Module 3 - Application Fees

Video Summary

• There are two ways to handle application fees:

  1. Built-in application fee (simplest)

  2. Custom payment form (more flexible)

Built-in Application Fee

• Available for Basic tier schools and above.

• One-time fee per family, set per school year.

• Setup includes:

  • Title (e.g., “2027–2028 Application Fee”)

  • Financial category

  • Fee amount

  • Receipt line item description

• Must be configured separately for each school year.

• User experience:

  • Fee appears at the final step of the application.

  • Application cannot be submitted until payment is made.

  • Requires credit/debit card or bank account entry.

• Admin controls:

  • Can edit or delete the fee setup.

  • Can waive the fee for a specific application via the admin panel.

    • Waiving allows submission without payment.

    • Irreversible: once waived, payment cannot be re-added to that application.

• Key advantage:

  • Forces payment before submission

Custom Payment Form (Alternative)

• Used if:

  • School is not on Basic tier, or

  • You want more complex pricing (e.g., per student fees).

• Workflow:

  • Applicant submits application first.

  • Then clicks a link on the confirmation screen to pay.

• Payment form capabilities:

  • Flat fee per family (e.g., $50)

  • Additional per-student fees (e.g., $10 per child)

  • Can total multiple charges (e.g., $80 total for family + students)

• Payment options:

  • Pay immediately (enter card details)

  • Or, generate an invoice

• Setup process:

  • Create a payment form with desired fee structure

  • Publish it to get a shareable link

  • Add the link to the application confirmation screen

• Key tradeoffs:

  • More flexible pricing

  • But not enforced (users could skip payment after submission)

Summary Comparison

• Built-in fee: Simple, enforced, per-family only

• Custom form: Flexible (per-student, multiple fees), but not automatically enforced

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