Paying for Online College
Can You Keep Your Job?
As an Online student you have one distinct advantage over your campus-based programs fellows: the possibility of keeping your job while you learn. Being able to study any time of the night or day, almost anywhere you like (providing you have access to the Internet), and not spending time or money traveling to regular classes means you may be able to fit study time around your working hours. If you can do this, then paying for Online college shouldn’t be such a big problem. If working while you study is too difficult, then various other options are open to you.
Get Advice From Your School
Being an Online student shouldn’t put you at any disadvantage in terms of finance, providing the school is properly accredited by the necessary regional agencies. The best place to find out whether this is so, and where you stand with regard to financial aid, is with your school’s financial advisor. They can give you information about schemes such as
- Government grants, usually awarded to students with very low incomes and requiring a minimum grade point average for qualification.
- Scholarships, awarded by a variety of different organizations (e.g. schools, many private institutions) and usually based on your ability to meet certain criteria e.g. academic or sporting ability
- Loans, from the government (such as Stafford or Federal Perkins loans or any one of a number of private companies.
Start looking for finance as soon as you can, and don’t forget that your school’s financial advice office should be your first port of call.
Source:
About.com
Student Aid
|