Some students are admitted conditionally to the University and this information is identified in the admissions letter itself. A common condition for admission is the receipt of the official transcript from your alma mater. Until the official transcript is received, students will have a Contingency Hold placed on their account. Once the official transcript has been received, you will have met the conditions of your admissions and the Contingency Hold will be removed.

 

Important to Know:

• Any transfer of credit identified in your initial Program of Study from a previous degree will not be confirmed until the receipt of your official transcript(s).
• Failure to provide official transcripts will prevent you from being registered for any future courses.

You should have your alma mater (your previous university) submit the official transcripts directly to Walden in either of the following ways:

• By E-mail
  • electronictranscripts@waldenu.edu
• By Postal Mail or Courier
  • Walden University
    Office of Admissions
    650 South Exeter Street
    Baltimore, MD 21202

For a transcript to be considered official, it must be sent directly from a student's alma mater to Walden directly. By coming directly from the alma mater to Walden, we are able to confirm that the information is official and has not been changed.

If the transcript is sent via the post from your alma mater to you, you should not open the signed/sealed envelope that contains your transcript. Instead, please mail the unopened envelope directly to Walden.

Part of being a successful student at Walden is understanding your student bill and the payment policies that will impact you as a student here.

 

Tuition Due Dates

There are specific deadlines for tuition fees and students will want to adhere to those dates in order to continue progress in their programs. This section will provide additional information related to the due dates for fees.

Calculating Tuition Fees

Tuition fees (both amount and method of calculation) will vary by degree program.You can learn about fee calculation by visiting this page.

Student Bill

Your student bill will show you the amount you owe and what fees you have been billed. Learn more about where to access your student bill by reviewing this section.

Payment Options

Students have a variety of options to utilize when making payments towards their student bill at Walden. Please read below for more information about your available options. Learn more about the options available to you by visiting this page.

 

Students must either pay tuition and applicable fees or have other financial arrangements in place two weeks prior to the start of each term. If you are planning to receive financial aid but you have not completed the loan application or renewal process, you must pay your tuition by the scheduled due date. If you anticipate difficulty adhering to these deadlines, please contact the Bursar’s office immediately.

Students should contact the Financial Accounts Management team (collections@waldenu.edu) to establish a payment plan if they wish to make payments throughout the term to clear their fees. If you have not cleared your entire balance by the second week of class a hold will be placed on your account. 

• A Document Hold indicates a smaller amount owed. With a Document Hold you are able to register for a future course but not to obtain an official copy of your transcript.
• A Bursar Hold indicates a larger amount is owed. With a Bursar Hold you will not be able to register or request an official copy of your Walden transcript.

For more information on this topic, please contact Customer Care at bursar@waldenu.edu,

Most students’ tuition fees are calculated on a per-credit basis. This means that the number of credits for which you are registered for in a term will impact the amount of tuition fees you are billed for that term. Some programs do charge a flat-fee per registered term (typically those programs are our KAM-based or Mixed-Model programs), with limitations to how many courses you can take during a term before additional tuition will be charged. You will also have a program fee added to your bill each term. This is an additional fee not included in your tuition fees. Should your program require an academic residency, please know that these are also not included in your course fees and will incur an additional charge for each residency for which you are registered.

For more information about your tuition fees, please visit the Student Handbook’s Tuition and Fees section.

Students can see their bill in their myWalden portal, on the Student Services tab.

• To see detailed information regarding the current term’s bill click on the link labeled, “Account Detail for Term.”
• If you just want to see the amount owed for a term, please click on the link labeled, “Account Summary by Term.”

Students have a variety of options to utilize when making payments towards their student bill at Walden. Please read below for more information about your available options.

You can call into the Financial Accounts Management team [+1.877.302.5504] to make a payment over the phone or you can submit a credit/debit card payment in your myWalden portal using the link “Manage Your Account/Pay Your Bill.”

Students can submit a traditional bank/wire transfer from their local bank account directly to Walden’s bank account. The Wire Transfer Remittance form is located in the Student Services tab of your myWalden portal, under the Financial Forms link.

