Frequently Asked Questions

Billing statements are sent out a few weeks before the start of each semester. After that, additional notifications are sent on the 15th of each month to help you stay updated on your account.

You can view your bill through Workday. From the homepage, click on “View Statement” to generate your billing statement for the applicable semester.

Full payment for each enrolled session is due by the second Friday of that session. 

A 5% late fee will be charged on any unpaid balances remaining after close of business on the due date.

You're responsible for paying the net balance on your student account by the semester due date.

You have a few options for covering your balance:

• Pay in Full
• Use Financial Aid
• Set Up a Payment Plan

Click here for full payment instructions and deadlines

If your balance isn’t paid by the due date:

• A 5% late fee will be applied to any unpaid amount.
• You will be blocked from registering for future classes.
• Grades and transcripts will be withheld until your account is paid in full.

If you're having trouble making a payment, please reach out to your One Stop Student Financial Services Counselor as soon as possible. We're here to help you explore your options.

A negative balance means your account has a credit, in other words, you’ve paid more than you owe at that time.

Common transactions that may show as negative amounts include:

• Loan disbursements
• Payments by check or cash
• Refunds from dropped classes

If you see a credit on your account, you may be eligible for a refund. Please contact your One Stop Student Financial Services counselor to review your options.

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), PLNU cannot release non-directory information, such as financial aid or account details, without your signed consent. This includes sharing information with parents, spouses, or other third parties.

If you’d like to give permission for PLNU to share your financial information, you can do so by following the steps below to update your Friends & Family in Workday:

Instructions for Activating Friends and Family

Once updated, PLNU may communicate directly with the individuals you’ve authorized.

E-bills are available online through Workday. Each month, students will receive an email notification to their PLNU Gmail if a balance is due, prompting them to log in and view or pay their bill.

Yes, you can mail your payment by following these steps:

Send a check along with your printed statement stub (available through your student portal) to: 

PLNU
Attn: Student Financial Services
3900 Lomaland Drive
San Diego, CA 92106

Be sure to include the student’s full name and PLNU ID number on the check. Please allow enough time for your payment to arrive by the due date.

If someone else typically takes care of your bill payments and doesn’t have access to a computer, you have a couple of options:

• Print and mail the bill to them so they can review the balance and send payment.
• Share the balance due and payment mailing address directly with them.

In either case, make sure they include your PLNU ID number on the memo line of the check to ensure proper credit to your account.

Yes — when you access your e-bill online, your most recent payment will be reflected in real time, typically on the same day it was made.

Please note: New charges, class schedule changes, or financial aid updates may take up to 24 hours to appear on your account.

Yes. To receive federal or state financial aid, you must complete a new FAFSA, Master Promissory Note, and Entrance Counseling each academic year at studentaid.gov.

Each FAFSA is valid from July 1 to June 30 of the following year and covers aid for the fall, spring, and summer semesters within that time frame.

For example, the 2025–26 FAFSA covers:

Summer 2025 (if classes begin after July 1)

• Fall 2025
• Spring 2026
• Summer 2026

Be sure to complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize your aid options.

PLNU's school code is 001262.

There are several types of financial aid available to students, depending on your program and eligibility.

Undergraduate students may be eligible for a combination of grants, scholarships, and Federal Direct Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized). Grants and subsidized loans are typically need-based and do not require repayment while you're enrolled at least half-time.

Graduate students most commonly use the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, which is not credit-based. To qualify, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• In good standing with all previous federal loans
• Enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program

Additional aid options may be available depending on your specific situation.

Yes, scholarships may be available depending on your program and eligibility. We encourage you to visit our Scholarship page for current opportunities. You can also connect with your One-Stop Student Financial Services Counselor for personalized guidance.

Financial aid is based on your Cost of Education and enrollment. Most graduate students receive up to $20,500 in unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans per year. Undergraduates may qualify for grants, subsidized, and unsubsidized loans. Annual and lifetime loan limits apply.

Learn more about loan limits.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of your total educational expenses for the academic year. It includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Your COA is based on actual tuition and fees, along with estimates from the California Student Aid Commission and the ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

Your total financial aid cannot exceed this amount.

Financial need is the difference between your Cost of Attendance (COA) and your Student Aid Index (SAI).

COA includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses.

SAI is calculated by the U.S. Department of Education based on the information you provide on the FAFSA.

Your financial aid eligibility is based on the gap between your COA and SAI.

If your financial situation has changed since completing your FAFSA, you may be eligible to submit an appeal. Please reach out to your One-Stop Student Financial Services Counselor to discuss what is needed for the appeal process. 

To qualify for financial aid, you must be enrolled at least half-time each semester.

