Tuition at many public colleges and universities is skyrocketing, thanks to state budget deficits that have choked off funding for higher education.

The University of California, for instance, estimates a 30 % increase in the 2010 – 2011 year. “California’s $20 billion deficit will make it hard for the [ state's ] legislature to provide funding to the schools,” said Patrick Lenz, UC Berkeley’s budget administrator.

Next year’s tuition numbers aren’t final, since many states are still hashing out their budgets. But one thing is certain: Rates are going up, and the schools that will be hit the hardest are in the states that have seen the worst of the economic downturn.

For example, the Universities of Nevada, Florida, and Washington, each estimate that their tuitions will jump 10% to 15% next year.

MORE >>>> http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/24/news/economy/public_tuition_soars/index.htm?section=money_pf_college

Online education can definitely beat classroom study but it will depend on number of factors. It includes accreditation, syllabus quality, scope of practical training and your daily schedule.

Accreditation

Accreditation is the most important factor when it comes to online education. Your online degree is only going to be useful when you earn it from an online university which is accredited by the US Department of Education. When studying through classroom setup, you do not need to worry about the accreditation as most of the colleges are accredited. Same cannot be said about the online colleges and universities especially with so many of them operating with only one objective in mind, to earn money from their students.

Syllabus Quality

The quality of syllabus will have a huge impact on your career prospect. In an online environment where chances of interaction with your faculty are pretty limited, you would like to learn more things so that it can help you in your career. Online education beats classroom study in syllabus quality because unlike traditional schools and universities, online universities update syllabus on a regular basis so that students do not miss any important concepts. Another good thing about online education is that syllabus is designed by the industry experts that have a thorough knowledge of their area of expertise.

Scope of Practical Training

Online education is definitely much better than classroom study in terms of offering practical training to their students. When studying through classroom setup, you will find that all the focus is on the theoretical concepts and there is not much scope of practical training. Situation is completely different in an online environment where all the emphasis is being put on practical training. In this day and age when competition is intense in every field, you will require right kind of practical training in order to succeed. If you are not able to implement theoretical concepts into practice, your theoretical knowledge is of no use. Employers these days prefer giving jobs to individuals that have received practical training from an accredited university.

Daily Schedule

For working professionals that are looking to increase their academic qualification, online education is a much better option in comparison to classroom study. When you opt for online education, you can study at your own pace. This is not possible in a classroom study where everything is done on time. Location is not much of an issue in online education as you can study from any location you want. To do this, all you need is a laptop with good internet connection. Online education not only gives you an opportunity to increase your academic qualification but also your work experience. This is going to play a significant part in your career advancement.

Tuition Fee

In comparison to classroom study, tuition fee of online education is quite low. It means that you can easily afford it without taking any student loan. Grants and scholarships are also available for students that are studying in an accredited online university.

source: http://www.onlineedublog.com/online-edu-versus-classroom/

There are many of us who want to pursue a higher education but time, money, convenience and location serves as a barrier. If you’re one of them, fret not as there is an upside to this article. With current advancement in technology, many institutes have placed themselves in the cyber world, giving immediate access to students from all over the world. If you wish to pursue a career in the veterinary field and want to take up a veterinary technician course online, there are many available programs and colleges.

First there is Agrosy University with 14 campuses and a good reputation record. It offers a graduate degree program that focuses its lessons on real world applications which would be used in our daily life instead of isolated theories that we would never use again. Their programs are designed to prepare students for meaningful, rewarding careers, and also, they understand that you may have a life outside of our classroom which is why their online programs are very flexible but relevant.

Next there is Penn Foster College which would prepare you for your future ahead. It keeps your career in mind and is designed especially for those with busy lives but still want to get an education. They are well equipped with a faculty of experts that are willing and friendly to answer your questions and queries. As a student of this institute, you would be given an insight to the hands on training and develop skills that are necessary to thrive in the world today which is fast growing and has become competitive.

Also there is Hickey College that has a stellar reputation for preparing high school graduates just like you for real jobs, in the real world, in no time flat. 100% of last year’s graduates requesting job placement assistance were placed. They have a perfect reputation and have a good and solid program in which you can graduate at your own pace. The better you are, the faster you would graduate.

