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Office of the Bursar

Managing Fees

Here’s a fact of life: the cost of processing credit and debit cards keeps going up. It’s now a significant annual expense for universities, and Purdue University Fort Wayne is no exception. Unfortunately, the university cannot absorb these costs and keep a Purdue Fort Wayne education as affordable as we would like. However, we do want to continue the convenience of allowing you to use credit and debit cards as payment options.

What’s the Solution?

Purdue Fort Wayne has contracted with TouchNet PayPath, a third-party company that processes credit and debit card payments. This contract allows you to pay tuition, fees, fines, and other student account charges online with a credit or debit card. If you use a credit or debit card to pay tuition, fees, fines, and other student account expenses, you’ll be charged a 2.85 percent processing fee (minimum of $3) by TouchNet PayPath.

How to Avoid the Convenience Fee

There are alternative payment options without the convenience fee. You can pay by electronic check by providing your bank routing and account numbers online; you can mail a check or money order to the bursar’s office; or you can pay in person by check, money order, or cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about fees:

What credit cards does TouchNet PayPath accept?

PayPath accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. Credit card payments can be made online via goPFW. If you need assistance, call or stop by the Office of the Bursar.

Why is Purdue Fort Wayne charging a fee for the use of my credit card?

Costs to process credit card and debit card transactions are increasing, so Purdue Fort Wayne has contracted with a third-party company, TouchNet PayPath, to provide credit card processing services for student accounts. By contracting with PayPath, Purdue Fort Wayne can receive the full amount of the payment without being responsible for processing fees. The fee is charged by the third-party processor, not Purdue Fort Wayne.

Why is the convenience fee 2.85 percent? How was this percentage established?

The third-party credit card processor, TouchNet PayPath, established the 2.85 percent rate (minimum of $3) to cover the credit card transaction fees assessed by credit card companies.

Is the university unique in charging a convenience fee?

No. An increasing number of schools are collecting convenience fees for credit/debit card transactions. Credit card convenience fees are not unique to Purdue Fort Wayne.

Is there any way I can avoid paying a convenience fee?

You can avoid paying the convenience fee by paying online with an eCheck, which is an electronic debit to your checking or savings account. This payment can be made over the internet through the goPFW system (see below for access instructions). To avoid the convenience fee, choose the “electronic check” option.

You also can avoid the convenience fee by mailing a check or money order or delivering a check or money order or cash to our office. Always include your student ID number on the check.

Can I make a credit card payment over the Internet?

Yes, you can pay online via the goPFW system.

Can someone else make a credit card payment over the internet on my tuition account?

Another user can make an online payment on your behalf only if you’ve set them up as an authorized user in goPFW.

Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?

Credit card payments cannot be made over the phone or via mail. This is a security measure that ensures confidentiality of your payment information.

Can I pay in person using a credit card?

Credit card payments can only be made online via your goPFW account. This is a security measure that ensures confidentiality of your payment information.

I often receive checks from my credit card company. Can I use the routing number and account number of these checks to make an electronic check (eCheck) payment?

Credit card companies will not honor checks used electronically. The payment will be returned as “account not found.” You may use these checks through the mail or in person only. Send mail payments to our office. Always include your student ID number on the check.

If I make a credit card payment in error, will my convenience fee be refunded?

The convenience fee is not refundable, even if the payment to which it relates is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back.

If I use my debit card to pay my student account charges, will I be charged the convenience fee?

If you use your debit card like a credit card to pay your student account charges, you will be charged the convenience fee. For checking or savings account debits, please use the eCheck option to avoid paying the convenience fee.

Will the convenience fee that I am charged be included on my semester bill?

The convenience fee is assessed by a third-party company, TouchNet PayPath, in addition to the payment. The convenience fee will not appear on your student account or on your statement.

How will this appear on my credit card statement?

Two separate transactions will appear on your credit card statement: one transaction for the student account payment and one transaction for the convenience fee. The transaction for the student account payment will appear as PayPath Purdue University Fort Wayne, and the transaction for the convenience fee will appear as PayPath Convenience Fee.