back to top
How do I access the online payment screen?
For Parents: You will need the student name and student ID found on the bill. Please click on this link to access the payment screen.
For Students: Log into MyRIC Self-Service and select Campus Finances.
Back to top
What are the Bursar's Office hours of operation?
The Bursar's Office is open for business Monday through Friday 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.
Summer hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
The Office is closed on state holidays.
Online payments are accepted 24 hours each day.
Back to top
When is the tuition bill due?
The Fall term bill is normally due during the first week of August. The Spring term bill is normally due during the first week of January. The Summer bills are normally due in the middle of May and the last week of June.
Back to top
What are all the fees for?
- The Application Fee is used to defray the cost of processing an application.
- The Applied Music Fee is used to cover the cost of private music lessons.
- The Dining Center/Student Union Fees are applied toward the repayment of federal government loans that made the construction of the building possible.
- The Fine Arts Fee is used to provide opportunities and activities in the fine and performing arts at the College.
- The Laboratory/Studio Art Fee is used to cover the cost of laboratory and art supplies provided by the College to students enrolled in specific courses.
- The Library Fee is used to cover the costs of purchasing books, periodicals, and non-print materials for the Library.
- The Recreation Fee is used to cover the operation and programs of the Recreation Center.
- The Student Activity Fee is allocated to the Student Parliament for funding the student activity program.
- The Technology Fee is used to cover the costs of purchasing equipment and software for student use on campus.
- The Transportation Fee is used to fund the re-establishment of a discounted RIPTA fare program for students and parking improvements on campus.
- The Tuition (General Fee) is used to cover the basic costs of educating a student and of running the College.
- The Transcript Fee is a one-time charge which entitles the student to transcripts upon appropriate request.
- The New Student Program Fee is a one-time fee charged to all newly admitted, degree seeking students to cover the costs associated with the enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students.
Back to top
May I take courses at URI or CCRI along with the courses I take at RIC?
Any undergraduate student who has paid full-time fees at Rhode Island College may take a maximum of seven credits during each of the fall and spring semesters at the University of Rhode Island (URI) or the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) or both without paying additional fees. The student must be enrolled for at least five credits at RIC and the total combined credits taken at all institutions must be 18 or less. The forms required for this procedure are available at the Records Office.
Back to top
What happens to my bill if I add or drop classes later?
Your tuition bill will be adjusted for all adds and/or drops which occur during the first two weeks of class. A revised bill is normally forwarded to each student at the beginning of each semester. This bill may be used to make payment due. It may also be used to waive insurance coverage, verify financial aid status, enroll in the payment plan, and verify billing changes due to course changes.
Back to top
How will I be refunded if I have overpaid my account?
The Bursar's Office automatically reviews each student's tuition account and generates refunds each week. Student refunds will be issued electronically through our refunding processor
BankMobile. Additional information about this process may be found at the following link:
BankMobile Refund Choices.
Back to top
A third party will make payment of my tuition bill. What do I do?
Provide the Bursar's Office a copy of the authorization to bill the third party prior to the due date of the bill. The Bursar's Office will bill the third party.
Back to top
Does the Bursar's Office cash checks for students?
No. We do not cash checks.
Back to top
I owe money for a previous semester. May I register?
The College's tuition policy requires that all prior balances be paid in full prior to registration for future semesters. The Bursar's Office will work with you to make satisfactory payment arrangements.
Back to top
How do I apply for a short-term book loan?
The Financial Aid Office issues short term book loans to students whose anticipated financial aid has not been received by the College prior to the start of classes. Contact the financial aid office for details.
Back to top
What is the Health insurance coverage?
All undergraduate degree students, preregistered for nine or more credits at the end of the initial semester billing period, are normally automatically enrolled in the student health insurance program. This coverage is a basic health insurance for students who are not otherwise enrolled in a health insurance program. If you have been assessed this coverage and do not wish to be enrolled in this program, complete the waiver form and return it to the insurance company by the due date. You may access the student insurance website at
www.universityhealthplans.com. If you have not been assessed the insurance charge and wish coverage, you may enroll at the Bursar's Office. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a minimum of six credits. Brochures are available in the Bursar's Office.
Back to top
