MBA Students at UW-Oshkosh Experience Billing Error Resulting in Nearly $8,000 Overcharge – My MBA Career

Last Updated on August 31, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

Recent graduates of the UW-Oshkosh executive master’s in business administration (EMBA) program were shocked to receive surprise bills for nearly $8,000. The bills were sent out nearly five months after the students had graduated, catching them off guard. An audit of the university’s business school finances revealed a coding error that had mistakenly charged the graduates the cost of regular graduate program tuition instead of the higher pricing for the EMBA program.

Prior to graduation, the graduates had been assured that they had paid in full, and one student even received confirmation of a refund. However, they are now being held responsible for the additional charges and are faced with the difficult decision of either paying the bills themselves or taking out personal loans. Unfortunately, due to the billing error, they no longer qualify for financial aid assistance.

Out of the affected graduates, five individuals are seeking forgiveness of their remaining balances. They express frustration and feel blindsided by the bills, which arrived months after their graduation. The coding error was only discovered in May and had solely impacted this particular cohort’s billing. It was brought to light by an employee in the administration’s finance department during an internal review.

UW-Oshkosh chief of staff Alex Hummel stated that the university plans to collect the unpaid tuition to preserve program affordability. The graduates have until September 30 to settle their bills, having received two extensions from the original due date of July 10.

Upon receiving their billing statements, the graduates uncovered further discrepancies in the charges. The program’s tuition and MBA enhancement fees were listed at lower amounts than they should have been. These billing problems have caused significant financial strain for the graduates, who have had to make budget cuts and put other plans on hold.

Adding to their frustrations, the graduates feel that the UW-Oshkosh administration’s response to their concerns has been lackluster. They have not heard from the chancellor and have yet to receive a formal response addressing their grievances.

As this situation unfolds, the graduates of the UW-Oshkosh EMBA program are left grappling with unexpected financial burdens and unresolved issues with the university administration.