Making a tuition payment with Backpack is simple. You don't need to have funds in your Backpack account to setup your Tuition payment. Creating a pending tuition payment (one that is awaiting funds to be deposited) alerts your university that you're in the process of paying.
Follow these steps to create and send a payment to your student’s university.
Tip: Wondering when to create a payment or how pending payments work? See How Pending Tuition Payments Work (and Why You Should Set One Up Early)
Step-by-Step Guide
Start a Payment
Log in to your Backpack Dashboard
Click “Pay Tuition”
Confirm Student Details
Enter or verify your student’s full name and student ID
Enter Payment Details
Amount
Type in the tuition amount shown in your student’s billing portal
Note: Backpack doesn’t receive billing info from schools. You’ll need to get the tuition amount from your student’s portal or payment notice.
Term
Choose the correct term or semester
Payment recipient (Choose the University)
Select the school you’re sending payment to
Choose your payment option
Select how you’d like to fund this tuition payment:
Use Your Backpack Balance: If your account already has enough funds, your payment will be completed as soon as you create it.
Bank Transfer: We’ll guide you through selecting or adding a bank account to transfer funds.
Pay with a 529 College Savings Plan: Finish creating this payment, then send funds from your 529 using your Backpack account and routing number. We'll complete the payment once the funds arrive.
Note: If your 529 plan is managed by Fidelity, you can link Backpack directly as an external bank account. This works just like linking a regular checking account.
Enter your Backpack account number and routing number in your Fidelity portal, and Fidelity can transfer funds electronically (ACH) straight into your Backpack account.
Review and Verify
Double-check your payment method and all payment details
Create the Payment
Click “Create Payment”
Once you click “Create Payment”
If your Backpack balance covers the full amount, we’ll send the payment to your school right away
If funds are still on the way (like from a 529 or bank transfer), the payment will show as Pending until your balance is ready
Track Your Payment
You can track everything from your Dashboard or the Transactions tab.
We’ll also email you when:
Funds arrive in your Backpack account
The payment is sent to the school
The school confirms receipt