What Is a Bursar?

The bursar is the college or university office, and the officer who leads it, that handles student accounts: billing for tuition, fees and housing, receiving payments, applying financial aid and issuing refunds. The title is common in the United States and in some other countries. The office may also be called student accounts, student financial services or cashier.

What the bursar does

• Billing: sends statements for tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meal plans and other charges.
• Payments: accepts payments by bank transfer, card, check or payment plan.
• Financial aid posting: applies aid awarded by the financial aid office to your account.
• Refunds: returns credit balances, such as excess aid, when charges are lower than payments.
• Payment plans: sets up monthly installments, sometimes with a fee.
• Collections and holds: manages unpaid balances and places holds.
• Tax forms: issues forms for education tax benefits where applicable.

Bursar versus financial aid

Students often confuse the two. The financial aid office decides what grants, scholarships, work-study and loans you are offered and processes forms such as the FAFSA. The bursar sends the bill and records how aid and payments reduce it. If your aid does not appear on your account, financial aid is the first call, and if you cannot pay your bill, you talk to the bursar.

Registration holds

Unpaid charges can trigger a hold on your account that blocks course registration, transcripts or diplomas. Clearing the balance or arranging a payment plan usually removes the hold. Hold notices appear in your student portal, so check regularly.

Tips

• Review your bill each term, and ask about unfamiliar charges.
• Know deadlines, since late fees can apply.
• Set up direct deposit for refunds.
• Keep records of payments.
• Ask early about payment plans if you are struggling.

Related terms

See registration hold, tuition, mandatory fees, registrar and tuition waiver.