CASHNet is a third party provider that allows students and family members to make online payments to pay student account fees, including tuition, room and board, health insurance, course fees, and other miscellaneous charges. This system eases the payment process by allowing payments to be made at any time, from any location with internet access. From this site payments can be made to a student account by credit card or electronic check (E-Check).

CASHNet provides for two methods of online payment:

Debit/Credit Card – If you choose to pay by credit or debit card, you will be charged a 2.85% convenience fee. This fee is imposed and retained by CASHNet.

Electronic Check – You can elect to have your payment electronically withdrawn from your checking or savings account. You will need to know your routing number and account number - if you are unsure of your bank account information, please contact your financial institution.  There is NO FEE for this method of online payment.

The convenience fee is paid directly to the third party processor and is therefore not refundable.

Presently we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.

Both Northwestern College and CASHNet websites adhere to payment card and banking industry standards. E-Checks comply with NACHA standards. CASHNet is also Level 1 PCI compliant, so they meet or exceed all security standards set forth by the credit card industry. CASHNet secures your personal information entered into their website through Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption, which creates a protected connection between users and the web server. This means your card number and personal data are never sent over the internet unencrypted. Credit card information is not passed to Northwestern College and payment data is passed using hardware encryption. CASHNet partners with VeriSign to ensure the highest level of security and is the trusted payment services partner of many college campuses nationwide.

To use CASHNet, your son/daughter must create a Parent PIN for you. Once your PIN has been created, you will receive an e-mail from CASHNet containing your logon name and a system generated password. You may then make an online payment by going directly to the Northwestern Online Payment Site at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/selfserve/ebilllogin.aspx?client=NWCIOWA_PROD<=P. Enter your logon name and password. (Note: You will be required to change your password the first time you log in.)

Remember to add these links to your "Favorites" or "Bookmarks" for future use.

To set up a "Parent PIN," your son/daughter will need to log into My Northwestern and navigate to the "Billing Information" page.

• Open a bill
• Click "Pay online now" 
• Click "your account"
• Click "Add New" in the "Parent PINs" box
  Enter the information that is requested, and click "OK". (Your son/daughter must enter the "login name" that you will use as a username – the logon and password will be sent to you in an E-mail.
• Click "exit online payment". 
• You will receive an E-mail with your login name and password.

NOTE:  Your son/daughter can repeat this process, adding a new "Parent PIN" for each person designated to make a payment to your student's account.

Yes, multiple "Parent PINS" can be established to make payments to a student's account. Your son/daughter will need to set up a "Parent PIN" for each person using the process

You will need the following information to complete your online payment via E-check:

• Account type (Checking or Savings)
• Checking or Savings Account Number (Account number in example below)
• The Bank Routing Transit Number (Routing number in example below)
• The Account Holders name (first and last)

Students and parents will navigate differently to the Northwestern College Online Payment Site:

FOR STUDENTS: On My Northwestern website, click Billing information tab and open the bill you would like to pay. Click "Pay online now" found at the top of your current online bill. 

FOR PARENTS AND OTHER DESIGNATED PAYORS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO My Northwestern:  Use the following URL to get to the CASHNet site directly https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/selfserve/ebilllogin.aspx?client=NWCIOWA_PROD<=P.

Once you have reached the Northwestern Online Payment Site, the process is the same for all who are authorized to make payments.

• Click "Click here to make a payment link" found in the ‘Your Account' section.
• Click "Student Account Balance"
• Enter the amount that you would like to pay (system default is the full balance)
• Click "Add to Shopping Cart"
• Validate that the information is correct and click "Checkout". 
• Select the radio button next to "Enter new electronic check information" and  click "Continue Checkout". 
• Proceed to enter the information on this form.  You will need to have an actual check handy to get the account and routing information. (See FAQ "What information do I need to make my online payment via E-check")
  Click "Continue Checkout"
• Validate your information and click "Submit payment"
• Once you have printed your receipt, click "Sign Out".

Students and parents will navigate differently to the Northwestern College Online Payment Site:

FOR STUDENTS: On My Northwestern website, click Billing information tab and open the bill you would like to pay. Click "Pay online now" found at the top of your current online bill. 

FOR PARENTS AND OTHER DESIGNATED PAYORS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO My Northwestern:  Use the following URL to get to the CASHNet site directly https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/selfserve/ebilllogin.aspx?client=NWCIOWA_PROD<=P.

Once you have reached the Northwestern Online Payment Site, the process is the same for all who are authorized to make payments.

• Click "Click here to make a payment link" found in the ‘Your Account' section.
• Click "Student Account Balance"
  Enter the amount that you would like to pay (it defaults to the full balance)
• Click "Add to Shopping Cart"
• Validate that the information is correct and click "Checkout". 
• Click on the payment method you will be using (Credit Card in this example)
• Click "Continue Checkout". 
• From here you can "Review the Charges", "Cancel the Transaction", or Continue Checkout" based on the button you choose.
• Click "Continue Checkout" and enter your credit card information. 
• Click "Continue Checkout". 
• Click "Submit Payment"
• Once you have printed your receipt, click "Sign Out".

The Business Office will accept cash, check, or money order for student account payments.  Additionally, we can help you make an online payment through the student's MyNWC bill, but the payment processing fee of 2.85% will still apply. 

Regardless of the method of payment, the official refund policy published in the Catalog and student handbook will apply.  Any refund that is applicable according to the official policy will be issued by paper check.

CASHNet payments are real time and can be seen applied to the student's online bill immediately.  It may take a few days to hit your bank account. 

Many 529 College Savings Plans now have a digital distribution option which saves time and improves transparency with real-time payment tracking. When requesting a withdrawal from your plan, look to see if a digital disbursement is available.  Please ensure your 529 plan includes the student name and student ID number.  

If your 529 Plan will be sending your disbursement by paper check, payment should be directed to:

Northwestern College

Attn:  Business Office

101 7th St. SW

Orange City, IA 51041

Yes. CASHNet can accept online credit card or debit card payments from an international address.