Please be sure that a copy of this form is given to your bank, along with your payment, to insure accurate and timely processing. Once you have supplied your banking institution with the Walden University wire transfer information, please deliver the completed form to the office of the Bursar.

Please note: many banks charge a transaction fee for wire transfers. Because of this, the amount of money you provide your bank may differ from the final total that reaches Walden.

 

Similar to a wire transfer, Flywire by peerTransfer allows international students the opportunity to pay in their home currency (in most cases – not all international currencies are supported by the system) and frequently save in transaction fees when compared to a traditional bank.

For more information about Flywire by peerTransfer please visit waldenu.peertransfer.com to get started.

Please note: While Flywire typically charges less in transaction or conversion fees than a traditional bank, it may still deduct a small transaction fee. As such, the amount paid to Walden may be slightly less than what you provide to Flywire for the payment.

 

If you wish to mail in a check or money order, please make it payable to Walden University, and forward to:

Walden University
15297 Collections Center Drive 
Chicago, IL 60693

Please do not include correspondence with your payment. Instead, all correspondence should be forwarded to:

Walden University
Office of the Bursar
7070 Samuel Morse Drive
Columbia, MD 21046

Walden students fund their programs in a handful of ways. Learn more about some of the most commonly-used methods in this section.

• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Student Loans

At Walden, the phrase “Financial Aid” typically refers to the student loans or grants taken out though the United States’ Federal Financial Aid system. Financial Aid is not money that Walden gives to students; instead these are loans students are taking out through the Federal Financial Aid system to pay for their Walden program. For more information on the Financial Aid system or to see if you qualify, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.

Student loans come with a special set of requirements for eligibility and repayment. For questions about your loan requirements please contact your lender or the Walden Financial Aid office (finaid@waldenu.edu) for more information.

Students will want to investigate the possibility of a scholarship to help fund their programs. A scholarship is a gift of money from an awarding organization used to help fund a student’s program. Typically, students must apply for the scholarship and meet eligibility requirements in order to be selected for the scholarships. 

Walden’s scholarships are listed online at the Scholarship page. Please note: there are often deadlines and other requirements associated with scholarships. It is important that students work to meet all the requirements associated with the scholarship application in order to give themselves the best chance at a successful application.

While Walden does have a small number of scholarships available each year, most students will find better success in looking more locally for a scholarship.

The Student Revolving Loan Fund grants loans to eligible residents of Barbados to assist in financing their educations in areas of study which are perceived to be of national priority. The Student Revolving Loan Fund is available to students who plan to or are currently pursuing full-time as well as part time and distance studies. For more information about this program, please visit our Financial Assistance for Residents of Barbados information page.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden, but by the Barbados Student Revolving Loan Fund itself.

Walden is a designated institution and our students are eligible to receive Canadian Federal & Provincial funding, at the provinces listed below. Funding is subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. For further details on the application process, please contact your funding office at your respective province of residence.

For more information about this, please visit our Financial Assistance for Residents of Canada page.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden. Instead they are done by students' respective provinces.

For more information about the Sagicor Bank Student Loan for Tertiary Education - Jamaica or the Trinidad & Tobago - Scotia Bank Student Loan, please visit our information page.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden. They are issued by their respective parties.

Walden University has a professional partnership with Family Bank of Kenya providing our students access to private student loans to help them remove any immediate financial obstacles and complete their studies more easily. Please visit our information page for more information on the loan, eligibility, and the application process.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden. The loan will be between the bank and the borrower.

If you are a student living in Qatar, you may be able to access HSBC Personal Loans as a method for helping finance your education. HSBC offers a bank loan to pay for your degree program and courses. For more information about this personal loan please visit the Financial Assistance for Residents of Qatar information page.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden. 

If you are a student living in UAE, you may be able to access HSBC Personal Loans as a method for helping finance your education. HSBC offers a bank loan to pay for your degree program and courses. Please visit the Financial Assistance for Residents of United Arab Emirates page for more information.

Please note: These loans are not issued by Walden.

You can access the bookstore in more than one way within your portal.

The fastest way to find your books will be using the link for your Course Materials under each of your specific courses on the Academics tab. 

