Number 5: Explore Online Certificates

Why should you explore an online certificate program? Two reasons really; the cost and the selection. Online certificates offer adults the widest variety of programs in all of online learning. From culinary arts to computer animation training, you will find what you are looking for, if you choose to pursue an online certificate program. For example, a Marketing Manager, can choose to enroll in an online certificate program for Internet Marketing to help broaden their skills and learn new techniques. Meanwhile, a single mom can study Entrepreneurship and learn the necessary skills to build a successful home based business. The best part is that both the Marketing Manager and the single mom share the same experience of learning online and at their convenience. This is something a summer school session can not offer.

Number 4: Take An Online Class

Everyone loves to “try before you buy” and with an education it is no different.  By enrolling in an online class this summer, you can experience online learning first hand without committing to an entire degree program.  Online Classes are available at accredited colleges across the country.  Courses can be taken on a “For-Credit” basis and a “Non-Credit” basis.  Taking an online class will allow you to understand the necessary dedication and requirements you need to continue your education online.  You will gain important knowledge about online lectures, homework assignments, and testing procedures.  It also allows you to not sacrifice an entire summer to earn college credit.  Taking an online class is a great way to find out if online education is right for you.

Number 3.  Save Money & Time - Get Information from Online Colleges for Fall

Let’s face it, saving money during a recession is important.  A college education can be a very worthwhile investment, but its still an investment of your time and money.  By enrolling in Summer School, you sacrifice your summer months, time, and money.  Visiting sites like www.AchieveYOurCareer.com, allow you to review 100’s of accredited online colleges that offer online degree programs in almost every career category available.  It takes literally,1 minute, to fill out an information form for these colleges.  You can receive informaton about cost, current scholarships avaialble, demo an online class, and current student testimonials.  As we approach “Back to School” in late summer, you may even find some special promotions avialable for a limited time.  Enjoy the summer and research your degree of interest.  Then, find 3 online schools that offer that program and compare each of them.  It will be time well spent, and its FREE!.

Number 2.   Stay Local - Find Online Programs offered by Local Colleges.

Online learning can be a fantastic opportunity for many working adults.  However, it is not the conventional method of learning for most Americans.  We are taught in a classroom setting for most of our lives. What most people don’t know is that many local colleges, both community and full 4 year insititutions, offer online education.  Students can choose to pursue their online degree, yet still take advantages of a physical campus location if they so choose.  It really personalizes the entire experience of online education.  Summer school sessions will force you to attend classes at a physical campus location.  Why not give yourself the flexiblity of choosing to stay at home and log into a live online session or visiting a local campus.  Boston University, Harvard, USC, and Stanford are just 4 well known colleges and universities that offer this convenience to their online students.  It’s a great opportunity for working adults and single parents who want to succeed but need to balance other responsibilities.

Number 1.   Superior flexibility allows you to earn a degree in less time.

Most students who attend Summer School are interested in obtaining their degree in less time.  Unfortunately for many summer school students, they must sacrifice time and money to do so.  With an online degree, students balance their hectic schedules with their education requirements.  Parents can stay home with their children and attend an online lecture.  Working adults can take night classes without driving to a campus afer an 8 hour work day.  A Bachelor’s Degree typically can take upwards of 4 years or more to complete.  An online bachelor’s degree can be completed in as little as 2 years with dedication and hard work.  Education is important for your career and for your life.  A college education is the key to a better life for many Americans.  Utilize the tools available and find an online college that fits your life.  It will be worth the time you invest.

The current fixed rate consolidation loan rate is 2.5%, historically low. In addition, don’t be in a rush to pay off the loan if you have alternative investment options available. For instance, let’s assume you receive a bonus of $20,000 (after tax) and are looking for things to do with that money. After booking that cruise you’ve always wanted to do, look around at your investment and debt repayment options. If you are carrying credit card debt and your interest rate is greater than 9%, that’s probably a good place to put some of that bonus money to work. You’ve effectively earned a 9% return on your money by not having to pay future interest to the credit card company. How about a car loan? Pay it off and use the old car payment as a monthly savings plan into your 401k or IRA. Before paying off some of the 2.5% student loan, consider investing in a good growth mutual fund by opening a Roth IRA and saving $5,000 plus all future earnings are tax free. If you believe an investment in an IRA will earn you more than 2.5%, you’re ahead of the game.

