Mission Statement
It is our mission to support and advise students in understanding their financial obligations to Centenary College by employing patience and effective communication. The Business Office is dedicated to the development, education, and success of our students by:
• Providing exceptional service
• Maintaining accuracy of accounts
• Being responsive to their needs
• Encouraging their development into financially responsible adults
It is our pledge to serve with respect, honesty, and compassion in a professional and individualized manner.
The Business Office is responsible for the invoicing and collection of the following:
• Tuition
• Room/board
• Mandatory fees
• Parking tickets
• Other miscellaneous charges on a student's account
We provide excellent customer service, account analysis, assistance in resolving difficulties with invoicing issues, and facilitate financial arrangements for students, parents and guardians. Our office also holds the notes on Perkins Loans during the repayment period.
Academic Catalogues
Books
Through the online bookstore, Centenary College allows students to use excess financial aid to purchase textbooks. Students will be notified if they are eligible to purchase books with student account credit balances via their Centenary student email accounts.
Cost
To view costs for Centenary College of Louisiana visit the costs webpage.
Credit Balance
A credit balance in a student’s account will be refunded when a written request is submitted to the Business Office. Refunds will be made in the form of a refund check. Also note that, with the exception of Parent/PLUS loan, any credit balance will be refunded to the student regardless of who remitted the payment to the student account (e.g., parent, grandparent). If a Parent PLUS Loan overpays a student’s account and a refund is requested, the refund check will be issued on the Parent PLUS Loan borrower’s name unless the borrower requests otherwise.
Dropping Courses
Non-attendance of class does not constitute a drop. There will be no tuition or fee adjustments for dropping courses after the 7th day of classes while the student continues in other courses. The standing drop and add dates are waived for students studying overseas in a program administered by the College. Students should be aware, however, that they will be responsible for additional tuition charges should they be incurred by a late add and, further, that a late drop will not receive a tuition refund.
Faculty and Staff Meal Plans
Looking for a convenient lunch destination close to work that serves delectable food? Look no further! Centenary College Campus Dining offers fabulous cuisine for an excellent value to our faculty and staff. Network with coworkers, meet students and build community with us! Campus dining isn’t just for students. The dining hall also offers convenient, affordable and healthy meals for employees. If you are interested in a meal plan, please complete the Faculty/Staff Meal Plan Form and return it the Business Office.
Financial Petition
Students requesting an exception to or waiver of financial regulations should complete a Financial Petition form. See the Business Office for financial petition forms and for information on what issues may or may not be petitioned
Holds
Access to Web registration can be prevented by holds. Log in to BannerWeb to address their holds. To avoid incurring a late-payment fee, a hold on a student account, and delays in housing, registration, and other areas, individuals are urged to pay fees when due.
Failure to make satisfactory financial arrangements can result in a hold on a student account, which can result in delay of graduation, denial of registration privileges, removal from class, and/or the withholding of transcripts.
Please contact the appropriate office with questions about holds.
Miscellaneous Receipts
Departments handling cash are responsible for the safekeeping of the College assets. Physical security should be emphasized to every employee involved in cash handling. If a safe location is not available within the department, the cash and receipt should be brought to the Business Office on campus for safekeeping. All cash/check receipts must be attached to a Miscellaneous Cash Receipt form and submitted to the Business Office in a timely manner. The total on the miscellaneous deposit form should agree with the total of each payment type.
Online Tuition Payment
Online Tuition Service will allow you to:
- Make online payment using credit card, debit card or checking/saving account
- Save payment information for future use
- View student account balance and recent activities
- Enroll in a monthly payment plan to more easily manage monthly payments
Add an authorized user who can view your account and make payment
Payment Plans
Centenary College offers interest-free Tuition Payment Plans which helps break down your balance into monthly payments.
With our enhanced billing system, you can directly access your account information, enroll in a payment plan and make one-time payments Here. Your account will be updated in “real time” to reflect charges, credits and payments.
As your bill changes, your monthly payment is automatically adjusted. Your monthly payment amount will calculate daily based on your current charges less pending credits — including loans, financial aid and other resources.
