The purpose of the Business Office is to provide accounts receivable, receipting and cashiering services to students and departments.

We have collected frequently asked questions about the business office, the Nelnet payment plan and the 1098-T. Look through the question and look through MyAugusta. If you still have questions please reach out.

Business Office Nelnet Payment Plans IRS 1098-T Tax Forms GradGuard tuition Insurance

Contact Us

Business Office

Summerville Campus

Payne Hall

706-737-1767

706-667-4643

business_office
@augusta.edu

Business Office


  • Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday
  • Location: First floor of Payne Hall on the Summerville Campus
  • Tuition and fees are due before the first day of classes.  Payment deadlines are published in POUNCE in the billing center, on the Business Office web site, reminder emails include the dates, auto-calls are made, and the dates also appear on flyer's and on the large screen in the Business Office lobby.
  • On each payment deadline, students may pay until 5:00 p.m.
  • After 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date, if your balance is not paid in full, you may be dropped for non-payment.
  • Attendance without payment for tuition and fees is not allowed under BOR Policy.
  • Log onto POUNCE
  • From the main menu, select: “Student Account”
  • A new window will open
  • On the right side, select "My Profile"
  • Click “Authorized Users”
  • Enter the email address of the Authorized User, then make three choices on the statements that are presented to you
  • Click Continue
  • The “Agreement to Add Authorized Users” appears on the screen
  • Click the box stating “I Agree” and you may also print this agreement
  • Click Continue
  • You will see a confirmation email that the authorized user you set up has been provided with access to your account.
  • Payment plans through Nelnet are available through the end of drop/add each semester but if you are registered and need to pay on time, you must contract with Nelnet by the payment deadline for it to count toward your balance due before add/drop.
    • Payment plans are available to students only through the end of the add/drop period of each term and the plans open at the same time as registration.
    • The only payment plan option that is available is through Nelnet
    • Payment plans are not available for prior term balances and they are not available after the close of drop/add
    • Payment plans are not available for students who are not enrolled
    • If you add charges after the payment plan cutoff date, the charges will not be added to your plan and you must pay the University for these charges at the time they are billed.
  • To sign up for a Nelnet Payment Plan, log into POUNCE and complete the steps below:
    • Click on the main menu: Nelnet Payment Plan
    • Select the term for which you need to add the plan
    • Click “Setup Payment Plan”
    • Choose a term
    • Follow the setup steps on the Nelnet web site
    • Review the Nelnet FAQs
  • The coding of your enrollment record begins with your admissions application.  The coding on your student account determines the tuition rate you will pay, as evaluated by Academic Admissions
  • Once you are enrolled, you will need to contact the Registrar’s Office to submit documentation if you believe your residency for tuition purposes is inaccurate or has changed.
  • If you are in the admissions process, you should work through your residency questions with Academic Admissions
  • You will receive two email notifications if your student has provided your email address in POUNCE for you to have access to pay their account.
  • One email will notify you that they have provided you with access.  Your username is included in this email and it will list the email address to be used in the welcome message.
  • The other email will contain your password for the login.
  • Once you log in, you will be able to review your student’s bill and make payment by electronic check or credit card.
  • Electronic check is simply an electronic payment from your bank account.  You enter this by using the bank routing number and account number from the bottom of your check.
  • Credit cards are accepted for a 2.85% convenience fee.
  • If you would like to pay using a savings account electronically, please verify with your banking institution that the savings account allows electronic payments before attempting this type of payment.
  • If you pay with a debit card used as credit, you should be aware that debit cards can carry a daily limit of $500.  Usually, this daily limit amount can be lifted by contacting your bank before making payment.
  • If you have any trouble making payments, please contact the Business Office at 706-737-1767.