Examiner.com

In fact, depending on where service members and veterans decide to attend college, they could receive a full ride, or very little.

An Associated Press review of state-by-state benefits under the new bill shows huge discrepancies in the amount veterans can receive.

For example:

• Veterans attending New Hampshire colleges like Dartmouth might get $25,000 from the government each year, and in Dartmouth’s case essentially a free ride, thanks to an additional grant from the Ivy League school. But in neighboring Massachusetts, it is a different story. At that state’s numerous private schools — many just as expensive as Dartmouth — the government’s baseline tuition benefit is only about $2,200 a year.

• Veterans who choose a private school in Texas could get close to $20,000 a semester from the government for a typical course load. Those picking schools in California will get nothing for tuition.

The explanation stems from the formula the government created, as well as a much-criticized decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs on how to implement the law.

The new GI Bill covers full in-state undergraduate tuition and fees at any public college. That’s far more generous than the old GI Bill, which provides a monthly stipend that is the same from state to state.

But Congress also wanted to help veterans attend often pricier private schools. So the new bill offers them an amount equal to the tuition at the most expensive public college in the same state.

That penalizes veterans going to private colleges in states that have kept their public university tuition low.

As a result, the new GI Bill is a great deal for such vets in states like New Hampshire, New York and Texas; a pretty good one in states like Ohio; and hardly any deal at all in Massachusetts and especially California, where the state constitution prohibits public universities from charging tuition. Instead, California’s public universities typically charge “fees” of several thousand dollars per year.

Critics argue the Department of Veterans Affairs misinterpreted the law and should have combined tuition and fees in coming up with reimbursement levels. That would have put the total California benefit at around $13,000 per year.

Anthony Brooks, a 26-year-old former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will get a mere $5,000 toward the $38,570 tuition charged at the private University of Southern California — and half of that comes from USC through the government’s Yellow Ribbon matching-grant program.

“It’s depressing, actually. It’s putting states up against each other,” said Brooks, who plans to become a doctor. He added: “We all fought for our country. It just seems unfair.”

The VA says its hands were tied by Congress.

“It is a valid question concerning why we would pay X in State A versus how much we would pay in State B, but the statute defines the kinds of programs we would account for,” said Keith Wilson, the department’s director of educational services.

Congress passed the Post 9/11 GI Bill last year, offering veterans the most significant expansion of educational benefits since the original GI Bill in 1944. The VA expects nearly half a million veterans to participate in the coming year.

The benefits — including new, separate stipends for housing and books — kick in after three years of active duty, and some of them are transferable to family members.

Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., has introduced legislation that would correct the discrepancy in California.

“California’s generosity on state tuition was intended to keep college costs down, not inadvertently increase costs for the state’s veterans,” said Lindsey Mask, a spokeswoman for McKeon.

In the meantime, education and veterans groups are fielding calls from veterans confused over how much they can get.

“What should be a simple number has turned into some kind of Frankenstein-like monster that nobody will be able to understand,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education.

About 80 percent of veterans tapping the new bill are expected to attend public institutions. But some of the remaining 20 percent — those planning to attend private colleges, graduate schools, and the for-profit institutions that are hugely popular with veterans — are angry.

“On paper, this is an amazing new GI bill. It’s an amazing plan,” said Matthew Collins, a former Army specialist who started a Facebook group criticizing the system.

He plans to attend California Baptist University, affordable only because it is making a $10,000-per-veteran contribution under Yellow Ribbon — something many California colleges are unable to offer.

“I just don’t think they truly thought it through,” Collins said.

Yahoo AP Story

Are these loans really the best idea for our children? They’re starting their adult life in debt thousands upon thousands of dollars. Especially in these economic times where jobs are scarce, how can they even be assured a job once they graduate?