• Click on the link that says View/Buy Course Materials to view and/or purchase the materials required for your course.
  • Note: if it's more than 5 weeks prior to the start of your course, the bookstore may not have your list of books ready for review or purchase. Please check back closer to the start of the course.

You can also use the link to the bookstore located on your Student Services tab. The bookstore’s link will be located in the bottom-right of the page, under Departments & Services.

By accessing the bookstore through this link, you will need to search for your specific course page in the bookstore before being able to order your books. For more information on this process, please visit the section entitled “How to find your course materials list.”

Your course materials list is available in more than one location within your portal. You can access the list:

• By clicking on the View/Buy Course Materials link beneath your course in the Current or Future Course section,
• Using the Course Materials Pricing Information link on your Academics tab,
• Searching the bookstore for your specific course, or
• Reading the syllabus for your course. 
  • Note: Due to the time involved with ordering and shipping course materials, Walden does not recommend waiting for the course to open for the preview period to discover what books you'll need to purchase. Please use one of the other three methods of identifying the required books for your course to order your books.

For information about these options, please review the sections below.

The fastest way to find the list of course materials needed will be by using the link for your Course Materials under each of your specific courses on the Academics tab. 

• Clicking on the View/Print link will give you the option to view or print the list of books for your course.
• Clicking on the Buy link will take you directly to the section of the bookstore devoted to your specific course.

Note: this is only an option if you are currently registered for a course. If you are not yet registered for a course, you will not have these links as an option in your portal.

The Course Materials Pricing Information page is linked on the Academics tab of your myWalden portal and includes information about every course’s required and optional materials.

The Pricing Information page allows you to narrow your selection down to one course at a time. See below for an example of the drop-down menu used to select an individual course.

By selecting a specific course from the drop-down menu you are able to see a variety of important details about each of the materials for your course.

• ISBN/Bookstore Part Number – This column identifies the ISBN for a specific book. This is important to ensure that you have the correct edition of a book should you decide to purchase your books from another vendor.
• Course Material Title – This column identifies the name of the book or item for your course.
• Author – This column identifies the author of your course material.
• Edition/Copyright – This column identifies the publication date or the specific edition being used in the course. This is important information to note as courses may require a specific edition of a text be used.
• Publisher – This column identifies the name of the course materials’ publisher.
• Retail Price - This column identifies the current price of the course material.
• Required or Optional – Sometimes there are optional materials for a course. These materials are beneficial to your experience and success in the course but are not required for you to purchase. If a book or course material item is listed as “optional” you do not have to purchase it.
• Included in Tuition – If you are in a self-purchase program, this column will say NO, indicating that it is not included in your tuition fees and you will have to order the item yourself. If you are in a fulfilled program, this column will say YES, indicating that your tuition fees for the class include this item and it will be sent to you by our Course Materials team.

Note: Students are not required to order their books from the Walden Bookstore but are advised that they need to ensure they have the correct version of the required text for class. Additionally, should there be any issues with the purchase from another vendor or stock backordered, Walden is not able to resolve those issues for students.

If you have clicked on the Buy or the View/Print link on your Academics tab, you will be presented with the list of books for your course automatically. If you are accessing the bookstore from the general bookstore link, you will need to search for your course materials list. To search for your course, please follow the directions below.

1. On the Walden bookstore’s homepage, click on the link for Order Your Books.
2. The following page will ask you to identify the term in which your course takes place. Pay careful attention to the dates and terms you are selecting as the books may be different for your session as compared to previous term’s required materials. Once you’ve confirmed the term you are taking the course, select the Continue button.
3. On the Select Courses page, you can either enter in the course ID (MGMT-8045m, for example) in the search box, or you can search for your course by the first letter of your program’s code.
4. If you search by the first letter, you’ll be presented with a list of all courses with that first letter, some of which may not be for your program. Please scroll through the list and select your specific course from the available courses. Once you have selected your course(s) from the list, click on the Continue button to view the materials for the course.

Alternatively, you can use the Course Materials Pricing Information link in your portal to search for the course materials required for your course.

