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How to Get Online College Scholarships

Marcy Lane — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:30:04 +0000

A scholarship is a form of financial aid that is awarded to a student based on certain qualities such as financial need, educational merit, involvement in community service, or membership in a certain group. However, each scholarship will have its own specific requirements. Scholarships vary in amount and do not have to be repaid. Often, students are required to submit certain things in order to be considered for a scholarship, including an application, FAFSA results, and an essay.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of scholarships out there, and many go unused year after year. This is because finding a scholarship requires a significant amount of time and research. This is true for online college scholarships as well as traditional college scholarships. Often, a student’s school will have a list of scholarships that are school or area specific, but these scholarships are generally difficult to obtain because of the school wide competition for such a limited number of scholarships.

However, there are many ways to find online college scholarships. First, students should check with their online school and find out if the financial aid department has a list of scholarships that are awarded solely to students of that school. This is a good way to investigate available scholarships because students know that they already meet one of the scholarship’s requirements. However, if you cannot find or receive a scholarship through this means, you’ll need to venture out into your community and the Internet.

Many websites offer scholarship databases where students simply fill out a few pages about themselves, their parents, and their program of study and career goals. The website will then compare their answers to the requirements of all of the scholarships in their database and display the scholarships that the student qualifies for. Generally, the same scholarships that are available to campus-based students will be available to online students. It’s best to check the organization’s website when you find a scholarship you’re interested in so that you get the most recent information.

Other places to find online college scholarships include through your employer, through individuals or organizations in your community, through your parent’s employer, or through any clubs or groups that you or your parents belong to. It may require a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end when your online education is free.

Additional Sources:

College Admissions: Help and Support -All the information relating to college or university admissions of students is available for you. Make use of numerous valuable tips and recommendations concerning standard admissions policies and rules.

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Is an MBA Worth the Money?

Jessica Elliott — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:52:31 +0000

Many students that are considering pursuing an MBA ask themselves this question prior to enrolling in graduate school: is the cost of an MBA worth the end-result? In part, the answer depends on how hard you work, what type of program you enroll in, and the state of the economy upon your graduation. However, many studies show that MBA graduates earn significantly more than their non-MBA holding business professionals. Consider this advice from Hobsons’ MBA Central:

At a time of global economic uncertainty, MBAs from the best schools are the most attractive to employers. During a boom, almost any MBA is employable.

As for earnings, most full-time MBAs who pay their own way and attend a good school can reasonably expect to recover their fees, subsistence and lost salary from their enhanced earnings in under four years on a one-year full-time MBA, and an average of five or six years on a two-year program.

Three years after earning an MBA from a top school, graduates can earn three times their pre-MBA salary. Even an ‘average’ MBA will earn an immediate 40% extra.

In a recent report by Forbes Magazine, business professionals who had graduated from some of the nation’s top universities reported that their salaries had nearly tripled within five years of graduating from their MBA program. With results like the, the answer to the question of whether or not an MBA is a good investment is a resounding yes.

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Ways to Save Money While in College

Jessica Elliott — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:08:26 +0000

Finding sources of paying for you college education can be a nightmare. There are hundreds of grants and scholarships to apply for, and, even when you get the financial aid you need, it’s not always enough to cover your living expenses. Therefore, it’s important that students know how to stretch what little money they have. Consider these money-saving tips from CollegeScholarships.org:

Get a free checking and savings account. The bank will nickel and dime you on dumb stuff like too many ATM withdrawals, too many checks written, or a funds transfer. Shop the town for banks catering to students. Make sure you can access online banking, pay bills and manage your account without attached fees.
If you have to have a credit card, make sure you get one with the lowest interest rate possible; no annual fees and with only enough of a credit limit to get you by in an emergency. Don’t carry it with you, but instead keep it in a safe place known only to you.
Pay credit card bills on time. Companies charge late fees, sometimes as much as $50 per month. And do not go over your credit limitâ€”that offers just one more way for your credit card company to get rich off your poor judgment.
If you can’t borrow, buy used college textbooks. On sites like Amazon.com used hardcover books are often cheapest. Soft cover are more valued for convenience, so if you’re willing to haul a couple extra ounces, then hardcover is the cost-saving choice. ISBN.nu allows you to easily compare book prices from major online book stores. The campus bookstore will sell a supply of used books, but they are limited; so check the online sources as well.

Students who are serious about saving money should first figure out exactly where there money is going. Save all of your receipts for a week, and, at the end of the week, add up where exactly most of your money is being spent. If you’re spending more than your weekly budget on eating out, then it may be a good time to learn how to cook.

How to Finance your MBA Education

Jessica Elliott — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:49:05 +0000

While tuition costs are the number one concern of MBA-seekers, there are a lot of other costs that students must plan for when considering enrolling in an MBA program. Cost of living, textbooks, and software costs are just some of the other expenses of students in an MBA program. Students who are not going to work need to know all of the possible funding sources available to them. Consider these sources listed at MBAMap.com:

MBA Loans
There are a number of loan programs available to MBAs. Check to see if you are eligible for government-subsidized loans. Also, the GMAC has started the MBA LOANS program.

Scholarships
MBA programs have scholarship monies available for applicants fitting particular profiles.

Employers
Sometimes employers can be convinced to help support the costs of MBA programs. You may be required to work for a certain number of years for the employer after graduating in order to repay their assistance.

Savings
Many students fund part of their MBA education out of their personal savings.

Tax Breaks
Some of the money you spend on your education may qualify you for tax breaks.

Grants
A number of organizations provide grant money for students. There are a number of grant directories available in print and on the Internet.