These are the very few colleges found within America, there are many more available with excellent programs to help you gain an education from the comfort of your own home.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-3-Online-Veterinary-Technician-Programs&id=2792826

With the plethora of degrees and programs available through online distance education, the choices seem many and confusing! Researching the programs can be daunting! The questions that run through the students mind range from: Are these degree programs accredited? What does it take to be a successful online learner? Can I get a job with my online degree? What online degrees are marketable?

One growing trend is for people who had already started their degree program but have not completed it, online programs are a worthwhile mention. They offer flexibility for people who have full time jobs or families. For these students this is a great way to complete their degrees at their own pace. Another trend is for campus-based universities and colleges to offer online degree programs and courses to cater to students who can take some classes on campus and others online.

Studies suggest that while the marketability and popularity of online programs fluctuates with market needs and social trends, some areas of study have consistently remained very popular. These programs are information systems and computer technology, criminal justice, engineering, MBA and business, education, nursing, psychology, medical billing and coding, and medical transcription.

Additional research shows that increasingly, more students are enrolling in graduate level programs of study, particularly masters and PhD programs. This is based on the fact that the students want to enhance their marketability while having the flexibility to continue working.

Business degrees are popular at the bachelors and business levels of study. In fact most mid-level and upper-level management positions now require for employees to have an MBA degree. This means that more students are opting to complete their studies online in order to keep working full time. It also means that more MBA programs have observed this need and responded by offering flexible online options. Studies in business that are marketable include accounting, finance, human resource management, project management, marketing, and risk management.

Certain areas in the health care profession have continued to grow, yet there is still a demand for certain professions. These areas are medical coding, medical billing, medical transcription, health administration and management and nursing. Nursing in particular continue to experience acute shortages, for example life care planning, legal nurse consulting, and forensic nursing. Much of the shortage has been a result of retirement of the aging baby boomer generation and medical technology advancement.

Another area of study with a growing number of graduate degrees is education for example math education, science education, and special education. There are many areas of concentration for working teachers for example educational leadership, instructional design and technology, and curriculum and instruction. There is an industry drive for administration and management positions as well as technology positions.

The technology field, including computer information technology, computer science, and engineering programs continue to be popular in the information age and the future seems bright for students who pursue degrees in these areas.

Criminal justice online degree programs are popular regardless of whether it is at the masters, bachelors, or associates degree level. The need for trained professional remains in many areas of practice including law enforcement, homeland security, forensics, investigation, paralegal and legal services, corrections, and law enforcement.

Regardless of what you decide to study, keep some key points in mind. The first thing is to ensure that you select an institution that is fully accredited by a professional body. Second, keep in mind that while some areas of study may not be popular with students, there is an industry need for certain areas of practice and these areas tend to pay quite well. Third, do some prior research to see what financial commitment you need to make and if there are available scholarships. In addition, check the course scheduling to ensure that it is flexible so that you can graduate online.

source: http://careers.discussedhere.com/index.php/top-online-degrees-for-marketable-careers/

The first report was produced by Education Sector, entitled Drowning in Debt: The Emerging Student Loan Crisis.

Students are taking on more of the riskiest debt: unregulated private student loans. Here, students have the least protection and pay the highest rates. For-profit colleges are leading the way in this trend, and minority college students appear to be borrowing a disproportionate share. If this continues, the consequences will be severe: reduced access to higher education, diminished life choices, and increasing rates of catastrophic loan default.

There are many culprits to this emerging student loan crisis: out-of-control tuition increases, lack of commitment to need-based financial aid, and states and universities increasingly spending scarce financial aid dollars on wealthy students. President Obama recently proposed reforming the federal student loan program by having all students borrow directly from the government. The money saved from this change would go to making Pell grants, which are targeted to the neediest students, an entitlement. The new plan would also tie annual increases in Pell grants to inflation. This is a good start to solving the problem of rapidly growing student debt, but much more needs to be done—from reforming state and institutional aid policies to creating better incentives for colleges to restrain prices.

Inside Higher Ed has a write-up of the report, where they quote Patricia Steele from the College Board:

Patricia Steele, a research associate at the College Board, said that “nowhere in the report” do the authors point out that half of all students don’t borrow for college at all, and that that and other oversights contribute to the report’s overall “sense of hype.”