​E-books are downloaded and accessed in Vital Source.  The file size of an e-book can range from a few MB to 1GB depending on the type, size, and contents of the e-book.  Once you have successfully downloaded the e-book to your computer you won’t need to be connected to the internet to view it again.  

Students whose books are provided by Walden, will receive an email notification when their e-books are available for download.  If you no longer have the email with download instructions, but your eBook was ordered within the last 12 months, you can download it directly from MBS Direct by visiting MBS Direct.  You will be prompted to login to your account with your MBS Direct Username and Password.

*If this is your first time visiting the site, please login with the following credentials:

Username:  is your Waldenu.edu Email Address

Password:   is your Phone Number, including area code (no dashes)

* If unable to access your account, please use the “Forgot Password?” link.

After logging into MBS Direct, review the Terms & Conditions and complete the following steps to download your e-book:

1. Once logged in, click on "Digital Content", which should bring up a list of your eBooks.

2. Please click on "Access Content", which will take you to the online VitalSource bookshelf.

3. If this is the first time you have accessed your Vital Source account, you will see a prompt to review, and agree to, an End User License Agreement. Please read then check the ‘agree’ box and then click on “Continue".

4. You will see a pop up window to register an account.
   • If you do not have an account with VitalSource please create one at this time.
   • If you already have an account please click on "Sign In" at the top of this pop up.

Your eBook is now associated to your VitalSource account and you may begin using your eBook.  We strongly encourage downloading all of your eBooks onto at least one device for long-term access lasting the duration of your academic program. Online access through the site, mbsdirect.vitalsource.com expires after 365 days, but access to downloaded eBooks typically does not expire. You may download the VitalSource bookshelf app at http://www.vitalsource.com/.

For more information on this topic, please contact Customer Care at support@mail.waldenu.edu.

If the VitalSource Bookshelf will not launch, try the completing the following steps based upon your computer's operating system.

Steps to resolve Bookshelf not launching in Windows XP SP2.

• Restart your computer and try to launch Bookshelf. If Bookshelf does not launch continue.
• Go to your My Documents folder and locate the My Books folder. (C:\Documents and Settings\YourAccount\My Documents\My Books)
• Double click on the My Books folder, the VitalSource Bookshelf folder, and once again on the User Data Folder.
• Once you are in the User Data folder, delete everything in the My Books folder except for the notes.db file
• Launch Bookshelf.
• Bookshelf should launch. Once Launched click the Sign-In button and sign in with your email address and password

Steps to resolve Bookshelf not launching in Windows Vista/7.

• Restart your computer and try to launch Bookshelf. If Bookshelf does not launch continue.
• Go to your Documents folder and locate the My Books folder. (Computer\Local Disk (C:)\Users\YourUserAccount\Documents\My Books)
• Double click on the My Books folder, the VitalSource Bookshelf folder, and once again on the User Data Folder.
• Once you are in the User Data folder, delete everything in the My Books folder except for the notes.db file
• Launch Bookshelf.
• Bookshelf should launch. Once Launched click the Sign-In button and sign in with your email address and password.

Steps to resolve Bookshelf not launching in Mac OS 10.6 or Later

• Restart your computer and try to launch Bookshelf. If Bookshelf does not launch continue.
• Go to your Documents folder and locate the Books folder. (Macintosh HD\Users\YourUserAccount\Documents\)
• Double click on the Books folder, the VitalSource Bookshelf folder, and once again on the User Data Folder.
• Once you are in the User Data folder, delete everything in the Books folder except for the notes.db file
• Launch Bookshelf.
• Bookshelf should launch. Once Launched click the Sign-In button and sign in with your email address and password.

Students need to purchase their textbooks and other course materials prior to each course. The Walden bookstore is updated each term and the books for your session of a course will be available for purchase about 5 weeks prior to the start your course. At that time, you can obtain the list from the bookstore to purchase the course materials required for class. 

If you wish to purchase your books from another vendor that is up to you but please make sure that you are purchasing the correct version of the required course materials. You can confirm the ISBNs match by comparing the information listed in the bookstore for the required book against the edition that you have purchased. If you do decide to purchase your course materials from another vendor, please know that Walden will not be able to assist if there is something wrong with your order or if a book is back-ordered and won't arrive in time for class.

