Upcoming Tuition Payment Deadlines
Summer Tuition Payment Deadline: May 27, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
Mail-in Deadline: May 20, 2026 (Mail-in payments should be received by this date.)
Fall Tuition Payment Deadline: August 12, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
Mail-in Deadline: August 5, 2026 (Mail-in payments should be received by this date.)
Being unaware of financial dates and deadlines can result in:
- being dropped from courses for non-payment
- owing for courses dropped outside of the 100% refund period for particular parts of the term
- registration holds
Important Payment Dates and Deadlines
The following dates and deadlines only apply to the university's Columbia campus. For students on our system campuses, please visit your campus website.
| Dates/Deadlines | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills Available on Self Service Carolina | November 14, 2025 | April 14, 2026 | July 14, 2026 |
| Mail-In Tuition Payment Deadline | December 17, 2025 | May 20, 2026 | August 5, 2026 |
| Tuition Payment Deadline | January 7, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | August 12, 2026 |
| Processing of Refunds Begins * | January 9, 2026 (Allow 3 – 5 Days for Processing) |
May 21 2026 (Allow 3 – 5 Days for Processing) |
August 14, 2026 (Allow 3-5 Days for processing) |
| First Day of Classes | January 12, 2026 (Part of Term 30) |
Varies | August 18, 2026 (Part of Term 30) |
NOTE: Due to the large number of parts of term for each semester, it will be the student's responsibility to drop, add or change classes within the posted deadlines to avoid charges. Please check the dates and deadlines (W, WF, Refund, Withdrawal) for every class you take.
*Paper or electronic check payments will delay the processing of refunds by 10 days.
For more information, please refer to the university's Refund of Academic Fees Policy (FINA 4.06).
Late Payments
If you register for classes after the payment deadline, your payment is due immediately. Additionally, if you are dropped from classes as a result of nonpayment, a $75 fee will be assessed for re-enrollment. Learn more about drops, withdrawals and late admissions.
Late fees are assessed on payments that are not received by published due dates. Failure to make payment by the monthly statement due date could result in a late fee of up to $100.00 per month with a maximum of $500.00 per term. Late fees are assessed the five days after the statement due date. Students receive email notices of the monthly statement indicating activity on their account and are notified of potential late fees. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their account is paid in full regardless of the source. Balances that result from incomplete financial aid requirements are also considered to be delinquent and are subject to late fees.
Withdrawal and Refund Dates
Withdrawing from class can have both an academic and financial impact. For information regarding academic withdrawal, please review the withdrawal information provided by the University Registrar. You can also view the Parts of Term Dates and Deadlines located in my.sc.edu.