(ARA) – In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality.
Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.
Prospective students often don't know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College – Akron, Ohio, offers advice on funding your education. "The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans," Violet says. "Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the 'FAFSA.'" Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. "An education is always a good investment," says Violet, "but many people don't realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships." Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. "Students just don't take the time to find them," Violet continued. "It can be a lot of work." Read this article »
Tags: Brown Mackie College, College Board, Competitive Job Market, Earning Potential, Economic Stimulus, Fafsa Form, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Student Aid, Four Year Colleges, Fraternities And Sororities, Free Application For Federal Student Aid, Low Interest Loans, Pell Grant Funds, Private Institutions, Single Step, Student Financial Aid, Student Loans, Study Assistance, Tuition Costs, U S Department Of Education
In: Grants Scholarships |
It just doesn’t seem fair that people who have worked all their lives in a job fail to get the credit they deserve for their hard work and experience. Economic hardship, family difficulties, or other circumstances may force someone to enter the workforce before attending college or technical school. The good news is that the information and job experience built over a lifetime can be turned into a college degree – an accredited life experience degree.
One way to get academic credit for what you know is by taking a CLEP test in your area of specialization. The CLEP (college-level examination program) is administered by the College Board and is recognized by almost 3000 universities. Individuals can take one or more of the thirty-three tests offered in two broad categories: composition and literature or science and mathematics. A passing score on one of these tests can be applied to an accredited life experience degree.
Opting out of classes with a CLEP test will not result in earning a complete accredited life experience degree. It will enable a student to enter advanced classes and reduce the amount of time needed to earn the degree.
Some colleges allow students to earn credit hours toward an accredited life experience degree if they can present a legitimate case. Military experience can count toward this degree, as can job experience. The more documentation the student can provide, the more likely the college will grant him credit for what he knows. Some colleges offer the student an opportunity to give a hands-on demonstration in a particular field of study. Instructors review the demonstration and give credit accordingly.
There is no reason to go through life without a college degree. An accredited life experience degree shows the world and an employer that an individual has viable skills to bring to the workforce.
Tags: Academic Credit, Accredited Life Experience Degree, Amount Of Time, Area Of Specialization, Attending College, Circumstances, Clep Test, College Board, College Degree, Colleges, Composition, Demonstration, Economic Hardship, Family Difficulties, Life Experience Degree, Lifetime, Mathematics, Military Experience, Technical School, Workforce
In: Online Degree |
The 2008 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that enrollment in online higher education programs rose by more than twelve percent over 2007. The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide finds approximately 3.94 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2007. The sixth annual survey, a collaborative effort between the Babson Survey Research Group, the College Board and the Sloan Consortium, is the leading barometer of online learning in the United States.
What Disciplines are Best Represented Online?
Online enrollments have seen steady growth, as has the number of institutions with online program offerings. What is not known, however, is if particular disciplines are better suited to online and others less well suited.
- There is roughly equal penetration for seven of the eight major discipline areas being examined.
- Engineering is the only discipline area where online representation is much lower than for other areas.
- Public institutions have the highest penetration rates for all disciplines other than engineering.
- Associate’s institutions have a wide lead in online penetration for psychology, social sciences, and liberal arts.
Tags: Barometer, Collaborative Effort, College Board, Colleges And Universities, Consortium, Discipline Area, Discipline Areas, Disciplines, Education Programs, Enrollments, Higher Education, Liberal Arts, Nbsp, Penetration Rates, Program Offerings, Public Institutions, Rsquo, Sloan Survey, Social Sciences, Survey Research Group
In: Online Degree |