The short answer
This charge is from Instructure, the company that developed the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) used by thousands of K-12 schools and universities.
Why is Canvas charging me?
INSTRUCTURE CANVAS LMS on your statement is a charge from Instructure, Inc., the Salt Lake City-based education technology company that built the Canvas Learning Management System. Canvas is the platform millions of students log into every day to access course materials, submit assignments, and take quizzes. The descriptor INSTRUCTURE CANVAS LMS appears on personal cards when an individual pays directly for access to a specific course, certificate program, or continuing education module hosted on the Canvas platform rather than accessing it through an institution that already covers the license.
Students enrolled at universities or K-12 schools almost never pay for Canvas directly — the school pays Instructure under a campus-wide licensing agreement and the cost is baked into tuition or fees. Individual charges show up when someone purchases a course through Canvas Catalog or Canvas Network, which are Instructure-operated marketplaces where independent educators, professional associations, and specialized training providers sell course access directly to learners. These can include corporate training programs, nursing CEU courses, project management certifications, or coding bootcamp modules. If you see this charge and are currently enrolled in any continuing education, professional development, or online certification program, that course is the likely source.
Because Instructure only provides the hosting platform, refund eligibility is entirely at the discretion of whichever institution or course creator sold you the enrollment. Instructure corporate support at instructure.com will route your inquiry directly back to the institution. Start by checking your email for a confirmation from Canvas Catalog or Canvas Network that identifies the course name and the sponsoring organization. Then contact that organization's registrar or support desk with your enrollment date and the amount you were charged. If you cannot find any course enrollment and your card may have been used without your knowledge, file a dispute with your bank.
Do I have to pay to use Canvas at my university?
Generally, no. If you attend a traditional university, the Canvas LMS fee is baked into your tuition. Direct charges are usually for specific professional or certificate courses.
What is Canvas Network?
Canvas Network is an open platform where educators offer MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). Some of these courses require an enrollment fee, which is billed directly by Instructure.
Who to contact for Canvas billing issues
Because Instructure merely hosts the software, the refund policy for a specific course is almost always determined by the institution or creator offering the course, not by Instructure.
If you do not recognize the course you were enrolled in, you should contact the specific institution that manages that Canvas instance. Instructure's corporate support will simply route you back to the school's admin.
- Check Receipt Look for an email receipt from Instructure or Canvas Catalog to identify the specific course sponsor.
- Contact Institution Reach out to the support email of the organization hosting the course to request a refund or cancellation.
- Dispute (If Fraud) If you are completely unaffiliated with the course and your card was stolen, dispute the charge with your bank.
Independent reference — not affiliated with Instructure. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- Canvas Network FAQ https://www.canvas.net
- Instructure Corporate Support https://www.instructure.com
Reviewed Aug 31, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges