Office

Student Financial Services

  1. Directory
  2. Department directory
  3. Student Financial Services
What we do

Endorsing the Catholic Benedictine values of faith, reason, service, and community, the Student Financial Services Center supports the mission of Saint Martin's University to empower students in their pursuit of learning and honors their sacredness as individuals as well as their families and our community in an efficient and caring professional manner. Student Financial Services handles tuition/fees and room/board billing and payments, payment plan information, student health insurance and sponsored billing for students using outside sources such as VA benefits, Tuition Assistance, International Sponsors and other sponsoring agencies.

Contact Information
accounts@stmartin.edu
360-688-2180

Old Main 201B

Office Hours

Open door service hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Social Media

Endorsing the Catholic Benedictine values of faith, reason, service, and community, the Student Financial Services supports the mission of Saint Martin's University to empower students in their pursuit of learning and honors their sacredness as individuals as well as their families and our community in an efficient and caring professional manner. This service reflects the Benedictine traditions of hospitality, communication, and respect while maintaining a high level of accuracy and integrity.

Our goal is to serve our students well while keeping our staff and our community safe during these times. We so greatly appreciate all of your patience as we know that the last few months have created a very different looking world for all of us.

Fall semester: 

Bills are available online by mid-July, assuming the student is registered by then.  

Spring semester: 

Bills are available online by December 10th, assuming the student is registered by then.

Summer semester: 

Bills are available online by May 1st, assuming the student is registered by then.

Important reminders:

Check your SMU email regularly for updates to deadline information. Billing updates are processed daily from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), allowing students to view changes if they register later or add/drop courses. 

Tuition is due one week before the start of the semester.

There are several ways to pay your bill.

  1. In-office payments 
    1. Cashier's check
    2. Money order
    3. Personal check
    4. Cash
  2. Self-Service payments***
    1. Credit or debit card

    2. E-check (bank's routing and checking account number)

      *** Meadow Pay platform coming soon to replace Self-Service payments

  3. International student payments 
    1. www.flywire.com

Fall 2024 update:

  • Payment plan options are being updated and will soon be available online. 
  • Keep an eye on your SMU email for further instructions regarding our new Meadow Pay platform.

Yes, parents/guardians can call to talk to us about your bill, but the student needs to provide a FERPA (Privacy Authorization) form with a password for them to give to us so we can give them details about the bill. 

Click here for the FERPA form

Online waiver submission:

  • Students with sufficient personal insurance coverage can submit an online waiver along with proof of insurance once the waiver portal opens by the semester deadline.
  • The Portal opens in early July for the fall semester and early December for the spring semester. 
  • Waivers approved for fall are automatically approved for spring.

Watch for waiver emails: 

  • Look for waiver emails regarding deadlines to avoid being responsible for the insurance charge. 
  • Upon submission, students will receive an email from AHP (our provider) confirming receipt of the waiver. However, this is not an approval. 

Follow-up process: 

  • Students will receive a follow-up email indicating approval, denial, or request for a letter of coverage from AHP. 
  • It's crucial to quickly submit any requested information to avoid missing the waiver deadline.
  • Never assume the waiver has been approved until you receive an approval email from AHP

Click here for the student health insurance page

Students who choose not to use the SMU Textbook Program can opt out by accessing the link on the SMU Textbook webpage.

The opt-out portal opens 10 days before classes start and ends on the add/drop deadline.

Click here for more information regarding the SMU Textbook Program

Understanding financial holds: 

Financial holds occur when students have not finalized their financial obligations for the semester or payment arrangements are delinquent.

Immediate action:

Contact Student Financial Services immediately so we can assist you with handling this.

Staying informed: 

Sometimes, missing items delay a student's financial aid to be awarded or processed. It's crucial to stay updated to avoid financial-related stress for the semester. 

Post 9/11 GI Bill® impact: 

If you are utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and covered at 100%, you are not eligible for Saint Martin's University scholarships because we automatically enroll you in the Yellow Ribbon Program. 

Between the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Saint Martin's, your tuition and mandatory fees are covered at 100%.  

VA payments will reflect these arrangements. 

 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Any student covered at 100% is not eligible for Saint Martin's scholarships.  

Payment process: 

VR&E payments are applied to your student account later in the semester after direct billing to VR&E. 

Partnership confirmation: 

Yes, we partner with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. to issue student refunds.  

Refund process: 

  • If you qualify for a refund and want it directly deposited into your bank, you can set that up through BankMobile. 
  • If you do not have a bank account and want to open one, you can do that with them.  

Explanation: 

If Saint Martin's University receives an outside scholarship for the student for the entire year, half of the funds are held for the second semester. 

Process: 

  • The total amount is added to the account initially when funds are received. 
  • Then, an Advanced Scholarship entry is added to hold half the funds for the following semester.
  • In the second semester, the advanced scholarship entry appears again in the charges section but with a negative sign to indicate its application 

Primary communication method:

Email is our primary communication method. While we understand students get numerous emails throughout the day, monitoring for emails from Student Financial Services is crucial. 

Beginning fall 2024, text messages will also be used utilizing our new billing system.

Watch for emails about our new Meadow Pay platform.

Student Financial Services is also moving to paperless electronic billing only beginning fall 2024 through Meadow Pay.

Emails will be sent out regarding how this works and how students can authorize a parent/other person to access and make payments on the account on their behalf.

Definition: 

A 1098T tax form is a federal document that reports payments made for Qualified Tuition/Expenses and scholarships/grants received during a calendar year. 

Purpose: 

The form determines if a student is eligible for a tuition tax credit when filing taxes.

Important note: 

Student Financial Services team members cannot provide tax advice, so please speak with a tax professional if you have specific questions. 

Click here for more information regarding 1098T’s

Staff

Photo of Deborah Long

Debbie Long

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

  • Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services