Perkins Loans In Repayment
Centenary College holds the note on our students' Perkins/NDSL Loans. Perkins Loans are serviced by UNISA, Inc , an outside billing company. Loan recipients will receive invoices from them, not the Centenary College.
Please contact UNISA with any questions concerning your rights and responsibilities:
UNISA Inc
7400 East Arapahoe Road
Suite 10
Englewood, CO 80112-1279
(800) 875-8910
(303) 221-5626
Click Here for Borrower Information
Graduate(M.A.T) Refund and Withdrawal Policy
Official withdrawal occurs on the date the candidate receives approval from the Provost and Dean of the College; all refunds are based on that date, regardless of the date of last attendance. Withdrawal forms are available in the Department of Education and should be completed and then submitted to the administrative assistant in the department and online.
Fall and spring semester tuition and refundable fees are refunded in full, if the candidate withdraws on or before the seventh day of classes after registration. A service fee of $25 will be charged for withdrawal, even if the candidate does not attend class. After the fifth day, the following policy applies:
- All fees are charged.
- Between the eighth day of classes and the third Friday after classes begin, three-fourths of the tuition is refunded.
- Between the third Friday and the fourth Friday after classes begin, one-half of the tuition is refunded.
- After the fourth Friday after classes begin, no refunds are given.
- No refunds are given for the three-week summer courses after the first three days of classes.
MBA Refund and Withdrawal Policy
MBA students are not charged a fee for dropping classes. During the first two weeks of a module, courses may be dropped without penalty by calling the MBA coordinator at 318.869.5141 and notifying the professor. After the first two weeks, classes may be dropped only by sending the dean a written letter of request to drop. The student who drops a class after the first two-week grace period will be required to pay full tuition cost.
1098T
Current and Former students will receive a 1098-T at their billing address on file. Current students can also obtain a copy via bannerweb. Former students can send a request to business_office@centenary.edu to receive another copy of their 1098T.
How do I obtain a copy of my 1098-T Form?
Current Students may access student 1098-T tax information online via your Bannerweb student account.
After logging in:
- Select the "Student Self Service" tab
- Select "Tax Notification"
- Select the tax year desired
Explanation of IRS Form 1098-T
The IRS Form 1098-T is provided, as required by the IRS, to provide information that may assist you in completing your individual tax return. The information listed on IRS Form 1098-T may be different than the amount you actually paid towards Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses (hereafter known as QTRE). We strongly recommend seeking professional assistance when claiming an education tax credit. Regardless of the information provided on the 1098-T, if you choose to claim an education tax credit, you should always keep documentation such as invoices and receipt of payment that supports any claimed tax credit even if you report only what is on IRS Form 1098-T.
- The IRS Form 1098-T is an information form filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
- The IRS Form 1098-T that you receive reports amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses, as well as other related information.
- You, or the person who may claim you as a dependent, may be able to claim an education tax credit on IRS Form 1040 for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during the calendar year.
- All information that Centenary College can or will provide you is either on the 1098-T form or is included on this webpage. We are not allowed to discuss tax implications, how this form may relate to you, or give tax advice. Please consult your tax preparer with all questions related to this document. Some helpful links to the IRS at the bottom of this page may provide you more information related to how form 1098-T may affect you. As we cannot provide tax advice or the implications of the IRS Form 1098-T, we will only be able to direct you or your tax preparer to this webpage to answer your questions.
Amounts Paid for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses
BOX 1 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the calendar year. Sometimes this is referred to as qualifed education expenses, although the two are not always interchangeable. Consult a tax professional for explanation. For purposes of IRS Form 1098-T, Centenary College has determined based on interpretation of the limited IRS guidance provided that the following charges are included or not in qualified tuition and related expenses. Please note, IRS Publication 970 states that "the amount on form 1098-T might be different from the amount you actually paid and are deemed to have paid." Further IRS Form 8863 instructions state that "The amount of qualified Tuition and related expenses reported on Form 1098-T may not reflect the total amount of the qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the year for which you may claim the tax credit. You may include qualified tuition and related expenses that are not reported on IRS Form 1098-T when claiming one of the related credits if you can substantiate payment of these expenses."
