Understanding Your Financial Obligation
When you register for classes at Florida State University, you accept full financial responsibility for all tuition, fees, and other charges assessed to your student account, as outlined in FSU's Student Financial Responsibility Agreement. Balances not paid by the published due date each term become past-due and subject to the collections process described on this page.
Florida State University is required by Florida Statute 1010.03 to exert every effort to collect all delinquent accounts, including restricting university services and employing the services of collection agencies when necessary.
Consequences of a Past-Due Balance
Allowing a balance to go unpaid has immediate and escalating consequences.
Financial Hold
Any past-due balance will result in a financial hold on your student account. Students with a balance of $500.00 or more cannot register for future terms. A hold for any amount will prevent diploma release.
Late Payment Fee
A late payment fee of $100.00 per term is assessed on past-due tuition balances. A late fee of $50 is assessed on past-due Housing balances. A late fee of $10 is assessed on past-due parking citations. Late fees are non-waivable except in documented extraordinary circumstances.
Grade Holds
Grades may be withheld at the end of a term until outstanding balances are resolved.
Collection Fees
Accounts with an outstanding balance may be referred to a state-contracted collection agency. At that point, non-refundable collection fees are added to your account balance. These fees cannot be removed unless a documented university error is identified.
Legal Action
Returned payments may be referred to the State Attorney's Office for prosecution under Florida Statute Chapter 832. The University may also pursue civil remedies, including court-ordered interest and legal fees.
The Collections Timeline
FSU's collections process follows a structured escalation designed to give students multiple opportunities to resolve their balance before more serious consequences occur.
| Stage | Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Past-Due | Day 1+ | Financial hold placed; late fee assessed |
| Early Intervention | Days 1 - End of Term | OSF outreach begins; Flywire payment arrangement may be available |
| Pre-Collections | End of Term - 120 Days Past | Escalated outreach; Flywire payment plan deadline approaches |
| Agency Referral | 120 Days - Varies | Account referred to state collection agency; collection fees added |
| Write-Off | Varies | Uncollectible accounts written off for accounting purposes, debt remains legally owed |
Note: A write-off is an accounting action only. It does not discharge the debt. FSU retains the right to pursue collection indefinitely.
Your Options Before 120 Days with Flywire
OSF strongly encourages students to act before their account reaches the 120-day threshold after Flywire placement. Once an account is referred to an outside agency, your options narrow significantly and additional fees are certain.
Pay in Full
The fastest way to clear a hold and restore your student privileges. Payments can be made online through myFSU, by mail, or in person at A1500 University Center if your account has not been loaded to the Flywire platform. Once you have been offered a payment arrangement through Flywire you must either pay in full through that platform or enter into a payment plan.
Enter a Flywire Payment Arrangement
Students with eligible past-due balances may be offered a structured payment arrangement through Flywire's Collections Management platform. This allows you to repay your balance over time on a schedule tailored to your financial situation, without your account being sent to an outside agency.
Contact OSF Directly
If you are experiencing financial hardship, contact our collections staff before your account ages further. We can discuss your situation and help identify the most appropriate path forward. Email studentfinance@fsu.edu.
Flywire Collections Management
Florida State University has partnered with Flywire to offer an accessible, self-service payment arrangement option for students with past-due balances.
What Flywire Does
Flywire's Collections Management platform allows eligible students to view their past-due balance in a clear, student-friendly portal; set up a structured installment payment plan online; receive automated reminders and updates about their payment status; and make payments that post directly to their FSU account in real time. The platform integrates with FSU's student information system so that your balance is always current and accurate.
Who Is Eligible
Students with past-due balances that have not yet been referred to an outside collection agency may be offered access to Flywire. Eligibility is based on balance age and amount. Eligible students will be contacted by email with instructions for accessing the platform.
Important: Flywire Is Not Re-Enrollment
Entering into a Flywire payment arrangement does not restore registration privileges. Students remain subject to FSU's financial hold until their balance is paid in full. The Flywire arrangement exists to help you resolve your balance on a structured timeline and avoid the greater costs and consequences of agency referral, not as a substitute for payment.
Getting Started
If you have received a Flywire notification, follow the link in that communication to access your account. If you believe you may be eligible and have not received a notice, contact OSF at studentfinance@fsu.edu.
After Agency Referral
Once an account has been referred to a state-contracted collection agency, the student must work directly with that agency to resolve the balance. OSF cannot negotiate the balance or remove collection fees at that stage. Resolving an agency-referred account does not automatically restore student privileges, the account must be fully paid and confirmed by both the agency and OSF before any holds are lifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register if I am on a Flywire payment plan?
No. A financial hold remains in place until your full balance is paid. A payment arrangement helps you get there on a schedule, but it does not lift the hold in the interim.
What if I think my charges are wrong?
Disputes about specific charges should be directed to the department that assessed them. OSF collects on behalf of university departments but does not have authority to modify charges it did not originate. If you are unsure who to contact, email studentfinance@fsu.edu and we will help route your inquiry.
Will my debt be reported to credit bureaus?
FSU does not independently report student account balances to consumer credit reporting agencies. However, once an account is referred to an outside collection agency, that agency may report the debt in accordance with applicable law.
Can collection fees be waived?
Collection fees are non-refundable except in cases of documented university error. Avoiding agency referral by paying in full or entering a Flywire arrangement before Day 120 is the only reliable way to avoid these fees.
What happens to written-off accounts?
A write-off removes the balance from FSU's active receivables for accounting purposes only. The legal debt remains, and FSU retains the right to pursue collection. Diplomas and transcripts will remain held until the debt is resolved.
Contact Us
Office of Student Finance
A1500 University Center | Tallahassee, FL 32306
studentfinance@fsu.edu | Contact OSF
