PayPal announced new integrations with three of the nation's leading education payment platforms, Illumia, Nelnet Campus Commerce, and TouchNet, that give students and their families the option to pay tuition and fees directly with PayPal or Venmo. These integrations are live at schools across the nation, including Bellarmine University, Butler University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, and Texas Tech University, with more institutions expected to join throughout the year. Illumia, Nelnet Campus Commerce, and TouchNet collectively serve thousands of colleges and universities across the country.

PayPal and Venmo are already how many students and families manage money day to day. They pay for groceries, split rent, earn rewards, and send money to friends and family. That familiarity and convenience now extends to tuition, one of the most significant payments for students and their families.

This summer marks a year since PayPal and Venmo struck landmark agreements with the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences, which included enabling institutional revenue-share payments for student athletes directly through its platform. Venmo built on that momentum throughout the school year, expanding its presence on college campuses through NIL partnerships with student athletes, college-branded cards, student ambassadors, and gameday activations. Together, these efforts continue to bring the brand to life for students and fans alike. This expansion brings that same energy and infrastructure to tuition for the broader student body, giving students and families a trusted and familiar way to pay for one more part of college life.

"Tuition is one of the biggest payments a family will make, and it should come with the same flexibility and security that millions of people already count on PayPal and Venmo for every day," said Frank Keller, President, Checkout Solutions & PayPal. "That's why we're proud to bring that same choice and protection into the reliable systems schools have already built."

Paying for tuition with PayPal or Venmo comes with the same trust and security customers rely on for everyday purchases, including encryption and fraud monitoring. Students and families can pay using whichever funding instrument they prefer, including bank accounts, credit cards, and PayPal or Venmo balances.

"A modern tuition payment experience has to work for both sides of the transaction," said Don Smith, SVP & General Manager of Integrated Payments at Illumia. "Students and families want the flexibility to use payment methods that fit how they manage their money, while institutions need those options to work within the systems and processes their teams already rely on. This integration helps schools expand choice in a practical way, improving the payer experience without creating a disconnected path for campus teams."

"For students and families, tuition is the single biggest financial decision they'll navigate for higher education. Every payment option we add, including PayPal and Venmo, is about meeting them at that moment with more flexibility and less friction, so affordability isn't a barrier to staying enrolled," said Jackie Strohbehn, President of Nelnet Campus Commerce.

"We are helping campuses deliver greater convenience and operational efficiency in a single experience," said Jeremy Loch, President of TouchNet. "This integration enables institutions to broaden choice and create a more frictionless payment experience for students and families, while preserving the efficiency and visibility campus teams need to support student success. The result is a seamless experience that delivers value for both tuition payers and institutions."