“It’s important to point out because it scares the hell out of low-income students, who are nervous enough about whether they can afford college,” Steele said. “They might read about this and think everybody’s out there borrowing $35,000, and that’s just not true…. This does not represent the core of what’s happening in student debt.”

Steele’s line of argument just pisses me off. If the unemployment rate was at 50%, would we say that concern about it is overblown because half the country has jobs? What about health insurance? Just because 50% of college students are fortunate enough to not need to take out loans (most because of family wealth) it does not mean that the other 50% are not worth being concerned about. Not to mention that the 50% figure does not include those potential students that chose not to attend college in the first place because of the price tag.

I am not impressed by her concern trolling, either. Low-income students are nervous about whether they can afford college because it is expensive, not because people are reporting on the problem. Steele’s solution is to just not talk about the student debt burden because it is an unpleasant and scary reality. The real solution is to lower the cost of higher education.

The New America Foundation released their new report today on the student loan industry infrastructure. Rethinking the Middleman: Federal Student Loan Guaranty Agencies goes into the history of these guaranty agencies and explain why the dated system is hurting both taxpayers and students. The report is definitely worth a read, but here are some of the recommendations:

Eliminate the Guaranty Agency Insurance Role
Prohibit Guaranty Agency and Lender Partnerships
Eliminate Guaranty Agencies’ FFEL Program Oversight Role
Balance Incentives for Borrower Assistance versus Loan Collection
Improve the Default Aversion Role
Make the U.S. Department of Education the Lender of Last Resort
Demand Accountability and Results for Other Activities
If you are unsure what some of these recommendations mean, their blog post about the report does an excellent job explaining them.

It is clear that there is a problem with our student lending system, and these reports do an excellent job of showing why and what must be done. Changes need to be made if we are going to preserve the opportunity of higher education.

source: http://futuremajority.com/node/8132

With higher education costs increasing at double digit percentages an effective college savings plan for your kid’s education is becoming much more critical. Most parents will find that their kid’s future college costs will be much more than they have planned. This leaves many kids to be faced with obtaining financial aid to compensate for a portion of their higher education costs. This article will explore the pros and cons of 4 common college savings options. This article will also seek to show which of these 4 options are a better option if part of your kid’s higher education costs are to be funded by financial aid.

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529 College Savings Plan: Since January 2002, 529 college savings plan have become a new option for achieving tax free college savings. These plans are state sponsored investment programs that offer special tax treatment. It allows just about everyone to save for their kid’s college education. While there are many benefits of a 529 college savings plan, perhaps the most important is that your investment eaings are tax deferred if you use the funds for qualified education expenses. Additionally, another big advantage is that the maximum amount you can contribute to a 529 savings plan can go as high as hundreds of thousand dollars but be aware these are based on your States specific guidelines. If for some reason you do not use the investment funds for college, you can still withdrawal your investment eaings, but you will have to pay a federal penalty of 10% and federal income taxes on your eaings. The penalty can be waived if your child receives a college scholarship, or in the event your child becomes disable or dies.

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A 529 plan can typically be easily purchased through an investment broker or mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity. Please be aware that one of the biggest disadvantages of a 529 plan is that investment options can sometimes be limited. However, as 529 plans become more popular it is likely that more plan options will open. For instance, the State of Ohio just announced the option for bank CDs and saving accounts for 529 plans. One last main advantage of a 529 college savings plan is that the money in the plan is classified as a parents assets so less that 6% of the value counts against your kid’s eligibility for financial aid.

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Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA) (formerly known as an Educational IRA): A Coverdell Education Savings Account is a savings account created as an incentive to help parents and students save for higher education expenses. A Coverdell Education Savings Account is easy to set up at most financial institutions and banks. A Coverdell Education Savings Account is similar to a 529 college savings plan, but different in the contribution limits. With a Coverdell Education Savings Account you can only contribute $2000 per child per year and to qualify your adjusted gross income must be less than $110,000 if you are single and less than $220,000 if you are married filing jointly. For financial aid eligibility a Coverdell Education Savings Account is classified as a parent’s asset so less that 6% of the value counts against your kid’s financial aid eligibility.

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UGMA/UTA Custodial Account (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act/Uniform Transfers to Minors Act): A UGMA/UTMA account allows someone to make gifts to a minor without setting up a trust. While there are benefits to a UGMA/UTMA account the first limitation is that these types of accounts offer very little federal tax advantage. Secondly if your child is 14 or under only the first $800 of income is tax free, the next $800 is taxed at your child’s tax rate and after that there is no tax benefit at all. The other big disadvantage is that an UGMA/UTA Custodial Account has to be set up in your child’s name. This can create a big problem if your child needs financial aid since all of the assets will be reviewed at a 35% rate. As a result, a UGMA/UTA Custodial Account is not advisable for those who may need to qualify for financial aid eligibility. The main advantage of a UGMA/UTA Custodial Account is that there is no limit on the investment contribution and it is very easy to set up at most major financial institutions including some insurance companies. However, as can be seen above the disadvantages of a UGMA/UTA Custodial Account far outweigh the benefits.

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Taxable Investment Accounts: Taxable investment accounts can be a broker account, a mutual fund, a certificate of deposit or just a regular savings account. Essentially it is just a regular account that eas taxable interest, or investment income. A benefit of a taxable investment account if set up in the parents name is that the assets are classified as a parent’s asset so they do not count as a negative in the financial aid formula. Additionally, taxable investment accounts offer lots of flexibility, and are easy to set up at any financial institution. However, the big limitation to taxable accounts in saving for college is that they offer no tax advantage for college savings.

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In summary, a solid savings plan for college is a very important undertaking for parents to consider. The above 4 education investment options can be highly useful in the college planning process. Furthermore since some of these investments offer substantial federal tax advantages and do not count against financial aid eligibility they can maximize parent’s investment resources.

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source: http://simplycreditmortgage.blogspot.com/2009/07/your-child-s-college-education-savings.html

For many university graduates that possess bachelor degrees or professional degrees, the ideal way to increase their on-the-job value during recession is by obtaining an MBA. To maintain their high employability in the job market, the perfect solution will be pursuing online MBA programs from the accredited universities which offer internationally recognized online degree programs.

Since 1990s, online MBA programs have become more and more popular among the working adults and they are considered as reliable and trustworthy higher education sources for career advancement. These programs are also well accepted and recognized by the employers. In today’s world, many employers prefer to hire employees with MBA qualifications as they find that these employees are more competent and diligent.

Most of the time, working life is hectic and stressful. One will feel more tension when he or she needs to rush for classes to attend lectures. A wide selection of online MBA degree programs is the ideal way for working people to advance their education and career status. At the same time, online features assist them to maintain their jobs and family life at the balanced level. Through the online study, all the lessons, classroom discussions and coursework are completed via the internet at anywhere the students like as long as there is an internet access. This flexibility makes education more accessible and convenient for working adults and it makes online MBA the most popular among all the online degrees in the world.

Pursuing an online MBA degree is a wise decision for those people who have plans to increase their worth and enhance their working performance. One must keep learning the new knowledge and latest practices in the industry from time to time to keep him or herself competent and knowledgeable. It can also be considered as a survival tool to assist these people to ride out the recession and obtain a better life through relearning and retraining concepts. In order to be a valuable employee in your company, start an online continuing education program today!

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?An-Overview-of-Online-MBA-in-Todays-Economy&id=2535498

Many working people and fresh graduates may have doubts on when the best time to apply for online MBA degree will be. It is indeed important for you to find out the most suitable time in order to obtain optimum result from the higher learning.

In fact, it is only you yourself can determine when the best time to pursue MBA will be. You have to identify your real needs for pursuing this course. Your needs can be a few, for instance, mainly for obtaining a higher academic qualification, for career advancement, for salary increment, for closing your competency gap, for better lifestyle, etc. The next step is questioning yourself how urgent for you to commence the course.

Most of the people prefer to gain four to five years of working experience first before returning to school for further study. Many of the top business schools which are offering online MBA programs require their students to have a certain amount of working experience before they can be considered for admission.

