| With the economy in recession and heading towards | | | | grant is, unlike loans, they do not have to be paid |
| depression workers feel a greater pressure to keep | | | | back. Also for low-income students,The Perkins Loan |
| their job skills up to date or even learn a new trade. | | | | program provides loans at extremely low interest |
| With rising unemployment, employers can pick and | | | | rates that are paid back over a period of ten years |
| chose the workers with the best and most current | | | | starting nine months after finishing school. |
| skills. And these workers are able to demand a higher | | | | College students must take care to maintain at least |
| salary then their less educated peers. A college | | | | a "C" average and half time status or they may lose |
| degree is often required for a promotion or certain | | | | their eligibility to receive government loans and grants. |
| management positions. The United States Bureau of | | | | Students also have to take courses that relate to |
| Census states that a college degree can increase | | | | their major or federal aid will be cut off if the |
| your lifetime earnings by more than a million dollars. | | | | student exceeds 1 and 1/2 times the number of |
| Many colleges now cater to adult students, also | | | | credits required for the program. |
| referred to "non-traditional students," by offering | | | | Non-traditional students should always work with their |
| more flexible schedules. You can now complete your | | | | financial aid officer at the college. It is important to |
| degree, such as the Masters of Business | | | | check with the financial aid officer often to catch any |
| Administration, by taking classes at night or even the | | | | issues with your application early. The counselor can |
| weekends at major universities. Others options | | | | help them with their FAFSAs and other forms. Any |
| include a combination of weekend, evening and online | | | | mistake on the form will delay approval. |
| courses to accommodate the schedules of busy | | | | A good motivated financial aid officer works with |
| parents and people all ready in the workforce. | | | | students to find private scholarship money. It is also |
| Online universities have become extremely popular | | | | important to do scholarship research on your own. |
| option for earning your degree. Online degrees are | | | | There are private scholarship search companies, but |
| now the first choice for a growing number of adult | | | | students should be able to do this task themselves |
| students. Online programs often try to simulate the | | | | for free on the internet or through their financial aid |
| classroom experience with chat rooms and discussion | | | | office. Most scholarships will be for traditional |
| groups between students and professors. This option | | | | undergraduates, however, there are many |
| allows students to study when it is convenient for | | | | scholarships targeted for the non-traditional student. |
| them such as after the kids go to bed, after the | | | | Some employers offer a tuition reimbursement |
| husband goes to work or during a break at work. | | | | benefit for continuing education. The benefit depends |
| Online schools vary their start and stop times to | | | | on the employer some will pay for any accredited |
| allow you to customize your schedule around your | | | | program while others must be job related. The |
| busy life. | | | | amount of the compensation also varies from full |
| Non-traditional students can qualify for financial aid like | | | | tuition to just partial compensation. A student should |
| any other student. To qualify for federal financial aid | | | | check with the human resources department at work |
| they must be enrolled at least half-time. Two full | | | | to find out the employers policies. |
| credit classes will usually fill this requirement, however | | | | Some private trade schools try to pressure students |
| the amount of aid will be less than a full time student. | | | | into enrolling prior to the students knowing how much |
| Their schools must be accredited to participate in | | | | financial aid they will receive per semester. One way |
| Title IV programs in order for them to be eligible for | | | | to avoid this issue, is to go online and get a rough |
| federal financial aid. It is always best to make sure | | | | estimate of your financial aid package. Your financial |
| any program you are enrolling in is regionally | | | | aid officer should be able help you get this estimate |
| accredited, especially online. | | | | before you start classes. It is important to focus on |
| Once a non-traditional student is enrolled in a fully | | | | the cost of attending, not just the aid being |
| accredited program and is taking enough credits to | | | | received, as the loans will need to be paid back. |
| qualify, he or she then applies for federal financial aid | | | | Finally, it is imperative that you know the school's |
| which includes filling out a Free Application for Federal | | | | policies if you have to drop a class or withdraw |
| Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. The FAFSA is | | | | completely. If there is an emergency or a change in |
| available at your college and online. While the FAFSA | | | | family or work, some students may find that they |
| is primarily for federal financial aid it is also used to | | | | cannot continue to carry a half-load of college work. |
| determine your eligibility for some need based | | | | If the student does drop out it is important to know |
| scholarships. | | | | whether the tuition will be refunded in part or in |
| To qualify for government grants, a student must | | | | whole . Keep in mind that even if you drop out you |
| demonstrates financial need. The great thing about | | | | are still required to pay back your student loans. |