PayPal has enabled tuition payments through Venmo at US colleges, giving students another way to settle their bills. The move puts the peer-to-peer payment app into a space traditionally dominated by bank transfers, credit cards and checks.
A new option at the payment portal
Students who use Venmo can now select it as a payment method when paying tuition. The option appears alongside other payment choices, according to PayPal. The company said the feature is available at US colleges, though it didn't specify which ones.
Venmo, which PayPal owns, has long been a go-to for splitting meals, rent and rides. Now it's stepping into higher education. For students, that means the app they already use for everyday expenses can handle one of their biggest bills.
How the payment works
The process is straightforward. A student logs into their school's tuition portal, picks Venmo as the payment method, and gets redirected to the Venmo app to confirm the transaction. The money comes from the student's Venmo balance or a linked bank account, just like any other Venmo payment.
That's a shift from the usual tuition payment routes, which often require a bank routing number or a credit card. Venmo's interface is familiar to millions of users, and the app already stores payment details, so there's no need to type in account numbers again.
Tuition is a major expense, and payment options can be a hurdle. Some students don't have credit cards. Others prefer not to put large charges on them. Venmo offers a middle ground, letting students pay directly from their bank account without the friction of a wire transfer or a paper check.
For PayPal, the move is a way to push Venmo deeper into everyday financial life. The app has been expanding beyond peer-to-peer transfers, with features like Venmo debit cards and direct deposits. Tuition payments are a natural next step, though the company hasn't said whether it plans to extend the option to other school costs like housing or meal plans.
What's still unclear
PayPal hasn't released a list of participating colleges, and it's not clear whether the option is available at every US school or just a subset. The company also hasn't detailed any fees tied to using Venmo for tuition. Students will need to check their school's payment portal to see if Venmo is listed as a choice.
The rollout comes as colleges increasingly accept digital payments, but Venmo's entry into tuition is notable because of its reach. The app has tens of millions of users, many of them in the age group that's paying for school.
For now, the practical step is simple: students at US colleges can log in to their tuition portal and look for the Venmo option. If it's there, they can pay in a few taps. If not, they'll have to stick with the old methods.
