Students and Parents Financial Services FAQs

Payment Deadlines

When are fees due?
Fee due dates are published in advance on the Tuition & Fees page. Generally, the due dates are:

  • Fall Semester: August

  • Spring Semester: December

  • Summer Term: March

All charges must be paid by the due date to avoid late fees or enrollment cancellation.

 

Payment Options

What are my payment options?
Cal Maritime is a cashless campus. Payments can be made through the following methods:

  • Electronic Check (E-Check): Withdraws funds directly from your checking or savings account. No service fee applies.

  • Credit/Debit Card: Accepted online via VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. A 2.65% service fee is charged by the third-party provider.

  • Mail: Personal checks, 529 checks, cashier's checks, or money orders can be mailed to:

    California State University Maritime Academy
    Attention: Cashier's Office
    200 Maritime Academy Drive
    Vallejo, CA 94590

    Include the student's full name and ID number in the memo section.

 

Fee Estimation

Can I estimate my fees before they are posted?
Yes. Use the Fees Estimator Tool to calculate estimated fees based on your enrollment.

 

Out-of-State Tuition (Non-Resident)

Do non-California residents pay out-of-state tuition?
Yes. Non-resident students are charged an additional $444 per semester unit, in addition to mandatory registration and tuition fees.

What is the WUE Scholarship?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program offers reduced tuition rates to students from participating western states. WUE recipients pay 50% more than in-state tuition, significantly less than standard out-of-state rates. No separate application is needed; eligible students are notified in their acceptance letter. 

 

Account Charges

Are all charges due by the published due date?
Yes. All charges on the student account must be paid in full by the due date to avoid a $25 late fee and potential enrollment cancellation.

If I plan to live off-campus, can I deduct housing and meal plan charges?
No. All students are billed for housing and meals unless they have received written approval from the Housing Department to live off-campus. Once approved, the charges will be reversed, and any applicable refund will be processed.

 

Financial Aid and Billing

Why did I receive a billing statement if I have financial aid?
Billing statements reflect all charges, regardless of anticipated financial aid. If your financial aid has not yet disbursed, the statement will not show the credit.

What if my anticipated financial aid isn't showing on my account?
This may be due to incomplete financial aid processes. Ensure all required documents are submitted and accepted. Delays in financial aid processing do not exempt students from payment deadlines or late fees.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all anticipated financial aid credits become actual credits by applying on time and completing all required steps to receive your aid. Late charges will not be waived if financial aid was delayed due to missed deadlines or incomplete documentation. Failure to pay fees or make appropriate arrangements by the published due date may result in enrollment cancellation.

 

Payment Plans

Does Cal Maritime offer payment plans?
Yes. The Installment Payment Plan allows students to pay fees in three installments:

  • Initial Payment: 33% of total fees plus a $50 administrative fee, due by the fee deadline.

  • Subsequent Payments: Two equal payments due on the following two months.

A signed agreement must be submitted each semester. Late payments incur a $25 fee.

 

Refunds

How are refunds processed?
Refunds are automatically processed when a credit balance exists on the student account. Refunds are issued to the student via:

  • Direct Deposit: Recommended for faster processing.

  • Paper Check: Mailed to the student's current address on file.

Parent PLUS loan refunds are issued to the parent borrower.

 

Authorized Users

Can I allow someone else to view and pay my bills?
Yes. You can set up a Parent PIN in Transact to grant access to billing information and payment options. This does not grant access to academic records or other personal information.

 

FERPA

What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Students can authorize the release of their information to designated individuals by completing the Authorization to Release Information form.

Here is the Authorization to Release Information Help Guide to designate what information & to whom you will allow CSUM to release your private information.

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The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after fees are initially charged or initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).