With the emergence of online MBA, it has made the effort of pursuing MBA easier and more flexible than ever. This convenient way of study has helped to eliminate concerns about having a balanced life among work, study, family commitment as well as social life. As a result, you need to have a careful consideration. You need to weigh a lot of factors which relate to you personally. The following are the questions you should ask yourself:

• What is my main objective to study MBA?
• Do I have strong determination in completing the whole MBA degree within the period of two years using internet?
• Do I really have interest in this field?
• Do I have the ability to manage my time well for my current profession, my family and my study?
• Am I self disciplined to study at my home sweet home?
• Have I got ready the fee for studying MBA? If no, do I have solutions to obtain financial aid?
• Am I being supported by my current employer and family members?
• Is it a must for me to obtain MBA qualification for immediate job promotion and salary increment?

Evaluate your answers and you are able to know whether you need the program immediately or you are actually not well prepared for it.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?When-is-the-Best-Time-For-Online-MBA?&id=2535520

Here at the Middle Class Task Force, we have been working on ways to make college more affordable for families in America. The President, the Vice President and the Middle Class Task Force are committed to making sure that every student has the opportunity to earn a college degree.

In April, the Vice President hosted a Middle Class Task Force Meeting on college affordability in St. Louis, Missouri to discuss ways to expand opportunities and help make the dream of a college education a reality for more families. In Missouri, we released a staff report on ways that the administration can work to increase college affordability.

For high school seniors or aspiring college students facing the daunting task of applying for financial aid, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form can be a needlessly difficult obstacle on the path to higher education. Previous versions of the FAFSA have included as many as 153 questions, most of which had no relevance to financial aid packages.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan – a Task Force Member – followed up on our Missouri findings and announced a shorter, simpler, and more user friendly FAFSA form that will make it easier to apply for financial aid.  Starting this summer, students will be able to access the new web based FAFSA that dramatically simplifies and shortens the application form, and by next January, the FAFSA application will be streamlined with the IRS for a one stop, easy and pain free application.

The new version will make it easier and less intimidating to apply for aid, and will increase access for hundreds of thousands of students who are eligible, but do not apply for aid.

Simplifying the financial aid application is a policy that members of the Middle Class Task Force believe will help families benefit from important resources to cover the cost of college. We are continuing to work with Congress, the Treasury Department, the Department of Education, and the Administration to strengthen and affirm the opportunity for every student to pursue higher education.

source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Blogging-to-the-Middle-Simplifying-Financial-Aid-Applications/

Improve your career choices with an online education degree

The current economy has caused serious problems within the job market, the real estate market and life in general. Many people have either already lost their jobs or are concerned with losing their jobs in the near future. An option that is becoming available and attractive to many people to protect their household income is seeking an online education degree. With the many online education degree programs now being offered, it’s easier than ever to earn a degree, either fulltime or in your spare time. If you’ve been considered furthering your education to better prepare yourself for the job market, check out 5 benefits to earning an online degree in this shaky economy.

1. Potential for higher income – With the downturned economy, many companies are downsizing, usually keeping the employees that can contribute the most. By earning an online education degree in your chosen field, you’re not only improving your job security, but also increasing your chances of a promotion and higher income. Higher education equates to a higher salary.

2. Increased job skills – Even if a promotion is not your goal, by earning a degree from one of the many online education degree programs, you’re making yourself a more valuable asset to your current company. If there’s a lay-off in one department, your advanced job skills may guarantee you’ll be kept on, or transferred to another department.

3. Change of Professions – With the downturned economy, certain job sectors are affected by downsizing or lay-offs more than others. By advancing your level of education, you’re improving your ability to change professions if the need arises. There are some professions that seldom are affected by the economy such as health care, security, education and law enforcement. All of these are available through online education degree programs, so you can earn a degree while you’re still employed.

4. More accessibility – Online education programs allow you to get an education even if you’re not living near a college or if your chosen degree program is not offered in a school that is near you. With an online education degree, you can access your school from almost anywhere or any time around the world as long as you have access to a computer. This gives you the opportunity to participate in your coursework and continue with your work schedule.

5. Specialized Instructions – With online education degree programs, you can truly learn at your own pace. You’ll have the option to read the material yourself, or access video and audio instructions and course material via a virtual blackboard and classroom. Because everyone learns in different ways, you’ll love the freedom to learn in a way that works best for you. With emails, instant messages and message boards now available, you’ll be able to get help and communicate with your instructor almost any time you need help or assistance.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-5-Benefits-to-Earning-an-Online-Degree-in-a-Downturned-Economy&id=2496257