Student Financial Services Center

Third Party Billing

The Office of Student Billing will process third-party billing of tuition and fees to businesses, governments, agencies and organizations desiring to sponsor a student.

The billing is processed on a per semester basis. A letter of authorization is required from the sponsoring agency expressly authorizing the University to bill the sponsor directly for the sponsored student's covered expenses. A third party credit is then applied to the sponsored student's account for each term, which is conditional upon the sponsor's payment.

Authorizations

A Letter of Authorization from the sponsor is required to document the sponsor's commitment to pay designated education expenses for a sponsored student. The Letter of Authorization must specify the covered expenses and the period of time these expenses will be paid for by the sponsor and the address and point of contact telephone number. Send the Letter of Authorization to:

Michigan Technological University
Student Financial Services Center
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton MI 49931 

Fax: 906-487-3042
E-mail: student-billing@mtu.edu

Sponsor Invoicing

The Student Billing Office will invoice sponsors during the semester after the add/drop period has passed. Invoices are sent to the contact person at the address provided in the authorization letter. Payments are due upon receipt of the invoice.

Responsibilities

It is the sponsored student's responsibility to:

  1. Ensure that the Student Billing Office is provided with a valid authorization letter from their sponsor. Failure to do this prior to the term beginning may result in late registration fees and course cancellation.
  2. If the sponsor does not cover the total charges, it is the student's responsibility to pay the balance owing. Non-payment by the sponsor, for whatever reason, becomes an immediate liability to and the responsibility of the student.
  3. Know the duration of the sponsorship as listed in the authorization letter. The Student Billing Office will not notify a student when the sponsorship has expired.
  4. Supply additional information required by the sponsor, including grades, transcripts, course(s) and other miscellaneous information.

If questions arise concerning conditions of the sponsorship, the student should contact the sponsor, not the Student Billing Office.

It is the sponsor's responsibility to provide a letter or contract to The Student Billing Office prior to the semester start date with the following information:

  1. Student's name and University ID number.
  2. Description of covered charges.
  3. Any dollar limitations on the covered charges.
  4. Length of sponsorship - beginning and ending dates of period, specific semester(s) and/or academic year(s), other.
  5. Sponsor's billing address
  6. The Sponsor must provide contact information for questions - including name, telephone number, fax number and email address.

A sponsor should only make payment from the University Invoice, not the student's bill. A Sponsor shall make payment to the University's bank or mail payment to the provided address. Payment is due in full upon receipt of invoice notice. Sponsor will pay all enrollment adjustments on a student's account for the semester authorized, when applicable. If sponsored student is an employee of the sponsor and is terminated during the term, the sponsor will pay as agreed and invoiced.

The University's responsibilities for sponsored students are:

  1. The Student Billing Office will review authorization letters (contracts) upon receipt and will certify eligible students. When presented prior to deadlines, this process will apply a third party credit for the covered expenses.
  2. The Student Billing Office will invoice the sponsor for the authorized charges. The invoice will state the student's name and the total allowable charges.
  3. Any refund resulting from an adjustment to the student's account after sponsor payment will be returned to the sponsor.
  4. The Student Billing Office will charge back to student's account any charges resulting from non-payment of sponsored charges by the sponsor.
  5. The Student Billing Office will attempt to comply with a sponsor's particular invoice requirements, but this is not guaranteed and is based upon system limitations.
  6. MTU will not pay to send bills via FedEx, UPS, etc. 

Privacy Policy

It is the policy of Michigan Technological University to protect the students' rights to confidentiality under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Sponsors must obtain information regarding grades, transcripts, course listings or other specific information directly from their sponsored student.

529 Plans

The Student Billing Office does not bill entities for individual 529 plans. This includes state sponsored plans such as MESP, Florida Prepaid, and College Illinois plans. It is the student’s and/or parent’s responsibility to notify the holder of the 529 plan to disburse the funds to MTU. This should be done as soon as possible after the student bill is available as it may take several weeks for the check to be mailed. We cannot waive late fees or hold course schedules for a student if the 529 check has not been received.