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

Always keep your eyes open to recognizing diploma mills and phony degree programs. Here is a list of points to keep in mind before choosing your course with any college or university.

– The Department of Education releases a list of accredited universities and educational institutions both at the regional and national level. Ensure the institutions in your list find a place in it.

– Those institutions which are not recognized by the Department of Education will not be considered by the US Higher Education….

MORE >>>> http://www.globaleducationsearch.com/fake-colleges/diploma-mills-warning-signs/

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

It’s time to head back to school for many students and the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers against online programs that offer fast and easy high school diplomas or college degrees.

As millions struggle to find a job, earning a diploma or an advanced degree is one way to stand out from the crowd, but some students found out the hard way that the diploma they thought they earned online wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.

Distance learning and online-based classes have become an increasingly popular option for students of all ages.

According to a 2008 survey from the Sloan Consortium and Babson Survey Research Group, 3.9 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in 2007, a 12 percent increase over the previous year. More than 20 percent of higher education students were taking at least one online course.

Unfortunately, not all institutions offering online diplomas or degrees are legitimate and individuals looking to get ahead are being duped by diploma mills.

“Education is one of the keys to advancing in life and having a diploma or advanced degree can certainly make a difference when it comes to getting into college or landing a higher-paying job,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. “While the Internet facilitates learning through online curriculum, it also makes it easier for scammers to shill their phony high school diplomas and college degrees.”

The BBB cites the following red flags to help identify diploma mills:

• Degrees or diplomas are awarded based on “life experience” and require very little or no work.

• The institution guarantees you will receive a degree or diploma within a few days, weeks or months.

• The institution offers deals if you sign up to receive more than one degree at a time, such as a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree for one low price.

• Addresses for administration buildings include post office boxes or suite numbers.

• Prices are stated per degree instead of per credit hour.

It often seems that the star athlete, musical prodigy or class valedictorian has a lock on lucrative college scholarships.

Yet there are ways to get financial assistance for higher education even if a student isn’t team captain or doesn’t make the grade on academic merit.

Many universities and private sponsors make scholarship money available to students who don’t particularly excel on the field or in the classroom.

In fact, fewer than 1 percent of students receive athletic scholarships, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of college financial-information Web sites.

“There are plenty of scholarships out there that don’t require you to be a star athlete or the top of your class,” Kantrowitz said. For example, the David Letterman Scholarship at Ball State University rewards students with “an average yet creative” mind, he said.

“There’s even a scholarship from a duct-tape manufacturer for making a prom outfit out of duct tape,” he added.

If you need aid for the school year beginning this fall, apply now because many deadlines have already passed.

“There are still some scholarships with August deadlines that pay the award in September, but once we get into the fall, what you’ll find will be entirely for the next academic year,” Kantrowitz said. “Start searching now so you know what’s available.”

The first step when looking for financial aid for any student – all-star, academic or average Joe – should be to fill out the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Completing the FAFSA helps determine whether a student is eligible for aid from the school as well as federal and state governments in the form of grants and low-interest loans. The FAFSA can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

“If you’re looking for ways to help finance your educational expenses, absolutely, unequivocally, filing the FAFSA is the most important thing, and is the starting point,” said Richard Bellows, executive director of financial aid at Butler University.

The FAFSA, which has to be refiled for each school year, can be submitted as late as the end of the academic year for which you’re looking for aid – but it’s best to fill the form out early each calendar year.

Filing in January or February means there’s more money to go around, but aid is still available for students who start school this fall and haven’t submitted the FAFSA – if they file as soon as possible, Bellows said. He noted that needy students can still qualify for the federal Pell Grant, for example.

“There’s still the opportunity for some financial aid, but if you don’t file the FAFSA and you don’t look into it, you’re not going to know whether you’re qualified.”

Those getting ready to begin their senior year of high school should use the time they have to prepare and research financial aid deadlines and school procedures, said Cindy Bailey, a senior policy analyst and former executive director of education finance services at College Board, a not-for-profit organization that serves students.

“One of the first things they should be thinking about is where they want to go to school, the tests they have to take, the timetable and then beginning the conversations with institutions,” she said. “Most colleges will be happy to talk to kids about their financial aid options early in the process.”

It’s beneficial for students to use other areas in which they excel – whether their abilities are in cooking or mechanical engineering – as a means for obtaining scholarships, Kantrowitz said. Students looking for niche scholarships should create an “accomplishments resume,” where they list hobbies and areas in which they excel, he said.

“There are essay competitions, artistic competitions, competitions for every hobby under the sun,” Kantrowitz said. “If you want to attract schools’ attention or scholarship sponsors’ attention, pick your favorite hobby and try to go all the way in that hobby.”

Once students have outlined a clear picture of what they’re good at, it’s time to do the homework.

“They can use (the resume) as a basis to start searching for scholarships that match their background,” Kantrowitz said. For instance, FinAid.com provides a list of scholarships for average students as well as scholarships for volunteering and community service.

Students and their families should look at scholarship search engines and publications about the student’s financial aid options, added Bailey.

Applicants should also discuss scholarship options with high school guidance counselors and university personnel.

In addition, some fraternal organizations and unions sponsor scholarships for students whose family are members, she said.

Said Bailey: “Research as much as you can.”

source: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090813/ARTICLES/908131035/1002?Title=Scholarships-for-non-scholars-

The government’s new student loan reform plan gets good grades from graduates with low-paying jobs struggling under a lot of debt. But it’s on probation from some borrowers, including married couples and those who will be subject to a new tax liability.

