FAQs
Frequently asked questions about your student account.
In an effort to better assist our students and answer the most commonly asked questions, we have provided the following information and links regarding the Student Accounts Office.
Please scroll for additional questions regarding 1098-T forms.
General Questions
What are your hours and where are you located?
The Student Accounts Office is located in Suite 103 in the Dr. Arthur G. Dobbelaere Support Services Hall on the Downers Grove Campus and in the Barrel III Student Services Building on the Glendale Campus. The office hours for both campuses are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Do you cash personal checks?
No.
How are we billed and when?
Students are billed on a quarterly basis in advance of each quarter. Quarterly notices to view your statement of account are sent to students via email before and after financial aid posts. All students are required to check their MWU email regularly to ensure receipt of all bills and notices.
When do we receive living expense refunds?
Generally, financial aid is credited to students' statement of account before the beginning of the quarter to pay for tuition and fees. Any excess is refunded to the student per the Loan Refund Schedule. Refund dates for each program and each class vary. Refund dates for the current academic year may be accessed via the following link:
Refund Dates – Arizona & Illinois Campuses
Can I pick up my refund check each quarter?
No, students that have not established direct deposit will be mailed a refund check to their address on file and must allow an additional 3-4 weeks for processing. Direct deposit is strongly recommended to avoid any delays.
What is a financial HOLD?
A financial HOLD is placed on a student's account when the bill has a past due balance. A HOLD will prevent you from registering for classes, obtaining transcripts, or receiving your diploma. If your account is currently on HOLD you can login to the student portal and make your payment online. Paying online will automatically remove the HOLD. When paying over the telephone or in-person, there may be a 24 hour waiting period before the hold is removed. Contact the Student Accounts Office if your student account is still on HOLD after you have made a payment.
How does financial aid work?
Generally, financial aid is credited to the student's account before the beginning of the quarter to pay for tuition and fees. Any excess is refunded to the student per the scheduled refund date (IL & AZ). Contact the Financial Aid Office directly for additional information.
Can I make a tuition payment before financial aid posts to my account?
The amount of expected financial aid must be deducted from the balance of tuition and fees before the school can accept payment of the amount that financial aid will not cover. If you do not receive financial aid, you may pay your balance at any time.
Can a spouse or parent inquire about my student account?
Yes, but a student must authorize this release of information. Authorization is completed through the Student Portal. The student may register up to four names and list their relationship to the student. The student must create a unique PIN with a minimum of four alpha/numeric characters. The student must then share their student ID and PIN with all names registered. When anyone calls in they will be asked for this information, even the student. There is an annual redirect on the portal to make sure the information is up to date but the student can make a change at any time.
Online Billing Questions
How can my parents or others make a tuition and fee payment online (third-party payment)?
Students must first enable access by logging in to the student portal. After logging in, select "Yes" to allow third-party payments and creates a personal identification number (PIN) that can be shared with a parent or others. From the student portal, parents or others must select "Public Access," then "Tuition Payment" from the menu. The student's last name, date of birth, and PIN are needed to make a payment.
Do you accept credit cards?
Our office accepts the four major credit cards: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Payments can be conveniently made online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the student portal.
Do you have a payment plan available?
Our office offers an interest-free payment plan that allows you to divide an unpaid balance into equal monthly payments over the course of a quarter. For additional information regarding payment plans, see General Information (click on Tuition, Fees & Payment Options under the appropriate campus.)
Can I enter banking information from a non-U.S. banking financial institution?
Non-U.S. banking/financial institutions cannot be used to make a payment.
When will my billing statement be available for viewing?
For new students, you can begin viewing your electronic statement as soon as you have been billed for tuition and fees (approximately three to four weeks before the beginning of your first quarter). Thereafter, you will be notified by email as new statement activity generates.
Will I see the entire billing statement?
You can by changing the calendar options at the bottom of your statement of account. This will allow you to view your entire history.
1098-T Student FAQs
Frequently asked questions regarding the the 1098-T tax form. Any additional questions should be directed to Student Accounts.
Colleges and universities are required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide each eligible student with a 1098-T tax form. This document contains important information that is also provided to the IRS. The document is used to assist students and their families in computing any tax credit or deduction they may be able to claim. Please consult with a tax professional for detailed information on tax benefits for education and assistance in determining eligibility criteria.
When the 1098-T form is available, you can access the form online thru the
student portal (login required) site:
- Log onto your Student Portal.
- Select "Financial Service” tab.
- Select the 1098-T link at the menu bar.
- For multiple years, use the drop-down menu to select the year you want.
If you have any difficulties printing your 1098-T, please ensure that you have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. If you still have problems, please contact Student Accounts.
If the 1098-T is not available in your student portal, please contact Student Accounts.
IRS Notice 97-60 states that, in general, nonresident aliens are not eligible for such credits unless their marital status allows them to claim an exception. Nonresident aliens are instructed to discuss this point with a U.S. tax advisor.
International students who do not have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) on file with the University will not receive a 1098-T or supplemental financial information. IRS Notice 98-59 states that “educational institutions are not required to file information returns for 1998 or 1999 with respect to nonresident alien students, unless requested to do so by the student.” This waiver was extended to tax year 2000 in IRS Notice 99-37 and to tax year 2001 in IRS Notice 2000-62.
You can update this information by logging into the student portal (login required) and select the “My Info” tab. The Registrar’s Office will also need documentation verifying a name change (i.e., copy of marriage license, birth certificate, SSN card, etc.).
If you have questions or need assistance, you can contact the Registrar’s Office.
IL Campus email: ILRegistrar@midwestern.edu
AZ Campus email: AZRegistrar@midwestern.edu
No, all current and alumni students will be able to access their 1098-T form(s) by logging into their student portal.
If you are eligible for a 1098-T, an email notification will be sent to your MWU email account when the link becomes available. You should receive this email on or before January 31st.
The IRS directs institutions to report either Payments Received (Box 1) or Amounts Billed (Box 2) for qualified tuition and related expenses. Midwestern University reports information in Box 1 which includes payments/loans received for qualified tuition and related expenses. Box 2 is intentionally left blank.
Midwestern University reports in boxes 4, 5, 6 and 8.
- Box 4 shows any adjustments made for a prior year for qualified tuition and related expenses (e.g., a transaction that posted in the tax year that is a credit for a charge made in a previous year).
- Box 5 lists scholarships or grants including:
- Scholarships
- Outside sponsored awards
- Box 6 shows adjustments to scholarships or grants for a prior year (e.g., a refund that posted in the tax year that relates to a transaction from a previous tax year).
- Box 8 shows registration of 6+ credit hours.
Midwestern University’s Tax ID number is 36-3377698.
Please contact Student Accounts for additional assistance in reviewing your account and for any questions you may have regarding the 1098-T process.
IL Campus email: ILStudentAccounts@midwestern.edu
AZ Campus email: AZStudentAccounts@midwestern.edu