Graduate Students:

• Full-time: 6 or more units
• Three-quarter time: 4.5–5.5 units
• Half-time: 3–4 units
• Less than half-time: Fewer than 3 units

Undergraduate Students:

• Full-time: 12 or more units
• Three-quarter time: 9–11 units
• Half-time: 6–8.5 units
• Less than half-time: Fewer than 6 units

Keep in mind: Financial aid is awarded based on an expected enrollment level—full-time for graduate students and ¾-time for undergraduates. If you're enrolled in fewer units, your 

Cost of Attendance

will be lower, and your aid may be reduced.

Dropping a class could reduce or cancel some of your financial aid, depending on your new enrollment status. Before making any changes, it's important to speak with your One-Stop Student Financial Services Counselor to understand how it may affect your aid and bill.

Yes, you should definitely register for all classes in the semester up front. Any financial aid you receive is directly affected by your enrollment. If you neglect to register for some courses, it could impact your financial aid and may cause delays in the disbursement of your financial aid awards.

The money from your financial aid is disbursed electronically to PLNU and posted on your student account. The money automatically pays your tuition charges, and if there is any excess money, it is sent to you within 14 days of the date of the disbursement.

Financial aid disbursements typically begin on the second Wednesday after classes start and continue to be processed on an ongoing basis. For students enrolled in quad II only, disbursements generally begin the second Wednesday after those classes begin.

In order for your aid to disburse to your student account, you must ‘accept’ or ‘decline’ your aid in Workday. To accept, partially accept, or decline your aid, please follow these steps in Workday:

• Log into Workday
• Select the Finances Tab
• Click Accept/Decline Awards
• Update Academic Unit to Point Loma Nazarene University
• Update Current Award Year
• Select ACCEPT or DECLINE in the decision column. **amounts can be adjusted in the amounts column. Please note that any reduced amounts must be equal for both semesters.
• Click OK

There are a few common reasons your loans may not have posted yet:

• Incomplete application steps: Check your Workday for any missing items. Go to Finances > My Financial Aid Action Items > Action Items.
• Loan signing not complete: Make sure you’ve completed all required steps to accept and sign your loans. Contact your One-Stop Student Financial Services (OSF) counselor if you're unsure.
• Enrollment status: If you're not enrolled at least half-time for the full semester, your loans may be in the process of being adjusted or canceled. Reach out to your OSF counselor for clarification.
• Recent updates: If you completed any of the above steps within the past week, please allow time for processing.
• Disbursement timing: Loans won’t disburse before the scheduled date. Once everything is complete, your loans will disburse on the next available date.

If you're still unsure, contact your OSF counselor for help.

A special circumstance refers to a situation in which the information reported on your FAFSA does not accurately reflect your or your family’s current financial situation. These situations may allow for a review and possible adjustment to your financial aid eligibility.

Examples of special circumstances include:

• Loss or significant reduction of income
• Unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Divorce or separation after filing taxes
• Death of a parent or spouse

If you believe you have a special circumstance, please contact your One-Stop Student Financial Services Counselor to discuss your options and next steps.

Federal regulations require PLNU students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to maintain eligibility for federal and state financial aid.

SAP includes both:

• Qualitative (GPA requirement)
• Quantitative (completion of a minimum number of units) standards

Student Financial Services reviews SAP at the end of each semester, including summer. Please note that SAP standards for financial aid may be stricter than the university’s academic policies.

Download the 24/25 Satisfactory Academic Progress PDF for more information.

• Accelerated Undergraduate Degree (AUG)
• Post-Baccalaureate Degree (GRAD)

If you are receiving Federal Student Aid, PLNU will automatically issue a refund for any amount that exceeds your direct institutional charges (if applicable) within 14 days of your financial aid disbursement.

The timing of your refund delivery depends on the method you choose:

Direct Deposit: Fastest option; funds are deposited directly into your bank account. Follow the instructions HERE.

Check Pick-Up: You’ll be notified when your check is ready at the university.

Standard Mail: Delivery time may vary based on the postal service.

Please note that PLNU cannot apply Federal Student Aid toward indirect costs (such as books or supplies) or any prior balance on your account. If you wish to use your aid to cover these types of charges, we encourage you to connect with your One-Stop Student Financial Services counselor to explore your options.

At PLNU, we encourage responsible borrowing, only take out what you truly need. If you receive a refund check and do not need those funds for current living expenses, the best financial decision is to return the unused portion to your lender by making a payment toward your loan.

To do this:

• Deposit the refund check into your personal bank account.
• Then, submit a payment directly to your loan servicer for the amount you don’t need.

This helps reduce your overall loan balance and the amount of interest you'll pay over time. If you have questions about how to make a payment or want to talk through your options, your 

One-Stop Student Financial Services Counselor is here to help.