Credit Card Payment FAQ

Please note: The George Washington University does not accept payments over the phone.

Credit card payments are not processed by The George Washington University. PayPath, a secure third-party payment service, processes online credit card payments for tuition and other student account charges on behalf of the university.
Credit card payments are only accepted online through the Student Account Office (accessible via eBill) and every credit card payment will incur a PayPath Payment Service Fee of 2.95% of the transaction amount if using a US credit card, 4.25% PayPath Payment Service fee is using an international credit card, or a $3.00 minimum PayPath Payment Service fee.
The non-refundable service fee will be assessed by PayPath and will appear as a separate charge on your credit card statement.

How do I use a credit card to make payments to my student account?

Credit card payments are only accepted online through the Student Accounts Office (accessible via eBill) and every credit US credit card payment will incur a PayPath Payment Service Fee of 2.95% of the transaction amount or $3.00 minimum fee. International credit card payments will incur a PayPath Payment Service fee of 4.25% of the transaction amount or $3 minimum fee.
George Washington will no longer accept credit card payments by mail, in person, or via fax for student account payments (from the limited groups of students who were previously eligible to pay by credit card).
Credit card payments are not processed by George Washington. PayPath, a secure third-party payment service, processes online credit card payments for tuition and other student account charges on behalf of George Washington University.
The non-refundable service fee will be assessed by PayPath and will appear as a separate charge on your credit card statement.

Are there any fees associated with the credit card payment option?

Yes. The university accepts credit card payments directly via the Student Account eBill solution. When making a payment using the credit card payment method, the user is prompted to enter a valid credit card information. By completing this payment process the user is authorizing GW and its third-party vendor to initiate a one-time credit card payment to pay tuition, fees and other charges.
The user is also authorizing GW’s payment processor to charge a nonrefundable 2.95% (minimum $3) PayPath Payment Service fee for US credit cards or a 4.25% PayPath Payment Service fee for international credit card payments.
The PayPath Service Fee is non-refundable, even if the student account payment to which it relates is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back.
- Any PayPath Service Fee disputes must be taken directly to your credit card company.

Why is a fee added for credit card payments?

The PayPath Service Fee charged by Heartland Payment Services covers the cost of processing credit card payments.
The PayPath service fee will appear as a separate charge on your credit card statement.
George Washington University does not receive any proceeds from the service fee.

What payment methods can be used to avoid the PayPath service fee?

eCheck payments from checking and savings accounts submitted online via Student Accounts Office (accessible via eBill) Paper Checks can be mailed to this address:

The George Washington University

Student Accounts office

44983 Knoll Sq, Suite 290

Ashburn, VA 20147

Instructions for sending payments via wire transfer are available here. More information on all your payment options can be found here.

What credit cards can I use to pay my Student Account charges?

What if I am due a refund, having paid with a credit card?

George Washington is required to refund any overpayments made by a credit card back to the credit card account used to make the payment.
The PayPath Service Fee will not be refunded for the portion overpaid.

Can Payment Plan installments be scheduled using a credit card?

Yes. Credit cards can be used to schedule a payment for a payment plan installment. However scheduling credit card payments outside of a GW payment plan does not constitute a payment plan and will not prevent interest and late fees if your balance is not paid by the start of the semester or upon registration. Official payment plans must be set up through your Student Account eBill.

Do other universities charge PayPath fees for credit card payments?

Yes. George Washington’s peer institutions either accept credit card payments only with a processing fee, or do not accept credit card payments at all.
George Washington University is offering payment by credit card as an option because we believe in the highest degree of flexibility for our students and their authorized users, and we believe that our students and their authorized users are financially savvy enough to know when payment by credit card is the right option for them.

What should I consider before making a decision to pay by credit card?

The PayPath Service Fee of 2.95% domestic, and 4.25% international, will almost invariably be a greater cost than any benefit (points, cash back) that is awarded by your card company.
The PayPath Service Fee is not the rate at which you will pay interest on the balance due on your credit card. It is a one-time charge on top of the payment amount that will be added to your credit card balance.
You may be able to obtain a federal or private student loan that compares extremely favorably to carrying credit card debt. Please contact your financial aid office for more information as credit card interest rates can vary greatly.
Review your card agreement and determine whether any promotional interest rate applies, for how long, what your standard interest rate is, and what the penalty interest rate is.
Paying by electronic check is the same as paying by debit card for users with US-based checking or savings accounts (both are direct debits to your bank account) but paying by electronic check does not incur the service fee.
Credit card payments are confirmed at the time of payment, much like wire transfers and cashier’s checks (and unlike electronic checks and paper checks).Will my employer or sponsor be able to pay by credit card?

Will my employer or sponsor be able to pay by credit card?

Yes, but only if the employer has been set up as an authorized user or third-party billing source.
Further instructions for establishing an authorized user, and instructions for authorized users to make payment are available here.
No changes are being made to the third-party payment processing. Information for employer or sponsor payments and third-party billing can be viewed here.

Am I able to use pre-paid or loaded cards?

Yes, you are able to use any card affiliated with a major card company however, the total payment amount (payment + PayPath Service Fee) must already be on the card.
The PayPath Service Fee and payment amount will be charged together and cannot be paid separately.