You can order your books starting approximately 5 weeks prior to the start of class.

• To find out which books are required for your class, log into your myWalden portal and go to the Academics tab.
• Underneath the name of your upcoming course, there  is a line regarding course materials.

• Click on the link that says View/Buy Course Materials to view a list of required course materials or to purchase the required materials from the Walden bookstore.
• Alternatively, you can go directly to the Walden University Book Store and search for your books by term and course.

If you ordered your books from the Walden bookstore (MBS), please contact the bookstore directly for assistance. Their contact information is available from their website.

If you purchased your books from another vendor, please contact your vendor directly regarding any issues with your order. Walden is not able to resolve outside purchase issues.

All course materials will be sent to the active shipping address on file. If you have moved or otherwise changed your shipping address, it is important that you update the information on file with Walden to ensure timely delivery of materials.

To update your address, please use the Update Addresses and Phone link on the Student Services tab of your myWalden portal. For more information about this process please visit Quick Answers.

If you are repeating a course you’ve previously taken or that you withdrew from in a previous term, please confirm that the course materials you already have are the same materials needed for the new session of the course. Course materials are evaluated each term to make sure they are still the best options for the course and, occasionally, program leadership may make changes to the required readings for a term. This is rare, but can happen, so it is best to check that your books are still correct as soon as you get registered.

As a new student preparing for class, Walden recommends that you complete the Student Readiness Orientation (SRO) prior to the start of your first class. The SRO found within the myWalden University Student Portal. The SRO is your introduction to the essential resources you need as you begin your journey at Walden. The goal of the SRO is to support your academic, practical, and emotional preparedness as you begin your program at Walden.

The Modules of the Student Readiness Orientation include the following: 

1. Module Introduction: Learn about the focus of each module. 
2. Self-Check: Assess your familiarity with the requirements and resources at Walden University. 
3. Resources: View a variety of resources tailored to meet your immediate needs as you begin your program. 
4. Learn More (Optional): Access more resources that you can explore related to the Module topic.
5. Readiness Check: After reviewing the Resources, check to see how prepared you are for your first course at Walden. Do you know what you need to know? 

You will have access to the SRO for one year from your start date here at Walden. Access to the e-Guide, however, is available for all students throughout the course of their programs.

Walden's students, faculty, and staff are all located across the many time zones. As such, it's not uncommon for meetings to be held in a time zone other than your local time zone. For help in understanding these different zones, and in interpreting what time your meeting is or when an assignment is actually due, please visit the links below.

Time Zone Converter

This link allows you to compare times across time zones. If you've scheduled an appointment with your Student Success Advisor in the American EST zone, but want to know what that time is in your local time zone, just plug in the information in the converter and it will let you know!

Time Zone Map

This link shows you all the time zones across the globe and allows you to see what the local time is in each zone.

You'll be using a variety of technologies here at Walden as you complete your degree. Learn more about what you'll need in order to be successful by reviewing the different recommendations outlined within this section.

 

WaldenU E-Mail

As a Walden student, you have your own @waldenu.edu email address. Learn more about how to locate this inbox in your myWalden portal, and the policies surrounding the account, here.

Recommended Setup

Learn more about the internet access and computer hardware you'll need to be successful in your program.

Recommended Software

Many of the software or websites you'll be using during your program will require certain browsers or software programs. Visit this section to learn more about the specific software applications and versions you'll want to make sure you have installed on your computer.

Tablet/Laptop Recommendation

We have more and more computers and devices available to us each day. Learn more about what kind of device or computer you should be using for the best experience in your Walden classroom.

Blackboard Mobile Learn

Learn more about the Blackboard Mobile Learn app in this section.

Additional Technology Requirements

Some programs have specific requirements or recommendations for technology, to ensure that students are able to be successful.

To access your Walden email, log into your myWalden portal. Your email can be accessed using two different links from the Academics Page.

• The first is the Go to myWalden Email link in the upper-right corner of the page.
• The second is in the Message Corner. This area of the portal has a snap-shot of the most recent emails in your account. You will want to click on the words Go to Google Inbox to access your Inbox.

