(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 »

If you unemployed and having difficulties finding a job, it may be a good time for you to learn some new skills.  Go for a  recession proof occupation.  There are many for which you can train entirely online in just a few months, and you may qualify for financial aid under the new Federal Pell Grant rules and other financial aid programs , so be sure to check around. 

While many of you may like to go for a college degree, you may not have the time and money to complete a full program.   You may want to consider training for an occupation that offers good employment prospects, and can be completed fast – in as little as a few months.  Online career training is one good option.

Here are some of the options that you may want to consider – all of these occupations have been reported to have good opportunities for jobs now and far into the future according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics:

1. Medical Billing and Coding: any occupation in the health care industry is hot now and for many years into the future. The great thing about medical office management, including medical billing and coding, is this is an occupation that allows you to work from home and make your own hours, or work in a medical office or clinic. There are some great accredited online colleges offer training that you can complete fast and start working.
2. Pharmacy Technician: Pharamacy technology is also an in-demand health care occupation that is growing fast. With our aging population, the demand for health care workers at all levels is also growing.  Take a look at other health related fields such as Physical Therapy Assistant, and Occupational Therapy Assistant among others.
3. Computers: Who doesn’t use a computer today? There is a rapidly growing need for qualified computer programmers, computer repair technicians, and computer networking techs. These jobs not only pay well, but are in-demand now and far into the future. You can train online and be working in just a few short months!
4. Hospitality and Tourism Management: Arts, entertainment, and recreation are predicted to grow by 30.9 percent and add 595,000 new jobs by 2016. Most of these new job openings, 79 percent, will be in the amusement, gambling, and recreation sector. Job growth will stem from public participation in arts, entertainment, and recreation activities-reflecting increasing incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness. You can train online for a diploma in hotel and restaurant management, fitness and sports, sports psychology and sports management.
5. Other high demand jobs will continue to be locksmithing, electrical,auto mechanics, and other trades.

So, if you are out of work, and looking for a new occupation, why not consider learning entirely new skills online? What can you lose?  All of the programs above and many more are listed at Classes24Seven.com, where you will find listings of the top accredited colleges offering online career training.

From Marketwire

PHOENIX,AZ – By more than doubling the Department of Education’s budget over the next two years, the Obama administration’s economic stimulus package will make a reported 4 million more college students eligible for expanded tax benefits and significantly increase federal grant funding for an estimated 7 million students. These provisions of the bill, says NextStudent, will help students reduce their reliance on student loans to help pay for their college education.

Money for College

"This really marks a new era in federal education spending," said Edward Kealy, executive director of the Committee for Education Funding, the nation’s largest nonpartisan education coalition.

The federal Pell Grant program — the widely used grant program for financially needy students — will get a $17.1 billion increase in funding, while the federal work-study program will receive a $200 million boost.

new tax credit will temporarily raise the currently available maximum education tax credit by 40 percent, from $1,800 to $2,500. The approved stimulus bill also expands eligibility for the education tax credit by opening up the benefit to students from lower-income families who don’t currently pay taxes. The new tax credit will be refundable up to 40 percent for those families who don’t owe any taxes, and all eligible families will be able to write off non-tuition expenses like textbooks.

Under the current Hope Scholarship Tax Credit program, the education tax credit is nonrefundable, meaning only those families who owe taxes are able to benefit from the tax credit. The current Hope credit also covers only tuition and fees, leaving many low-income students with hefty room and board, transportation, and textbook costs that they can’t count towards the tax break.

The final version of the stimulus bill doesn’t include a measure proposed by the House of Representatives that would have temporarily increased federal subsidies to third-party lenders providing federal parent and student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Most FFELP lenders have suspended their federal student loan programs after Congress passed legislation in 2007 cutting over $21 billion in federal lender subsidies.

About NextStudent

NextStudent, www.nextstudent.com, offers a range of education finance products and services, including a free online scholarship search engine, links to a network of student loan providers, and extensive information on federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, and student loan consolidation programs.