There’s no escaping tuition

You’re a senior in college, almost done with your credits, and have a few more tuition payments you need to take care of. There’s nothing scarier than writing a huge check just as you’re about to enter into the real world penniless. You think to yourself, “I’ve already taken all my classes, maybe I can get out of this.”

U.S. colleges have been cheated out of millions of dollars in unpaid tuition and fees. Mississippi’s eight universities are missing more than $22.4 million for the 2002 academic year. Jackson State University alone has left $867,000 unsettled. They have hired a collection agency, a firm whose purpose is to collect on delinquent accounts. The agency collects the money from students who have either graduated or separated from the university.

So how does Fairfield handle these kinds of payment issues?

“Luckily, Fairfield has a stable group population and has not been in unfortunate situations [such as Mississippi’s universities],” said Ray Bourdeau, Fairfield University’s Bursar.

The university uses the Formal Due Diligence Process that works to collect tuition and fees. Students and parents are billed frequently throughout the school year. At the end of the year, if the bill has not been paid, Fairfield sends out three letters with the bill. Each letter has a more serious tone and advises families to pay their debts.

Unlike many schools, when tuition and fees are left unpaid, Fairfield withholds grades, transcripts, and diplomas from students. Eventually, unpaid accounts are transferred to a collection agency.

The collection agency Fairfield uses takes 25 to 33 percent of what they collect from families.

“If Fairfield were to turn over a $1,000 account to the agency, they would return $670 to $750 to the school,” said Bourdeau. “It’s expensive, but that’s business.”

Penniless seniors, pull off the cushions to your couches, look under the seats in your cars, and surrender your hard earned money! Graduation is just around the corner, and no one wants to walk away from Fairfield University without a diploma. There’s no getting around paying tuition: we’re not in Mississippi.