 

Clicking either of these two links will cause your email inbox to open in a new window or tab, depending on your computer’s settings.

If you do not see a new window or tab open in your internet browser you may have a pop-up blocker active.

To deactivate a pop-up blocker, please refer to the resources below:

• Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome
• Apple's Safari
• Mozilla Firefox 

As an online university with students all over the world, Walden uses e-mail to communicate important information to students and the rest of the community. Walden University provides all students with a dedicated WaldenU e-mail address. Students are required to check this e-mail account regularly to ensure they are receiving and/or responding to all communications. Walden’s goal is to keep students informed and engaged with the university throughout their Walden experience. Therefore, it is imperative that students check their accounts and read each message in its entirety.

Walden uses Google Mail as its technology platform. Walden does not rely on a platform provider’s standard template agreements, but rather, the university negotiates custom agreements that sufficiently comply with all relevant regulations protecting the personal information of Walden students, including FERPA. Use of Walden e-mail and the student portal is in accordance with Walden’s Acceptable Use Policies, and student information is never sold to third parties.

Students, faculty, and staff must use their WaldenU e-mail addresses to communicate with one another regarding university business. Walden’s administrative offices may also send communications to students’ personal e-mail addresses.

In the event a student communicates with Walden using his or her personal e-mail address, Walden faculty and staff can respond to that personal e-mail, as well as copy the student’s WaldenU e-mail account, and state in the e-mail reply that it is recommended students use their Walden e-mail when communicating with Walden.

E-mail communications are subject to all applicable university policies. All e-mail sent by students to Walden must comply with Walden policies on proper e-mail communications as indicated in the Acceptable Use Policy section of the Student Handbook.

• Internet access required (Broadband is recommended as students with dial-up may experience degraded performance)
• Windows Vista/7 or Mac OS X with virtualization software (like Parallels with Windows OS)
• 2GB of RAM minimum
• 40GB hard drive
• DVD drive, speakers, and headphone connected to the computer
• Inkjet or laser printer
• Portable media (thumb drive)

• Recommended Web browser—current version of Chrome
• Other Web browsers (Internet Explorer ver. 9.0 or higher or Firefox’s current and next most recent releases)
• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Reader ver. 10.1 or higher
• Adobe Flash Player ver. 11.7 or higher
• Apple QuickTime ver. 7.7 or higher
• Windows Media Player ver. 11 or higher
• Antivirus software (e.g., McAfee or Norton) installed, running, and kept current by promptly installing the upgrades and patches made available by the software manufacturer

It is recommended that students use a laptop computer to complete their coursework in the online classroom. Students who have a supported mobile or tablet device in addition to their laptop may also download the Blackboard Mobile Learn app, which allows students to complete select portions of their coursework while on the go.

Some programs may require additional technology requirements that are not mentioned above. Please refer to the section for your program within the Walden University Catalog to review any special technology requirements for the program of study. In addition, please refer to the section titled Student Technology Responsibilities under Technology Policies.

Students attending virtual residencies will have additional requirements. In addition to the current technical requirements for Walden’s online courses, the virtual residency requires you to have the following:

• Webcam (minimum resolution at 640x480 standard definition)
• Broadband Internet at 1.5 Mbps or higher (required due to streaming media needs)
• Video card with 64MB VRAM and pixel shaders or 4 texture units
• Screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher
• 2GHz Dual-core CPU or higher

During the course of the program, requirements (either hardware or software) may change from the original technology recommendation. Make sure to consult the software/hardware requirements within the program or with the faculty member or program director for any technology recommendations that may have changed since the original recommendation mentioned above or within the program of study.

You can also learn more information about the technology requirements at Walden in the Walden e-Guide.

When accessing the Walden classrooms, library, and email a new internet window or tab will attempt to open. It is necessary to allow these pop-up windows to open throughout your time as a student. For assistance with your browser’s pop-up settings, you can review the information at the links below or contact the Customer Care Team at +1.612.925.3368 (for more international numbers visit the International Student Advising Team’s resources page):

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Internet Explorer