Students who are interested in finding funding for their graduate education should start by contacting their school’s financial aid office. They should be able to give you some idea of where to start on your search for funding options.

Finance Your Education: The GI Bill

valeria — Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:35 +0000

Because online education is a relatively new institution, there has been some question as to whether or not the GI Bill, a military institution begun in 1944, would apply. The answer: It does. Considered an IHL or institute of higher learning, many online education programs are covered under the GI Bill, including non-degree programs like HVAC or other vocational certifications. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs:

The GI Bill is available for attendance at IHLs such as:

Four Year Universities
Community Colleges
Advanced Degrees

Payment is based on the number of classes you attend:

12 hours or more – fulltime
9 – 11 hours – ¾ time
6 – 8 hours – ½ time
less than 6 hours – reimbursed at a rate not to exceed the tuition & fees charged for the course(s).

For graduate level training, the training time is determined by the college – for example, if a 2 hour class is considered full time in a graduate program at your school, the VA will pay you the full time rate.

The GI Bill will allow you to attend more than one college at a time, as long as the classes at both institutions count towards your degree, and the school granting your degree accepts the classes at the second school as part of your requirements. However, the GI Bill will not pay you to take the same classes twice unless you receive a failing grade in a class that is a graduation requirement.

The GI Bill can pay you for more than one degree, for example: it will pay you for a degree in Business and then for a second degree in Computer Science, or for an AA, BA, MA in the same field. Once you have a degree, you could pursue another one provided you have remaining entitlement on your GI Bill. If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.

If you are enlisted, you may be eligible for GI Bill benefits for your education. Family members may also be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.

Online Textbooks Are a Low-Cost Way to Prepare Students for Online Classes

valeria — Wed, 23 May 2007 23:16:03 +0000

Signing up for a class online is a great way to check out a new career interest without giving up any other schedule commitments. However, it’s not always the most financially savvy way to figure out how much you’re interested in a new career.
One entrepreneur, boggled by the high costs of textbooks, has built a web site where curious students can take a look at potential course topics by perusing free textbooks online at TextbookRevolution.org. Meant to ease the financial burden of textbooks for enrolled students, it can also serve to assist a prospective online student in getting a feel for the material before investing the bucks.
Here’s what U.S. News reports:
The net result for students is that their book bill now averages about $900 a year and can be even more costly for those enrolled in courses like sciences or art history, which use required reading that is particularly expensive to produce. “Lots of material gets added because the publishers want to serve as many people as possible,” says Angelica Stacy, a chemistry professor at the University of California-Berkeley. What’s more, she says, “You end up with huge books that you can’t get through in a course.”

Other avenues for a quick perusal of what you may be in for? Try used books at Half.com, Ebay.com or Amazon.com.

Want to go to Graduate School but Fear a Mountain of Debt?

Mary Hart — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:55:35 +0000

The high cost of graduate school shouldn’t end your dreams of going. Best bet is to approach you finance sensibly and utilize the help that’s available. Here is some more advice.

Shaving expenses. Graduate students and aid officers say a few simple strategies can reduce the chances of being saddled with a lifetime of onerous payments. It starts at the very beginning, with the choice of grad school. But even if students don’t choose a low-cost school, they can reduce their debt while they are in school by minimizing their expenses and shopping for better rates.

About a third of all schools give their students no choice but to take their loans directly from the federal government, a policy that saves taxpayers money. The rest permit shopping around. Students who limit their searches to their school’s preferred lenders may miss the best deals, which may be offered by nonprofits and for-profit upstarts. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, for example, cuts rates for students all over the country by at least 2 percentage points for on-time automatic payment. (A list of nonprofit lenders can be found at www.efc.org. Another site, www.simpletuition.com, lists competing deals from for-profit companies.)

Grad students can cut borrowing costs further by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to see if they qualify for subsidized Staffords with an additional break. The federal government pays the interest on as much as $8,500 worth of subsidized Staffords each year for needy grad students as long as they stay enrolled. Borrowers can defer payments on the unsubsidized Staffords while they are in school, but the interest adds to the total debt.

After all is said and done, you will have a good amount of money to repay. As long as you make the most of your graduate degree it will be worthwhile.

Will you be able to pay for College?

Mary Hart — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:12:10 +0000

The cost of college tuition has been on a steady rise over the last few years will most likely continue. How much do you think college will cost when your kids are ready to go?

If you plan early on you can put away enough money to pay for or at least help with the costs of a college education.

CNN Money offers some tips on saving for you child’s college education.

The sooner you start saving, the better.
Even modest savings can pack a punch if you give them enough time to grow. Investing just $100 a month for 18 years will yield $48,000, assuming an 8 percent average annual return.

Stocks are best for your college savings portfolio.
With tuition costs rising faster than inflation, a portfolio tilted toward stocks is the best way to build enough savings in the long term. As your child approaches college age, you can shelter your returns by switching more money into bonds and cash.

You don’t have to save the entire cost of four years of college.
Federal, state, and private grants and loans can bridge the gap between your savings and tuition bills, even if you think you make too much to qualify.

With mutual funds, investing for college is simple.
Investing in mutual funds puts a professional in charge of your savings so that you don’t have to watch the markets daily.

529 savings plans are a good way to save for college and they offer great tax breaks.Qualified withdrawals are now free of federal tax and most plans let you save between $100,000 and $270,000 per beneficiary. Plus, there are no income limitations or age restrictions, which means you can start a 529 no matter how much you make or how old your beneficiary is.

The bottom line is to have a plan and stick to it. Starting early will help you to better afford your child’s college education.