Credit Student Registration & Policies
Credit students follow a different registration process and fee structure and have different policies than noncredit students. This page outlines key differences and links to full policies where needed.
On This Page
How to Register — Credit Students
If you’re in one of the credit programs below, you’ll be emailed a registration form each quarter:
Register at least 2 days before the class starts.
Payment — Credit Students
Payment Process
Payment is due shortly after you register.
Here’s how the process works:
1–2 business days after you register, you’ll get an invoice and payment instructions.
Full payment — or a purchase order/third‑party authorization — is due immediately.
Payment becomes past due 15 days after the invoice date, and a financial hold will be placed on your account.
Nonpayment does not drop you from a course. To drop, see Drops, Withdrawals & Refunds.
Payment Methods
You can use an electronic check (ACH) to pay online. There’s no fee to pay by ACH.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major credit and debit cards.
A nonrefundable service fee applies to card payments:
2.95% for U.S.–issued cards
4.25% for international cards (minimum $3)
You may use a bank check or money order to pay by mail or in person. Checks must be in U.S. funds and drawn from a U.S. bank. There is a $25 service charge for returned checks.
A third-party payment is made by someone other than the student (e.g., an employer).
To use a third-party payment:
Submit a purchase order or letter of authorization after you register
An invoice will be issued once documentation is received
Invoices cannot be generated before registration.
Students in UWPCE credit programs and courses are generally not eligible for federal financial aid, including federal student loans. The only exception is for students taking credit courses required for admission to a degree program that’s approved for financial aid. For more information, contact the UW Office of Student Financial Aid at osfa@uw.edu.
UWPCE students are not eligible for the Washington State Tuition Exemption or Husky Promise programs.
UW matriculated students may be able to apply awarded financial aid toward UWPCE credit courses. You are charged for UWPCE courses in addition to your standard university tuition. For more information, contact the financial aid office at osfa@uw.edu.
If you’re an international student, you may also pay using a wire transfer via your bank or a service called Flywire.
To Pay by Bank Wire Transfer
Contact UWPCE Registration Services at c2reg@uw.edu to get bank and routing number information.
Include your full name and UW student number in the wire transfer to ensure it’s credited to your account.
Include any wire transfer and bank fees in the amount of your payment so the total will cover your full balance.
To Pay using Flywire
During registration, you’ll be directed to the company’s international payment portal for the University of Washington.
Click Start Your Payment for UW Professional & Continuing Education (PCE).
Transaction Summary
After you register, you’ll receive a transaction summary by email.
This document includes:
Proof of enrollment
Your UW student ID number
Class schedule and location
Refund dates
Keep this summary for your records.
Fees — Credit Students
For full fee details, including course fees and application fees, see Costs & Fees.
Credit students pay a $55 registration fee once per quarter, regardless of the number of classes taken.
The registration fee is nonrefundable.
Credit students pay a quarterly technology fee, which supports campus technology resources such as:
Computer labs
Software
Cloud storage
The fee ranges from $6 to $32 per quarter (2025–26), depending on credit load.
If you’re taking an in-person credit course, you may purchase a U‑PASS for $150 per quarter.
Drops, Withdrawals & Refunds — Credit Students
Dropping or Withdrawing
To drop a credit course, you must submit your request in writing to Registration Services at c2reg@uw.edu.
Include:
Your name
Student ID number
Course name
You can’t drop a course by phone.
If you don’t officially drop, you’ll get a 0.0 on your UW transcript. You’ll also be responsible for any outstanding fees.
If you’re considering withdrawing from a certificate program, email enroll@pce.uw.edu to discuss options, including possible deferral.
Refund Policies
Full refund (minus registration fee): Drop no later than one calendar day before the first class
75% refund (minus registration fee): Drop within 8 calendar days of the first class
No refunds after this period
Self-paced (quarterly start) courses are online credit courses — not part of a certificate program or specialization — that must be started and completed within the same academic quarter.
To receive a full refund, minus the nonrefundable registration fee, you must drop the course within the first seven calendar days of the quarter.
To receive a 50% refund, minus the registration fee, you must drop the course within the first 30 calendar days of the quarter.
Former Quarter Drop
If you were unable to complete a credit course in a previous quarter due to extenuating circumstances, you may petition for a Former Quarter Drop.
If the petition is approved, you’ll get a grade of RD (Registrar Drop) on your UW transcript for that course — or HW (Hardship Withdrawal) for courses taken winter quarter 2020 or earlier.
To apply for Former Quarter Drop, fill out a petition here (UW NetID required). Make sure to choose “Continuum College” as your campus.
Learn more about UW’s Former Quarter Drop process.
Grades, Transcripts & Certificate — Credit Students
Grades
Students in credit courses are graded according to UW’s grading system, which differs for undergraduate and graduate courses. For more information, see:
If you don’t plan to apply your course credits to a future degree, you may request to be graded on an S/NS (satisfactory/not satisfactory) basis at the time of registration.
You get credit for the course only if you earn an S grade. S/NS grades are not factored into your GPA.
Grades earned for credit courses are included in your UW GPA and appear on your UW transcript.
If you’re enrolled in a credit certificate program, you must receive a passing grade in one course in order to progress to the next one and ultimately earn the certificate.
Some credit certificate programs require that students earn a minimum grade in each course and/or maintain a minimum cumulative GPA. Check the Requirements section of the program or course for details.
Transcripts
Credit courses appear on your UW transcript. You can view their grades and print an unofficial transcript through MyUW. If you need an official transcript, you can order one from the UW Registrar’s office.
Earning the Certificate
Certificate programs award a certificate of completion. To earn the certificate, you must successfully complete all required courses.
Some credit certificate programs require that students earn a minimum grade in each course and/or maintain a minimum cumulative GPA to earn the certificate.
You'll receive your certificate in the mail eight to 10 weeks after successfully completing your final course.