Please note that the timing of each charge and payment/scholarship are important regarding which year they are reported in. Many students have charges from Nov-Dec of 2020. Because in 2020 many students had payments larger than their QTRE, the BOX 1 amount for the Spring 2021 term may have been included in the 2020 1098-T. Also in many of those same circumstances, the student also received scholarships and grants for Spring 2021 that did not post until January 2021. This may cause the 2021 1098-T to have zero in BOX 1 but BOX would be populated. Please consult a tax prepared regarding what this means to your individual tax situation.
Adjustments Made for a Prior Year
BOX 4 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to qualified tuition and related expenses calculated in a prior year. The amount reported in Box 4 represents a reduction in tuition billed during a prior calendar year. For example if you were billed in Nov-Dec 2020 and later had a reduction in the QTRE charges in 2021 (ie withdrawal, courses dropped), Box 4 reports the decrease in billed tuition due to the withdrawal or drop. The amount reported in BOX 4 reports the decrease in QTRE from the withdrawal or drop of courses that reduced the QTRE. The amount reported in Box 4 for adjustments to qualified tuition and related expenses may reduce any allowable education credit you may claim for the prior year. See your tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863/IRS Publication 970 for more information.
Note: It is possible for the other boxes to be empty and only have a number in BOX 4. This means as stated above that there was a reduction in qualified tuition and related expenses calculated on the 2020 1098-T that was reduced after December 31, 2020 but had no other reportable activity for the 2020 calendar year. Please consult a tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863 and IRS Publication 970 for assistance.
Scholarships and/or Grants
BOX 5 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the total of scholarships or grants administered or processed by the Office of Student Accounts and/or the Office of Student Financial Aid during the calendar year.
Please note that the timing of each charge and scholarship are important regarding which year they are reported in. Many students have charges from Nov-Dec of 2020. Because in 2020 many students had payments larger than their QTRE, the BOX 1 amount for the Spring 2021 term may have been included in the 2020 1098-T. Also in many of those same circumstances, the student also received scholarships and grants for Spring 2021 that did not post until January 2021. This may cause the 2021 1098-T to have zero in BOX 1 but BOX would be populated. Please consult a tax prepared regarding what this means to your individual tax situation.
The amount reported in BOX 5 does not include:
- Tuition waivers provided during the calendar year.
- Student Loans
- Work Study
- Employment
- Scholarships, grants, reimbursements or other types of sponsorships not administered by the Office of Student Accounts and/or the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Per IRS instruction, Veteran's Education Benefit amounts received are included in BOX 5.
Adjustments to Scholarships or Grants For a Prior Year
BOX 6 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to scholarships or grants reported on a prior year Form 1098-T that was in BOX 5. The amount reported in BOX 6 represents a reduction in scholarships or grants reported for a prior calendar year. The amount reported in BOX 6 for adjustments to scholarships or grants may affect the amount of the education credit you may claim for the prior year. See IRS Form 8863 for how to report these amounts.
Additionally, the links below may be helpful in understanding the instructions, purpose, and applicability of the 1098-T for your individual tax situation. All information that Centenary College of Louisiana can provide you is either on the 1098-T form or is included on this webpage. We are not allowed to discuss tax implications, how this form may relate to you, or give tax advice. Please consult your tax preparer with all questions related to this document. Some helpful links to the IRS at the bottom of this page may provide you more information related to how form 1098-T may affect you. Please seek guidance from a tax professional.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/students
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-benefits-for-education-information-center
https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-970
Statement of Student Responsibility
Students who register at Centenary College of Louisiana:
• Assume responsibility of full payment for tuition and fees generated from that registration
• Assume full responsibility of all room, board, and miscellaneous charges, if applicable
• Must keep a current mailing address for billing purposes on file at the Student Accounts Office. Failure to receive a bill because of an incorrect address does not relieve responsibility of timely payments.
Failure to make satisfactory financial arrangements can result in delay of graduation, denial of registration privileges, removal from classes, withholding of transcripts, and/or referral to a collection agency.
Students whose accounts are referred to a collection agency will be liable for all collection costs, including attorney fees and other charges necessary for collection of this debt. Accounts referred to collections are reported to the credit bureau(s).
By registering for classes, students acknowledge receipt of this information and their acceptance of the associated responsibilities.