diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
index 3fb52a2a6e..3561cf429b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
@@ -993,6 +993,7 @@ class TestPayAndVerifyView(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
             PayAndVerifyView.PHOTO_ID_REQ,
             PayAndVerifyView.WEBCAM_REQ,
         ])
+        self._assert_upgrade_session_flag(False)
 
     @ddt.data("expired", "denied")
     def test_start_flow_expired_or_denied_verification(self, verification_status):
@@ -1331,6 +1332,7 @@ class TestPayAndVerifyView(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
             PayAndVerifyView.PHOTO_ID_REQ,
             PayAndVerifyView.WEBCAM_REQ,
         ])
+        self._assert_upgrade_session_flag(True)
 
     def test_upgrade_already_verified(self):
         course = self._create_course("verified")
@@ -1636,6 +1638,10 @@ class TestPayAndVerifyView(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
             'verification_deadline': pay_and_verify_div['data-verification-deadline']
         }
 
+    def _assert_upgrade_session_flag(self, is_upgrade):
+        """Check that the session flag for attempting an upgrade is set. """
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.session.get('attempting_upgrade'), is_upgrade)
+
     def _assert_redirects_to_dashboard(self, response):
         """Check that the page redirects to the student dashboard. """
         self.assertRedirects(response, reverse('dashboard'))
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index eec973b598..655128d0c3 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -499,6 +499,10 @@ class PayAndVerifyView(View):
             'donation_for_course', {}
         ).get(unicode(course_key), '')
 
+        # Remember whether the user is upgrading
+        # so we can fire an analytics event upon payment.
+        request.session['attempting_upgrade'] = (message == self.UPGRADE_MSG)
+
         # Render the top-level page
         context = {
             'user_full_name': full_name,