Is there a better way? There’s something to be said for schools where you cannot use Financial Aid. The costs are upfront and you know what you’re getting into, financially speaking. And, most of them offer payment options to make the cost a little easier to digest. I think even some 4-year colleges and universities have monthly payment options although I’m not sure how “affordable” they really are.

What are your thoughts/feelings? Would you still choose to defer the debt if you had an affordable option?

Having joined the United States Army at the age of 20 in October 1985, First Sergeant Jackson will be applying the scholarship towards an undergraduate degree from the University of Phoenix. Jackson stated in his scholarship application essay, “Among my many blessings, after receiving so many injuries and related medical issues throughout my military career, is that I am still able to stand. But the real blessing is to have been afforded this opportunity to continue the educational path in which I have been on so many times, through my present military assignment.”

“As an institution dedicated to providing higher education opportunities to deserving individuals, we could not be prouder to welcome First Sergeant Jackson to the University of Phoenix. We look forward to assisting him on his educational path and to witnessing the many more accomplishments he no doubt will achieve as a result of this new chapter in his life,” remarked Barbara Janowski, Campus Director, University of Phoenix El Paso/Santa Teresa Learning Centers.

But all that stands to change on July 1 with the start of an income-based repayment (IBR) plan. The goal of the government initiative, which has been championed by Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, is to prevent payments on federal student loans from exceeding 15% of a borrower’s disposable income above 150% of the poverty level. Borrowers who earn below that threshold (which in most states is about $16,000 for a single person with no dependents) wouldn’t have to make any monthly payments at all. (See how Americans are spending now.)

These changes, alongside a $619 increase in the maximum Pell Grant and a reduction in the interest rate on new federal loans, arrive at a moment of seemingly runaway college costs on one end and a dismal economic outlook on the other. The Obama Administration is trying to lessen the pressure on aspiring students in ways both big and small. Last week, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a plan to simplify the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) — the form to apply for federal dollars — cutting at least 20% of the questions and making it easier to fill out online. For months now, Duncan has discussed the possibility of making Pell Grants an entitlement or guaranteed benefit like Social Security that would be protected from annual budget cuts. Duncan is also trying to transition to a system in which students get all their college loans from the government, rather than going through banks and other private lenders. The new IBR program does not apply to private loans. (See pictures of the college dorm’s evolution.)

Add up these steps, and the Obama Administration appears to be attacking the staggering cost of higher ed from the back end — that is, if we can’t fix how much college costs, at least we can try to fix how you pay that cost back. “There’s clearly a lot of work to do in bringing down the cost of college,” says Edie Irons, spokesperson for the Project on Student Debt. “But even if you froze college tuition at every institution tomorrow, you’d still have this problem where people are borrowing incredible amounts of money to take important jobs that may not pay very well.”

In the past, federal-loan repayment was structured so that a graduate would have to pay a certain amount of money each month, regardless of his or her income at the time. Under the IBR program, if you lose your job or are forced to take a pay cut, the amount you have to pay back per month will drop. If, however, your salary subsequently increases, your payments will still be capped at 15% of your disposable income. That is, of course, if you are eligible to participate in the program; grads with private loans are exempted as well as those who owe less than they earn in a year (use this calculator to figure out if you qualify). It’s all based on a debt-to-income ratio and is fluid and flexible in a way that most government systems are not. And if the Education Department is serious about abolishing the two-track loan system (in which it provides direct loans as well as subsidizes private-lender loans), this is just one more way of convincing borrowers to throw their hat in with the feds.

One big upside is likely to be a reduction in the number of people who default on their student loans, a financial disaster that can destroy credit ratings and hike up interest rates on future loans. “In this economic recession, a lot of students are having a difficult time just paying for normal things like groceries or rent,” says Carmen Berkley, president of the U.S. Student Association, an advocacy group. “This is really going to make sure that students are able to keep up with their loans and don’t have to default. We want to be able to have good credit, to eventually be able to buy cars and houses too.” (See TIME’s special report on paying for college.)

