Frequently Asked Questions

TUITION AND FEES

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How do I determine my tuition and fees for each term/semester?

The schedule of tuition and fees can be found on The Chicago School's website under the Financial Aid and Costs section.  Tuition charges are billed every term, on a per credit hour basis, along with the accompanying mandatory fees.  You should consider the number of credit hours you will be taking each term when applying for financial aid.  This will help you determine how much aid you will need and whether any out-of-pocket expenses will be incurred. Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change at any time.

How do I know if I have a balance on my account?

Student billing is generated online.  You can view your account details on MyChicagoSchool by clicking the Account Information link under the My Finances menu.  An estimate of charges for an upcoming term's registration can be viewed on the Registration Bill section of the Account Information page.  Your Registration Bill shows the pending charges for your upcoming term's registration as well as any scheduled financial aid you may have for that term.  You may also contact our office to speak with a Student Accounts Advisor about your account.

When are tuition payments due?

Student balances must be resolved by Friday of the first week of the term.  If you are not receiving sufficient financial aid or if you cannot pay your balance in full by the end of first week, you have the option of setting up a monthly payment plan in order for your account to be considered in good standing. All payment plans must be set up no later than the end of the first week of each term. You can request an in-term payment plan by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800•684•2890 ext. 2.

Accounts with overdue balances are subject to a billing hold, which will prevent future registration and diploma release until the balance is resolved and the account is in good standing. Late fees on overdue balances are assessed monthly.

How does a payment plan work?

Payment plans divide your balance into monthly installments.  The first payment is due the Friday of the first week of the term and the last payment due no later than the last week of the term.  There is no set-up fee or interest applied to this plan.  A billing hold and late fee will be applied to all accounts not paid within 5 days of their scheduled payment date.

How do I make a payment?

To make a payment online, log in to your account on MyChicagoSchool, select the "My Finances" menu on the left hand side. Next, you'll click on the "Make Payment Online" link and follow the on-screen instructions.  Online payments may be made using a credit card, debit card or checking account.  After you select your preferred payment method, click "Pay" then "Confirm Payment."  Your card will not be charged until after you have clicked "Confirm Payment."  Note: to prevent duplicate payments, be sure to only click "Confirm Payment" once.  To verify that your payment was successful, please review your Account Information.  If your payment was made with a credit or debit card, your balance will be updated immediately and a transaction will be added to your ledger indicating a payment was submitted online.  Please note that electronic check payments can take 48-72 hours to post on your account. However, you will see a pending online check payment notification on your Account Information screen immediately following the successful check payment request.

You also have the option of mailing in a check payment. Checks can be made payable to "The Chicago School of Professional Psychology" and mailed it to:

TCS Education System
Attn: Student Accounts Department
203 N LaSalle St, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601-1263​

How do I add or remove a credit card?

To add a credit card, click "Add a New Credit Card" in the top right of the "Payment Information" screen, then enter your card information and click "Save".  You can also remove old credit cards on the "Payment Information" page. ​

Why did I receive an "Authentication Error" message? 
An authentication error means your payment could not be processed.  The card information may have been entered incorrectly or the card may have been declined.  Double-check the card information and your available balance and try submitting the payment again. Many financial institutions have a per-day or per-transaction limit on credit/debit card purchases.  You may need to either make several smaller payments or contact the card issuer to find out if the limit can be raised to allow the payment to go through.  If none of these solutions work, it is possible we are experiencing issues with the server. Please e-mail [email protected] with a detailed description of the issue.

I have a registration hold on my account. What does this mean? 

It means a billing hold has been placed on your account due to an unpaid balance.  Please review your Account Information and submit a payment to bring your account back in good standing.  Holds will be removed automatically 1 hour after the payment for the past due balance is made.

TUITION REFUNDS

I receive financial aid and know that I am due a refund. When will the refund be issued to me? 
The Chicago School begins to receive Financial aid disbursements after the Add/Drop period.  Funds will first be applied toward your balance and any remaining amount will result in a credit and will be the amount refunded (credits will appear in parentheses).  Refunds are issued to students within 14 days after a credit balance appears on your student account.   

The office of Student Accounts works diligently to ensure all students receive their stipends as expeditiously as possible.  Please monitor your student account on MyChicagoSchool for the most up-to-date information.  This process cannot be expedited for individual students, so please refrain from contacting the Student Accounts office to inquire.

How much is my refund?

To determine your refund amount, subtract your account balance from your scheduled financial aid for the term in question.  Courses added or dropped after the open schedule modification period may not yet be reflected in your account details when financial aid arrives.

How will my refund be issued to me?

If you have enrolled in direct deposit, a refund will be issued to the bank account you indicated on your Direct Deposit Authorization form within 14 days after your aid has resulted in a credit on your account.   If you have elected to receive your refund via paper check, a check will be mailed to your address on file within 14 days after aid has been received and resulted in a credit on your student account.

What does a stipend mean on my student account on MyChicagoSchool?

An "ACH Stipend" means your refund will be direct deposited to your bank account within one to three (1 to 3) business days.  A stipend associated with a check number means the refund has been mailed to the address on file.

My refund seems to be smaller this semester than last. Why is this? 
If this is your first year, you most likely had your tuition deposit credited to your account in your first term/semester.  Additionally, you may be registered for more hours this term/semester than previous sessions, have experienced an increase in tuition and fees, or have received less financial aid this term/semester. Please review your Account Information on MyChicagoSchool. You may contact Student Accounts if you have further questions.

What if I add or drop a class?

Students will be assessed the appropriate fees associated with each add or drop. If changes to your schedule are processed after your financial aid refund has been scheduled, you are responsible for any additional tuition or fees.  Carrying an outstanding balance on your account as a result of adding or dropping a course may prevent you from obtaining transcripts or registering for future courses.

Refunds for dropped courses are issued on a tiered basis as explained in the Student Handbook.  Please note that changes in your enrollment status may result in changes to your financial aid. Please review the Student Handbook for more information.

***The information referenced in this FAQ can be found in greater detail in The Chicago School Student Handbook and Academic Catalogs​
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