16 May 2013
Other Ways to Pay for College Besides Loans and Scholarships
17 March 2013
How You Can Finish A College Degree Without Scholarships
Borrow the Funds
Borrow educational funds in the form of low-interest federal student loans. Subsidized loans depend on financial need while unsubsidized funds are similar to a personal loan. If your award is not enough, parents, guardians or any credit worthy adult can apply for additional unsubsidized funds to close the gap.
Loan repayment does not begin until after graduation or if you drop below full-time enrollment status. Loan limits depend on your enrollment year, student status (graduate or undergraduate) and dependent status. Start the loan process by completing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).
Use Your Employer
Working at the right company can provide valuable tuition assistance. If you are currently working, ask your boss or the human resources department about educational programs that pay for classes. Some companies offer free tuition to full-time employees.
In addition to asking your employer about tuition programs, ask the school about special discounts or waivers available for certain occupations. A few institutions waive fees for state employees or public servants. Even a part-time occupation can result in substantial tuition breaks.
Switch Schools
Sometimes change is good. When you find yourself in the middle of a tuition crisis, ask if there is a cheaper alternative. State universities are cheaper than their private counterparts, instantly reducing your financial load. There are also tuition-free institutions with strong academic reputations. Closely investigate every option and discuss which existing credits will transfer before making any definite moves.
Explore Your Cultural Legacy
Talk with your family about their history. Ask about participation in notable wars and your ethnic makeup. Some state institutions offer tuition waivers to certain individuals of certain ethnicity or descendants of war veterans. Your mere existence might make you eligible for tuition assistance and fee waivers.
Consider Personal Obstacles
If you were on any form of public assistance immediately before entering college there may be a tuition waiver in your future. In some states, students enrolled in Medicaid programs receive free tuition at two-year institutions. Survivors of natural disasters and national tragedies also receive tuition waivers. Schools grant assistance on an individual basis, so bring plenty of documentation when pleading your case.
Become a Virtual Student
Take the remainder of your degree via online learning - but use extreme caution. Enrolling in an Internet-based curriculum at your current school could keep you in financial distress. Traditionally, virtual schools omitted classrooms and other objects that tend to bolster tuition rates. Larger colleges and universities build separate departments for Internet staff, causing massive tuition bills for students.
Once you compare tuition hour pricing, inquire with school administrators and state authorities regarding licensure. Make sure your potential degree will a creditable one. As with any transfer, ask which credits are transferable before committing to any program. Cheaper enrollment rates allow loans and income amounts to stretch further.
A money crisis does not automatically spell disaster for your academic future. Depending on the situation, applying for student loans, mining untapped personal resources or switching schools may provide an effective solution. Staying in control during such stressful times will effectively prepare you for the real world.
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
4:00 PM
Filed Under:
College, college financial aid, paying for college, pell grant, student loans
14 February 2013
Scholarships and Tutoring for Military Children
G.I. Bill
Army Emergency Relief
Private Scholarships
Tutoring
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
4:00 PM
Filed Under:
College, financial aid, paying for college, struggling students
09 January 2013
Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
3:00 PM
Filed Under:
College, college costs, grants, paying for college, scholarships
20 December 2012
Paying for Your Child's College Expenses
Just Food and Necessities
You're On Your Own
A Free Ride
A Happy Medium
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
5:00 PM
Filed Under:
apply for financial aid, College, college secrets, federal student loans, paying for college, pell grant, student financial aid
01 October 2012
Savings Plans to Pay for College
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
5:00 PM
Filed Under:
College, college secrets, paying for college, student loans
28 September 2012
FInance Tips for College Students and Their Parents
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
5:28 PM
Filed Under:
College, college secrets, financial aid, paying for college, student loans
22 May 2012
Strategies to Survive on a Student Budget
You can reach him at josephbker@gmail.com
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
2:02 PM
Filed Under:
College, paying for college, poor students, Student budget, surviving college
12 May 2012
Students Told to Empty Their Pockets
So school fees have become an election issue. Obama was even ‘slow jamming’ on the topic last week on the Jimmy Fallon show. It is an issue for Republicans too. The threat of interest doubling on federal student loans in July has seen rejection from both parties, though they differ on the detail.
The issue is hot but not just because there are voters to win over. Debt has always been problem for graduates and Obama for one says he remembers leaving college with a ‘mountain’ of it. The existing problem has been made worse because the two traditional sources of funding (state/federal contributions and tuition fees) are both facing downward pressures in this economic climate. Add to that the general negative economic backdrop and you have a situation where student loan debt has exceeded a trillion dollars!
Given the fact that, on average graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn 45% more than non-graduates, studying still might be the right financial decision. The fact is that you need to do your homework, both while you’re still at high school to keep up your grades and while you’re looking for funding to make sure you know about what is on offer. So what are the options?
Grants
Grants don’t have to be paid back. College offer their own grants with various criteria but also various federal grants are available, such as the Pell Grant and Teacher Assistance Grant. Whether you qualify to apply and the amount of the grant varies according to individual circumstances.
Scholarships
Scholarships are the only ticket for some people to study at the college of their choice and, like grants, do not have to be repaid. Those provided by colleges usually have to be competed for and are won on the grounds of factors such as academic achievement, musical or sporting talent, personal background and so on.
You might also be associated with an organization that awards scholarships. Awarding bodies range from church bodies to the company that one of your parents might work for. If you qualifying to make an application for one of the many scholarships available, the key to winning one is to make sure your form is filled in well and gets in on time.
Loans
Sadly, this is the way most students have to cover a lot of their fees. Federal and private loans are available to students. Federal loans include the Perkins and Stafford loans and are likely to be relatively friendly with low interest rates and high flexibility. In some cases the interest is subsidized, which might mean it is paid for you while you are still a student. Private loans, being more expensive and less flexible, are available to those for whom other avenues may have failed and options should be researched thoroughly.
Part-time work
To help pay your way or to chip away at any loans during college, you can find a job. If you are lucky it might be relevant to your study programme. Alternatively, you might be able to sign up for a programme like the Federal-Work Study programme, which aims to provide undergraduates with work that serves the community or is along the lines of their studies. It pays at least at the minimum wage, possibly on campus or is otherwise based off campus with a public organization or non-profit organization that works in the public interest.
Subject
Not all degrees are likely to bring high wages. Many graduates will still share part of that trillion-plus debt for years and be buying cars by the month rather than in one payment and find it difficult to secure a mortgage deal as a consequence of their high debt load. Remember though that the subject you chose and how hard you study will have a great bearing on your earnings on the other side and how quickly you free yourself of any debt. While you are deciding on a programme of study, you might want to take a look at the job market, speak to professionals and read around to see what’s out there for people who take your path. Graduation will come round sooner than you think!
Janine Hardy is a freelance writer from England who specializes in life coaching and self improvement writing for a number of local publications. She works with many good causes including helping and advising students at local colleges and writing on behalf of an alcohol addiction center.
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
2:07 PM
Filed Under:
affording college, College, financial aid, paying for college, student loans
02 February 2012
Avoiding Scholarship Scams
Posted By:
Admin
Posted on:
8:25 PM
Filed Under:
College, college applications, College Experts, paying for college, scholarships