Financial aid that is in memo or authorized status has not yet been received by Augusta University from the lender.  If your financial aid memo amount is equal to or greater than the total balance for the semester due to Augusta University, no other payment is needed prior to the first day of class.  However, if your memo amount of financial aid does not cover your outstanding semester balance in full, you will need to make payment to cover the remaining balance prior to the first day of class by the published payment deadline.  You can view your financial aid award status on the Financial Aid link in POUNCE.  Pending financial aid is also listed in the billing center in POUNCE and offsets the balance due.

  • Electronic check online is available through POUNCE at no cost. 
    • Invalid entry of the bank routing or account number will incur a $30 fine after one incorrect offense.
    • All returned electronic and paper check items due to insufficient funds incur a $30 fine (all payment amounts) or 5% of the total cost for payment exceeding $600. 
    • Three returned items will result in returned item fines and your student account will be placed on cash-only hold.
  • Credit card payment is available online for 2.85% of the balance due.
  • Cash, checks, money orders or traveler’s checks are accepted at the Business Office in person.
  • You may wire funds for tuition and fees ahead of the payment deadline.  The payment must be received by the deadline.  Contact the Business Office to find out how to wire a payment.
  • Nelnet payment plans are available to help students defer a portion of the cost of tuition and fees, or to help defer the cost of tuition and fees after a partial financial aid award.  Nelnet information is on the Business Office web pages in the side menu and can also be found within POUNCE.
  • Financial Aid and scholarships may be applied for online prior to the start of the semester and can be credited against your account to offset your balance if you are eligible.  Please visit the Financial Aid webpage or the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Third Party Contracts may be set up ahead of the semester by contracting with a third party to pay all or a portion of your tuition and fees to the University on your behalf  If you have a third party contract to set up, please email the Business Office with that information at least 4 weeks ahead of the payment deadline to ensure you can get that contract submitted and to complete the necessary paperwork required by the Business Office. 
  • Log onto POUNCE
  • Click on Pay Your Bill/View Student Account/Set up eRefund Deposit Information
  • Click “Connect to Student Account Center”
  • Click “Payments” tab
  • Click “Make a Payment”
  • Follow the prompts to choose the method of payment
  • Your financial aid refund for each semester will be processed after attendance verification has ended and after financial aid is verified.  The refund amount will include any balance remaining after all institutional charges for the semester have been paid.
  • If you signed up for eRefunds in the billing center within POUNCE, please allow 24-48 hours for the funds to credit your designated bank account. Note, if your bank does not process on weekends, it may be Monday or Tuesday of the following week before funds are received in your account.  Be sure to maintain your banking information in POUNCE to ensure your refunds are not delayed.  This means regularly checking and updating your banking information on POUNCE to ensure you have the correct bank routing and account number for refunds.
  • If you have not signed up for direct deposit (eDeposit), your refund can take up to 10 days by mail to your most current mailing address on file.  If your address becomes invalid at any time, you may change it on POUNCE.
  • First, log onto POUNCE to see if you have a balance due to Augusta University and pay the balance.  Most holds are due to an outstanding balance.  Once the balance is paid, the hold will be released.
  • If your account is on hold and you pay the balance by check, your hold will not be released until the check has cleared the bank.  For payments made with electronic checks, this is five business days and for paper checks this is ten business days.  Business days include Monday through Friday and Saturday but not Sunday.  Holidays are also excluded.
  • Holds will keep you from registering for classes and from receiving your transcripts.  All balances are due immediately or upon registration if they are related to enrollment.
  • If your account reflects a “cash only” hold, you will need to pay your outstanding balances with a cash-type payment in the Business Office.  These holds are rare, but they are placed against your account due to excessive returned checks.
  • Holds are released daily by the Business Office as they are cleared by payments.
  • Sometimes a hold may be due to invalid or missing contact information.  If the Business Office cannot contact you using the information that you have provided on POUNCE, a hold may be placed until you update that information.  You may make the update within POUNCE or call or email the Business Office.
  • Log onto POUNCE
  • Choose the menu item: Pay Your Bill/View Student Account/Set up eRefund Deposit Information
  • Click “Connect to Student Account Center” (you may need to disable pop-up blockers in your browser settings)
  • Once you are in the Student Account Center, click the tab labeled eRefunds at the top of the screen
  • Click “Set up Account”
  • Complete your banking information (checking or savings account information)
  • Click “I Agree” when presented with the agreement
  • Click Continue
  • You will see a page confirming “Your new ACH refund account has been saved”
  • You may change your refund account designation at any time if it becomes invalid or if you want to change the account for refunds.  Remember to first inactivate your current account information before entering a new account designation.
  • Refunds are processed bi-weekly outside of the scheduled semester refund dates
  • If you have signed up for eDeposit on POUNCE this is the most reliable and most efficient way to receive refunds