Under the IBR program, if students are still paying back college loans after 25 years, they will be eligible to have all debt erased (though, if the law stands as is, much of that remaining balance will be taxed as income). And if students go into a public-service career, they are eligible for loan forgiveness after a mere 10 years. While participants in programs such as AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, the military and other such institutions have long been eligible for loan reduction or forgiveness, this new program expands such mercy to potentially hundreds of thousands more students who won’t be forced to make that knee-jerk decision between ideals and salary. “We really need college graduates to go into fields like teaching and social work and public-interest law and rural medical services,” says Irons. “And because of the way people are forced to pay for education, they are less and less able to do those jobs. For society’s sake, we should make it easier for them to do so.”

Time.com

A third school — South University — will open in Henrico County on Oct. 5 behind the Whole Foods Market on West Broad Street. It is now enrolling students for its local campus and online classes.

The three schools offer classes at a traditional campus as well as online-only.

Online learning is gaining credibility and gaining ground in the higher-education field.

About 12.2 million consumers enrolled in roughly 11,200 college-level distance-education programs during the 2006-07 academic year, the latest figures available, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That’s up from the 3 million consumers enrolled in 2,320 distance-learning programs in 2000-01.

Most traditional colleges and universities now offer online courses as part of their regular degree programs, as well. Some, such as the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, offer a few specialized degree programs entirely online.

Are you thinking of earning an online degree? If so, here are some things you need to know:

* You need the right stuff in order to succeed. “Because there’s no structured class schedule, it takes a lot of self-discipline,” said James Campbell, director of marketing at the University of Richmond’s School of Continuing Studies.

Students who fail at online learning do so for the same reasons as those in a normal class setting, said Walter Green, chairman of the Emergency Services Management degree program in UR’s School of Continuing Studies.

“They just don’t do the work.”

Those diligently engaged in their coursework who regularly interact with other students and the instructor usually succeed, he said.

* Be certain that the school is certified and accredited.

It should be certified by the State Council of Higher Education in Richmond and accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

“Institutions that are approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education will be of high quality,” said Terry Hartle, an official at the American Council on Education, a trade organization.

The North Central Association of Colleges & Schools is the recognized accreditation board in the region that includes Virginia.

* Be sure the school offers financial aid. Title IV funding from the federal government — including student loans and grants — should be available, said Susan S. Whisenhunt, director of academic affairs at the University of Phoenix in Richmond.

* Tuition varies. Expect to pay $365 per credit hour for an online undergraduate degree at the University of Richmond and $361 per credit hour online at South University. The average annual tuition and fees at the University of Phoenix is about $12,000.

* Don’t assume that online learning is a piece of cake. Course loads are normally just as rigorous as classroom learning.

* You’ll find it convenient. Some of the students enrolled in UR’s online Emergency Services Management or Disaster Science programs are shift workers — firefighters, EMS technicians, even emergency-room physicians. They log in when they can grab the time, maybe even at 3 a.m., UR Program Coordinator Bo Harris said.

“You can study anywhere and anytime,” Hartle said.

* You will communicate electronically with your instructors. But you may not meet them face to face until graduation.

* You won’t feel isolated from classmates. “The students typically are very connected to their colleagues” through online forums and a chat room, Whisenhunt said.

“I see great friendships developing.” It’s like social networking, she said.

TimesDispatch.com

Education Secretary Arne Duncan outlined a series of changes that could allow some applicants to skip many of the 153 questions.

“Too many students who qualified found applying for student loans was too difficult to understand,” Duncan said. “Too often, they simply got frustrated and they gave up. The form itself was liter-

ally a barrier to entry in college. That has to change.

“Next year’s applicants should see a 20 percent reduction in the number of questions and a 50 percent reduction in the number of Web pages to navigate,” Duncan said.

He also asked Congress to adopt a sweeping overhaul aimed at making the form easier to fill out, including allowing families to attach their tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service to the application. Currently, families have to include separate investment and banking records.

As tuition soars, financial assistance is crucial to keeping students in college. Of the 60,000 students at Ohio State University and its regional campuses, more than 32,000 receive financial aid.

The reforms are aimed at the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. The six-page application is so complex that last year former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings jokingly complained, “It asks you how old you are three different ways.”