The Department of Education’s income-based repayment program, which went into effect July 1, is designed to make to make repaying student loans more manageable and could even result in debts being forgiven for some borrowers.

Under the program, a borrower’s monthly student loan payment is tailored to their income, debt load and family size. The aim is to make loan payments less of a strain on cash-strapped households.

An unfortunate dilemma: For married couples who file taxes jointly, the program compares the couple’s combined income with the individual student loan debts of each spouse. In some cases, this means one or both spouses could be ineligible for the program, since their combined income looks high relative to their individual debts.

“Married borrowers who file jointly have an unfortunate dilemma,” said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access & Success, a non-profit advocacy group that seeks to make higher education more affordable. “They could face payment caps twice as high as couples that files taxes separately or (someone who) is not married.”

For example, a family of four in which both spouses earn $30,000 would not qualify for the program if they each had $25,000 in student loans. That’s because their individual debts are smaller compared to their combined $60,000 income.

However, an individual with $25,000 in student loans and an adjusted gross income of $30,000 could see his or her monthly payments reduced by 40% under the program.

But if a couple files taxes separately, they could miss out on other benefits meant for married couples, Asher said.

The Department of Education said it has agreed to revisit the rules for married couples and could amend the program in July 2010.

Forgive and forget?: In some cases, the program makes it possible for borrowers to have their loans forgiven after 25 years, and graduates working in public services fields could see their debts canceled after 10 years.

The potential for loan forgiveness is one of the program’s main attractions. But a borrower who meets the requirements for loan forgiveness after 25 years could get hit with a bill from the IRS.

Under current tax laws, the amount of student loan debt discharged after 25 years in program is considered taxable income. For those working in public service, however, forgiven student loan debt is not taxable.

“Most people will be able to pay off their debts within the 25-year window,” Asher said. “But saddling those who can’t with a tax liability is unfair.”

A bill working its way through Congress would make forgiven student loan debt exempt from taxation.

An improvement: To be sure, many struggling graduates will benefit from the program.

“This is really good news for consumers,” Asher said. “With a simple process, a borrower can get their loan payments under control, stay in good standing and know that if they fall on hard times it won’t ruin them.”

Of course, making a smaller monthly payment means the life of the loan is extended, which could result in higher interest. Also, the program does not cover loans made to parents and those not subsidized by the government.

Still, the program will result in savings of $458 a month for one borrower. The 41- year-old Seattle resident, who asked not to be named, said the monthly payment on her $120,000 debt will be reduced to $451 from $909 under the new plan.

“This repayment option is making my student loan seem manageable for the first time ever,” the borrower said. “I was worried that I’d end up going into default over my student loans, now there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

What’s more, the program could help encourage students to pursue traditionally low-paying careers in public service, such as nursing, education and the military.

“Under this new program, students no longer have to choose between serving their nation and communities and tackling a mountain of college debt,” said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in a statement. “Our nation is better and stronger when the best and brightest young Americans choose careers in public service.”

Michelle To, who will borrow $260,000 to pay her way through medical school, said the program helped convince her to become a primary care physician.

“Every doctor I’ve shadowed talks about being in debt for the rest of their lives,” said the 24-year-old Los Angeles native. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to make that step.”

To, who starts medical school later this year, said she hopes to work for a non- profit organization after she graduates, and that she expects to earn about $170,000 a year. With her debt load, that means To would probably qualify for the program.

“If not for this program, I’m not sure what I would do,” she said. “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders.”

source: http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/14/news/economy/student_loans/index.htm?section=money_pf_college

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

Getting an education is one of the most important values we learn in this age. Not only is a college degree reputable socially, but economically. With a degree you can get a better paying job and likely live comfortably with less stress. Many single parents are thinking of going back to school, but most don’t have the time to dedicate to the school life. Making time for work, children and getting to campus can be almost impossible and definitely discouraging. With a college degree online, you have the convenience of studying at home.

How to Enroll in College Degree Online

The process of enrolling in a college online is quite simple. Many colleges offer a link to an application page where you can fill out your information. Once this is completed, you’ll speak with a school representative about the course you’ve picked and answer questions you may have. It is best to speak with the admissions department before enrolling to ensure that it is the right online degree for you. Most college websites allow you to view the course catalogs to see exactly what you’ll be learning and what books you’ll need.

It is important to take a look at the requirements for the online degree programs offered by the colleges. You want to ensure that your internet and computer specs meet the minimum requirements (hard drive space, internet speed, computer memory ram, resolution and sometimes certain software). Studying online means logging into a website and using their interface, so you’ll want to make sure that your educational experience is the best possible.

Benefits of Online Degree

Besides the ability to study from home, getting an online degree is beneficial in many ways. It’s convenient and sometimes much more affordable. More colleges are offering e-books instead of text books, so this is less money that you’ll have to spend. E-books are a lot cheaper than text books and sometimes the rates for the e-books are included in your tuition.

Since there are more and more single parents enrolling in a college degree online, there are scholarships and financial aid specifically for single parents, which mean more money for your education. There’s really no reason why single parents shouldn’t attend an online degree program. If you’ve had your eye on a specific school, but live too far from its physical campus, check to see if they offer online degrees.

Speak with different schools to see if they offer a degree program that you’re looking to enter into. Soon you could be on your way to getting a higher education to better take care of you and your family.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Single-Parents-Earning-College-Degrees-Online&id=2531014

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