Visit https://augusta.aimsparking.com/ to pay a parking permit or fine.

  • You should check your POUNCE account periodically through the term to pay any outstanding balances and to avoid end of term holds.  These types of charges are payable in the student account center in POUNCE and are due when the charge is assessed.
  • You will receive courtesy email notifications from the Business_Office email account notifying you of your outstanding obligations.
  • Unpaid amounts will result in your student account being placed on hold.  Holds will not be removed until your balances are paid in full.  Services may be withheld until fines or fees are paid in full as well.
  • Yes, account balances must be paid in full to be eligible to register for the next semester.
  • All institutional balances must be paid in full to attend class.
  • Any outstanding balance on or after the first day of class may result in being dropped from your classes due to non-payment.
  • Non-attendance in your scheduled classes may result in being dropped from classes due to non-attendance.
  • Undergraduate rates are determined by the Georgia Board of Regents for each USG Institution.  While they may increase a small percentage each fall, Augusta University maintains the most competitive tuition rates in the state for our programs of study.
  • Graduate and professional rates are reviewed and researched each year including an in-depth peer analysis by the Augusta University Colleges.  Budgetary requirements are finalized and peer competitor analysis is performed to ensure Augusta University is offering the most competitive rate possible for the graduate and professional programs that it offers.  Augusta University has very competitive rates.
  • Out-of-state tuition waivers must be applied for through the Registrar’s Office your first term of enrollment if you did not apply for the waiver during your Admissions process.
  • The waiver application should be submitted by the deadlines published on the Registrar's web page to ensure your application and any supporting documents can be reviewed and processed before the payment deadline of the upcoming semester.
  • If you are not able to get your waiver finalized before the payment deadline, you should plan to make payment in full for the semester by the payment deadline.  If your waiver is approved, any overage will be refunded to you once the waiver has been applied to your student account to offset a portion of your balance.
  • Tuition Assistant Program (TAP) waivers have their own strict deadlines for application and processing that must be adhered to.  There is also a TAP Benefit Course provided by Human Resources that is very beneficial to TAP waiver participants.  TAP is a benefit of employment, and there are tax implications for tap waivers exceeding $5,250 in a tax year.  TAP recipients are responsible for paying all balances not covered by the TAP benefit. TAP exceeding $5,250 in a tax year will be taxed through the Payroll Office.
  • Most waivers require an application and submission of supporting documentation each and every semester.  Be sure to take care of this in a timely manner to avoid having to pay for unnecessary out of pocket costs that would otherwise have been waived.
  • Waivers are included in your account details on POUNCE. 
  • TAP may not cover all tuition for which you are charged, and will not cover non-mandatory fees such as course, program, lab or book fees, etc.  You are responsible for paying these non-covered amounts by the payment deadline.

GradGuard Tuition Insurance


Just as you purchase insurance to protect your home and car, tuition insurance allows you to protect the investment you make in higher education for yourself or your child. Tuition insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable tuition, fees and room and board costs (up to the amount of your policy limits) should your child have to withdraw from school for a covered reason.

Tuition insurance reimburses you for up to 100 percent of tuition costs, as well as fees, room, and board. The Tuition Protection Plan also includes Student Life Assistance benefits.

A policy must be purchased prior to the end of add/drop.