In the final months of the Bush administration, Spellings asked Congress to reduce the number of questions in the form to just 27. Congress never acted on that.

“It’s a good step,” said Tally Hart, senior adviser for economic access at Ohio State. “That form is really a deterrent in its existing structure because it looks so intimidating. and the problem is the greatest for the people it should serve the most.”

Educators and financial-aid specialists hailed the move, saying it eventually could lead to more students applying for financial aid.

“Could the department have gone further? Yes,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, which represents the nation’s universities. “Some people think you should get them on a postcard. But the fewer the questions, the less accuracy you have. What the department is trying to do is balance the importance of simplification with accuracy.”

Beginning this summer, students who have reached the age of 24 or are married may skip 11 questions dealing with their parents’ financial history. Men older than 26 will not have to answer the question about Selective Service registration. And when the new forms are made available in January, low-income students will not be asked about assets.

In another effort to simplify federal assistance, the Education Department has been giving students instant estimates of Pell Grant and student-loan eligibility since May.

Columbus Dispatch

While some of the gains – such as a significant hike in Pell Grants – have received attention, others that affect interest rates and student loan repayment schedules are just getting on the radar screens of policymakers and students. One of the most significant changes is the introduction of income-based repayment, through which students can reduce their monthly payments based on their earnings – a move of particular help to graduates in low-paying public service jobs.

“We estimate hundreds of thousands will take advantage of this,” said Edie Irons, spokeswoman for the Project on Student Debt in Berkeley, Calif. “But it’s not automatic. You have to apply for this.”

Students seeking income-based repayment must contact their lenders. But the switch should be easy to make, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, a web site focused on the federal financial aid system. “If you’re in a public service job, it’s best to start sooner rather than later,” he told Diverse.

The U.S. Education Department has published a detailed chart of how income-based repayment, or IBR for short, may affect certain borrowers. For example, a single person earning $20,000 a year would face a monthly repayment of only $47. Adjustments may occur each year based on earnings and debt. (The chart is at http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/IBRPlan.jsp#content).

“The main goal of IBR is to make sure that your student loan repayment doesn’t ruin you financially,” Irons told Diverse.

Another major change involves consolidation loans. Borrowers with variable-rate loans before July 2006 could convert to consolidation loans with interest rates as low as 2 percent, Kantrowitz said. Such changes apply to those with variable Stafford or PLUS loans.

“It’s extremely unlikely that interest rates will ever get lower,” he said. With interest rates starting to rise again, the next adjustment in 2010 is likely to carry a higher rate.

Here is a look at other financial aid changes taking place next month:
* Pell Grants: The maximum grant for needy students will increase from $4,731 to $5,350 – a jump of more than $500. Legislation approved by Congress also will allow for year-round grants to students seeking to accelerate their education. The minimum Pell Grant will increase from $400 to an annual rate equal to 10 percent of the maximum grant.
* New student loans: New fixed-rate Stafford Loans will see their interest rate drop from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. Origination fees on Stafford Loans also will drop by half-a-percentage point.
* Part-time students: Students enrolled at least half time will get access to the Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grant programs, which provide additional aid to Pell-eligible students who have completed a rigorous high school program.

The government said it also awarded servicing business to Nelnet Inc (NNI.N), American Education Services/PHEAA and Great Lakes Education Loan Services Inc. It said the contracts run for five years, and can be extended for five more.

Eligibility for the servicing program became more important to student loan companies after President Barack Obama in February submitted a fiscal 2010 budget calling for the end of the Federal Family Education Loan Program by July 2010.

The president proposed to shift most of the nation’s $90 billion of student lending into a direct loan program, possibly saving taxpayers more than $4 billion a year.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday said the servicing contracts will help ensure that “all eligible students” will have access to federal student loans.

The department did not say how it plans initially to allocate the servicing business.

SLM, which better known as Sallie Mae, said it has the scale to add more than $100 billion of new volume under its servicing platform. Smaller rival Nelnet said it expects its participation to add to earnings, excluding start-up costs.