People all over America are feeling the financial crunch of a failing economy. For too many adults, this means putting off higher education for better times. You may not know this but there is no better time than now to start working toward that degree. With all of the financial aid options available today, a lack of funds is no longer a viable excuse for procrastination.

The first step to going back to school is to choose a course of study and a school. Many people don’t realize that most of the same financial aid options available for on-campus programs are also available for online degree programs and distance learning degrees.  Once you’ve done that, the admissions counselors will help you to explore all of your options for financial aid including federal and state grants, scholarships, and student loans.

Not sure how to apply for financial aid? No problem. Get online and fill out a Free Application for Student Aid, also known as a FAFSA. Your FAFSA application will apply you for any aid you are eligible for and have opted to use. You can get grants, loans, and some scholarships by filling out this one form. The website has a list of all of the information needed to completely fill out your FAFSA as well as worksheets to help you through the process. If you run into anything you don’t understand, the website has a FAQ section and provides excellent customer service through email or by calling their 800 number.

PELL grants should be any would-be student’s first option for financial aid. A PELL grant comes form the federal government. The great thing about these is that as long as you don’t drop out or fail, you don’t ever have to pay them back. The Pell Grant is sponsored by the US Department of Education, and the amount of funds you receive is based on your financial situation and needs. There are other grants available for specific minorities and professions that should be researched. Your first choice for financial aid should always be a grant as opposed to a loan. Read this article »

by Darcy McCarthy, PHd

The combination of tough economic times and stories of impending doom have caused crucial introspection for most people. This article is in response to a number of questions readers have sent to educationline.org.

To set the tone for this article, I could not resist this quote In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer.

As a general rule, our readers write to find out what are the best online education universities, classes, colleges, degrees. However, as of late the questions have become much more focused on career training and whether or not now is a good time to continue complete or enhance their education. Here are the top three questions and answers:

Q. I am employed professionally and have a degree. There are rumors of cut-backs should I continue my education?

A. When thinking about going back to school, you need to evaluate your current profession, where you want to be in 5-10 years and whether or not you can afford to go back to school. While there is generally a grain of truth to rumors, I would not quit my job and go back to school full-time. However, at the same time I would be thinking of recession proofing my career. Do some research on what career advancements are available if you get a graduate degree, as well as part-time education opportunities. Lets say that you are a nurse, there are a number of nursing online education areas that you can investigate.

Q. I have lost my job and want to take a look at a new career. How do I know what to take? Read this article »

Massive job cuts are being reported nearly daily, so what can you do to protect the job you have now – or if you have been downsized what can you do to find better and recession proof employment in the future?  Don’t find yourself on the layoff lists.

EARN YOUR DEGREE ONLINE! 

While you may not think that this is the time to be thinking about going back to school, think again.  First of all, if you are unemployeed, you may need to improve your credentials to be more competive in the volatile job market.  If you are currently employed and want to keep your job, anything you can do to show that you are improving your knowledge and skills in your industry will make you more valuable to your employer.

One of the best and most convenient ways to get your college degree these days is to attend an online university.  You can continue working while you study in your spare time.  It is much more cost effective since there is no travel to a classroom location.  You don’t have to hire a babysitter, or take time away from family or work responsibilities. 

Best yet, online degrees are self-paced and may be earned as fast as your schedule and motivation allow.  In fact there are some accelerated degree programs that may be earned in as little as 10 months!  So what are you waiting for?  Start finding the online degree program that you need to get ahead in this recessionary economy! 

Go to Classes24Seven.com and find an accredited online degree program that works for you.

Many single mothers are now thinking if they could go back to school, they could finally make ends meet. Some may be considering an online Nursing degree, while others just want to pay off the bills.

However, there may be a host of other questions that are holding you back? Like, how would I find the time to take care of my baby? Or how would I pay for college by myself?

These are not very tough questions considering the fact that grants for single moms going back to school are rising. More importantly, an online degree offers you that chance to complete your education.

Online courses are a great way to continue your education because you will be doing most of your coursework while you are at home. And that means more time to spend with your children. Single moms often worry most about their children while they are short of income. And online education offers that one-stop solution for their niche education requirements.

As you find out more and more about online courses, whether its for nursing school or an MBA degree, you’ll learn that the advantages are too big to pass up if you’re a single mom. The best part is that you would not have to spend your whole day in school, and leave your baby in a crib for many hours a day.

The convenience of online courses is that you can sit in front of a computer for a couple of hours a day and do well in your courses. You would also have to take a look at the online content provided by your teacher or guide at your school. And scheduling has never been easier, since you can do your coursework during any part of the day at your convenience.

For more information on obtaining an online degree, please visit www.elearningyellowpages.com. Elearningyellowpages is your online portal for the latest in online education including online degrees, career training, foreign language, etc.