Yes, a student needs to purchase any additional coverage prior to the end of add/drop. You may cancel your existing coverage and re-enroll with higher limits by the deadline, if you wish to increase your coverage. Coverage options may vary by school.

Not necessarily. Tuition refund policies vary by school, but typically a school will only provide a partial refund for withdrawal after classes have begun, and will provide no reimbursement after a certain date.  Also, if your tuition and fees was paid with financial aid, typically financial aid that is unearned is returned to the source of the funding upon withdrawal.

Any student who is healthy enough to begin classes, attending Augusta University.  Augusta University students may opt in for the Tuition Protection Plan program, are responsible for tuition costs, and are eligible to purchase Tuition Protection Plan. Tuition Protection Plan may not be available in all states. Eligibility and coverage variations are determined by the student’s state of residence defined during the enrollment process.

Non-refundable costs can include tuition, fees, room and board that is not refunded by the school.

Policies are by semester.  They begin the first day of classes and cover the academic term.  Multiple terms can be purchased, but must be purchased before the end of add/drop for any semester.

Standard coverage is up to $10,000 per semester, with a minimum of $1500 per semester. There is an option to purchase up to $75,000 per semester, but would have to be contracted separately from the student system options, by contacting GradGuard directly, at 877-794-6603.  You can begin by checking the web page of information gradguard.com/tuition/augusta.

Tuition and fees associated with the study abroad program that are paid as part of your matriculation costs are covered.  Not the study abroad program costs.

In most cases, yes.  Tuition insurance provides reimbursement of prepaid, nonrefundable payments if your child has to withdraw for one of the reasons covered by your policy. Covered reasons vary by plan but may include a covered illness or injury, psychological or mental disorder, death of student, and even any unforeseen reason.

Once a claim is approved, payment is made directly to the policy holder.  The policy holder is the person who purchased the insurance.

Yes. Students who pay for all or part of their tuition using a student loan are still eligible for our insurance and for a refund of their tuition. If the student is still responsible for paying back the student loan after they withdraw, then GradGuard Tuition Protection Plan may refund that amount minus any refunds given by the school. The same applies for any financial aid. However, tuition reimbursement insurance only reimburses expenses paid out of pocket, not grants or scholarships paid directly to the school.

Student Life Assistance is included with all tuition insurance products from Allianz Global Assistance. This is a free service that provides 24-hour assistance to students and their parents in emergency situations. For example, Student Life Assistance staff can help families travel to see their hospitalized student, assist in arranging to transport a student home after receiving medical care, or arrange for a sick or injured student’s car to be driven back to his or her home.

Please call 1-888-427-5045 to begin the claim process. Once you have filed your claim, you will receive a confirmation email as well as required documentation.

Call 1-888-427-5045 to check the status of your claim.

We begin to process your claim once we receive your claim form and all supporting documentation. Please allow up to 10 business days for us to complete this process.

Please mail, fax or email your documentation to: 

Allianz Global Assistance 
Attn: Tuition Claims Dept. 
P.O. Box 72031 
Richmond, VA 23255-2031 
Fax: (804) 673-1469 
Email: claimsinquiry@allianzassistance.com

 

Call 1-888-427-5045 to request forms or an additional copy of your policy documents.

Call 1-888-427-5045 to cancel your policy. For a full refund of your premium, you must cancel within 10 days of purchase and must not have filed a claim.  After this, refunds are prorated by the insurance company.

An existing medical condition is an illness or injury that the student was seeking or receiving treatment for or had symptoms of within the 60 days prior to purchasing the policy. Please also note that you may still be covered for losses caused by reasons other than those related to an existing medical condition. See the Certificate of Insurance/Policy for details.

Insurance coverage is underwritten by Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 107 series. Allianz Global Assistance is a brand of AGA Service Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of this plan and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage because of the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company.

Policies may be canceled and refunded in full prior to the last day of add/drop. For cancelation inquiries please give us a call or email us at tuition@allianzassistance.com.

