Nearly every U.S. university lets you pay tuition by eCheck - an electronic payment from your checking or savings account - through its bursar or student-account portal, and it is almost always free while cards add a 2 to 3% fee. We confirmed 21 schools below. At some, like Harvard and Notre Dame, eCheck is the only online option because they do not take cards.

University of Illinois

eCheck (no fee) via the UI-Pay portal from a U.S. checking or savings account; cards carry a service fee.

Visit University of Illinois website

Penn State

eCheck (no fee) via LionPATH/Flywire; credit and debit cards add a 2.25% fee.

Visit Penn State website

University of Notre Dame

eCheck via IRISHPAY from a U.S. bank account; credit cards are not accepted.

Visit University of Notre Dame website

Harvard University

ACH e-payment (no fee) from a U.S. checking or savings account via my.harvard; cards not accepted.

Visit Harvard University website

Miami Dade College

e-check (no processing fee) online using your bank routing and account number.

Visit Miami Dade College website

Clarkson University

eCheck/ACH (no service fee) via Nelnet; cards carry a 2.85% fee.

Visit Clarkson University website

Rutgers University

e-check (no fee) via Student ABC from a checking or savings account.

Visit Rutgers University website

Indiana University

e-check (no fee) via Student Central bill pay; cards carry a convenience fee.

Visit Indiana University website

University of Pittsburgh

eCheck (no charge) from a U.S. checking account via the PittPAY portal.

Visit University of Pittsburgh website

Texas A&M University

eCheck/ACH (free) via the Howdy portal using your routing and account number.

Visit Texas A&M University website

The New School

electronic check (no fee) via MyNewSchool from a U.S. checking or savings account.

Visit The New School website

Queens College (CUNY)

e-check (no fee) via CUNYfirst, debiting a checking or savings account.

Visit Queens College (CUNY) website

Ohio University

eCheck (no service fee) online via the Bursar using your routing and account number.

Visit Ohio University website

Bentley University

ACH/eCheck (no cost) initiated in Workday with your routing and account number.

Visit Bentley University website

University of Arizona

eCheck (no service fee) from a U.S. checking or savings account via UAccess/Nelnet.

Visit University of Arizona website

Arizona State University

eCheck (free) from a U.S. checking or savings account via My ASU - ASU's preferred method.

Visit Arizona State University website

St. John Fisher University

eCheck via the FisherPay portal (online or by phone) from a checking or savings account.

Visit St. John Fisher University website

Mississippi State University

eCheck (no service fee) online via QuikPAY - MSU's preferred method.

Visit Mississippi State University website

San Francisco State University

e-Check/ACH (no service fee) via the SF State Gateway, debiting checking or savings.

Visit San Francisco State University website

American University

e-check (no fee) from a U.S. checking or savings account; cards carry a 2.80% fee.

Visit American University website

Hunter College (CUNY)

eCheck/ACH online via CUNYfirst from your checking or savings account.

Visit Hunter College (CUNY) website

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay tuition with an eCheck?

Yes. Nearly every U.S. university accepts eCheck (an electronic payment from your checking or savings account) for tuition through its bursar or student-account portal.

Is there a fee to pay tuition by eCheck?

Almost never. eCheck is free at most schools, while paying tuition by credit or debit card usually carries a 2 to 3% service fee.

Do universities accept credit cards for tuition?

Many do, but for a fee, and some do not at all. Harvard and Notre Dame, for example, do not accept credit cards - eCheck from a bank account is the online method.

How do I pay tuition from my bank account?

Log in to your school's student-account or bursar portal, choose eCheck or electronic check, and enter your bank routing and account numbers. It posts as an ACH payment.

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