diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
index 5c1be54f2c..d98ac6fa0b 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
             "course_id": course_id,
             "modes": modes,
             "course_name": course_from_id(course_id).display_name,
+            "chosen_price" : None,
         }
         if "verified" in modes:
             context["suggested_prices"] = modes["verified"].suggested_prices.split(",")
@@ -57,10 +58,10 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
         if requested_mode == "verified":
             amount = request.POST.get("contribution") or \
                      request.POST.get("contribution-other-amt") or \
-                     requested_mode.min_price
+                     requested_mode.min_price.format("{:g}")
 
             donation_for_course = request.session.get("donation_for_course", {})
-            donation_for_course[course_id] = float(amount)
+            donation_for_course[course_id] = amount
             request.session["donation_for_course"] = donation_for_course
 
             # TODO: Check here for minimum pricing
diff --git a/common/templates/course_modes/_contribution.html b/common/templates/course_modes/_contribution.html
index 33ce39a7c7..c86311d8ff 100644
--- a/common/templates/course_modes/_contribution.html
+++ b/common/templates/course_modes/_contribution.html
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@
               <ul class="pay-options">
                 % for price in suggested_prices:
                 <li>
-                  <input type="radio" name="contribution" value="${price|h}" selected="${'selected' if price == chosen_price else ''}"><label for="contribution-${price|h}">$${price} ${currency}</label>
+                  <input type="radio" name="contribution" value="${price|h}" ${'checked' if price == chosen_price else ''}><label for="contribution-${price|h}">$${price} ${currency}</label>
                 </li>
                 % endfor
 
                 <li class="other1">
-                  <input type="radio" id="contribution-other" name="contribution" value=""/>
+                  <input type="radio" id="contribution-other" name="contribution" value="" ${'checked' if (chosen_price and chosen_price not in suggested_prices) else ''}/>
                   <label for=" contribution-other"><span class="sr">Other</span></label>
                 </li>
                 <li class="other2">
-                  <label for="contribution-other-amt"><span class="sr">Other Amount</span> </label>$<input type="text" size="5" name="contribution-other-amt" id="contribution-other-amt" />
+                  <label for="contribution-other-amt"><span class="sr">Other Amount</span> </label>$<input type="text" size="5" name="contribution-other-amt" id="contribution-other-amt" value="${chosen_price if (chosen_price and chosen_price not in suggested_prices) else ''}" />
                 </li>
               </ul>
             </dd>
diff --git a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
index 9ed96e0826..7f2aa01555 100644
--- a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
+++ b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
           <span class="ribbon"></span>
           <p>Sign up as a verified student and work toward a Certificate of Achievement.</p>
 
-          <%include file="_contribution.html" args="suggested_prices=suggested_prices, currency=currency"/>
+          <%include file="_contribution.html" args="suggested_prices=suggested_prices, currency=currency, chosen_price=chosen_price"/>
 
           <p class="tip expand">
             <a href="">Why do I have to pay? What if I don't meet all the requirements?</a>
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index ed6fd64d32..4c76251d84 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -42,15 +42,19 @@ class VerifyView(View):
 
         course_id = request.GET['course_id']
         verify_mode = CourseMode.mode_for_course(course_id, "verified")
+        if course_id in request.session.get("donation_for_course", {}):
+            chosen_price = request.session["donation_for_course"][course_id]
+        else:
+            chosen_price = verify_mode.min_price.format("{:g}")
         context = {
             "progress_state" : progress_state,
             "user_full_name" : request.user.profile.name,
             "course_id" : course_id,
             "course_name" : course_from_id(course_id).display_name,
             "purchase_endpoint" : get_purchase_endpoint(),
-            "suggested_prices" : [int(price) for price in verify_mode.suggested_prices.split(",")],
+            "suggested_prices" : verify_mode.suggested_prices.split(","),
             "currency" : verify_mode.currency.upper(),
-            "chosen_price" : request.session.get("donation_for_course", verify_mode.min_price)
+            "chosen_price" : chosen_price,
         }
 
         return render_to_response('verify_student/photo_verification.html', context)