General Exclusions

This section describes the general exclusions applicable to the coverage under your policy. An “exclusion” is something that is not covered by this insurance policy, and therefore no reimbursement would be available.

  • Any loss, condition, or event that was known, foreseeable, intended, or expected when this policy was purchased; 
  • Pre-Existing medical conditions, except as waived under the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver; 
  • Acts committed with the intent to cause loss; 
  • Operating or working as a crew member (including as a trainee or learner/student) aboard any aircraft, commercial vehicle, or commercial watercraft; 
  • Participating in or training for any professional sporting competition; 
  • Cessation of operations by the school; 
  • A criminal act resulting in a conviction, except when the insured student or tuition payer is the victim of such act;
  • An epidemic; 
  • Air, water, or other pollution, or the threat of a pollutant release, including thermal, biological, and chemical pollution or contamination; 
  • Nuclear reaction, radiation, or radioactive contamination; 
  • War (declared or undeclared) or acts of war; or 
  • Civil disorder or unrest.

This policy does not provide any coverage, benefit, or services for any activity that would violate any applicable law or regulation, including without limitation any economic/trade sanction or embargo.

1098-T


Tax year 2023 1098‐T electronic forms will be available on POUNCE in the billing center no later than January 31, 2024.  There is a link to the Paper Form process from POUNCE.  Students who were enrolled prior to fall of 2023 and would like to review or print their prior year 1098-T form may do so from POUNCE as well.

An agreement to authorize the institution  to  provide  your supplemental  tax  information  to you  electronically  via POUNCE.  This is the same information that you would receive on paper. Online availability provides zero wait time, increased security, and the option to print the form multiple times, anytime.  The electronic form is delivered in the same format as the paper forms.

Your  1098‐T  authorization  will  apply  to  the  current  tax  year  and  every  year  following  the date of  consent  that  applicable data  is  available.    The tax year is inclusive of all payments of qualified charges that  occurred  between  January 1  and  December 31.

Yes. Instructions for receiving a paper copy are available below and on POUNCE:

Students who wish to receive a paper 1098-T statement in addition to the electronic version must submit a formal, notarized request to the Business Office. To withdraw consent to receive this form electronically, a separate formal notarized request must also be sent to the Business Office. More information regarding this can be found on the Business Office website in the 1098-T FAQ.

Please defer this question to your tax preparer.  Generally, 1098-T forms are supplemental, and thus, not a required document.  The Business Office will not provide tax filing information to students as we are not certified tax preparers.

IRS regulations state: “Qualified tuition and related expenses are tuition and fees a student must pay to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution.”

The IRS guidelines specifically include tuition and fees that were paid by students during the applicable calendar year.  Payments for personal, living or family expenses are not considered a qualified payments and are not reported.  This excludes payments for room and board, insurance, transportation (parking), and medical expenses (student health fees).  This is true even if the charge must be paid to the institution as a condition of enrollment or attendance.

1098-T data is reported based on the dates tuition and fees were paid on your account.  The IRS requires tax information to be reported based on the calendar year including January 1-December 31.  If you registered for the 2024 spring term during 2023, but paid in 2024, the payment will be reported on the 2024 1098-T tax form. 

Graduates have access to POUNCE for 1 year after their graduation date.

Your tax form will be mailed to your permanent address if you were not enrolled past fall 2022.

Be sure to keep your personal information updated on POUNCE by entering updates online, or by submitting updates to the Registrar’s Office registrar@augusta.edu or by calling (706) 446-1432. 

The IRS has a reporting requirement that any students who receive a 1098-T supplemental tax form must have a valid SSN or TIN on file, or be required to respond that they do not have a SSN or TIN.  If the institution identifies records missing the SSN or TIN, the institution must send notice to the individual to collect this information via form W-9S.  If your record is found to have an invalid or missing SSN, you will be required to remit proof of the valid SSN or TIN. IRS W-9 Form Information

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