Easy Ways to Save Money on Your College Education

Spend 5 minutes reading this and it WILL save you thousands on school and save countless headaches.

First financial aid is the broad term given to "how you finance college" and it falls into 3 categories Free money, Uncle Sam, and Private money. The goal is to maximize the first two while at the same time doing the most important thing of all... Keep your costs down! There are many practical ways to do this which will make a huge difference in the amount that you pay for your degree!. lets start with, keeping costs down because If you take one thing away from this I want to be this.. The easiest way to reduce the cost of college is to reduce the tuition. How you do this is very simple; get as many credits in ways other than paying tuition at a 4 year university, and there are several ways to do this

Community College- Tuition is a fraction of that of a university and in some states such as California Free and you may be able to live at home. Yes, you sacrifice the freshman experience but you will be happy when you are buying a house years before your friends.

CLEP Classes- This is taking a test that covers the content of a required class and if you pass you get the credits. Most universities have a limit on the number of classes you may CLEP but you should do the maximum. CLEP'ing a class costs around $250, whereas a class at a university easily costs 5 times that.

AP Classes- These are high school classes that prepare you for a test, that if you pass you get college credit for the class.

The next easiest way to save is on books. You should attempt to check out the text book for upcoming classes before the semester starts! If you can not do that you can rent books online from retailers like ecampus.com. If you do buy, buy online and sell back any books you know you wont ever read again, which will be most of them.

OK, so you have reduced the cost and now it is time to look at paying what you have to. The first thing you want to do is file the FAFSA early, as close to Jan 1 as possible. You can estimate your taxes and if they come out substantially different update your FAFSA later, but filing early ensures you make yourself eligible for as many grants and scholarships as possible. the next thing you want to do is max out your subsidized Stafford loan. There is 0 interest on this during school. After you have taken the max on Stafford if you still are short. Go to your financial aid office, they may have programs which are only available to students when they max out the Stafford. Finally, if it comes to taking a private loan, take as little as possible and pay it off fast.

I hope these tips help you save on your education!

Brooks Kelley
President
American College Lending
http://www.amcollegeloan.com/

Original article

Student Loans With Bad Credit Help People Onto the Education Route

The economic difficulties that the nation is experiencing has placed many of us in financial hot water. But in such times, it is not unusual for the powers that be to look to the future - and education is certainly an investment in the future. It is not unusual either for many people in such difficult situations to seek retraining and career changes, and return to college with the aid of student loans.

These loans are not nearly as difficult to get approval on if an applicant approaches the right lender and meet the necessary criteria, but loans for students with bad credit are available from more than just banks and credit unions. There is a wide variety of loan sources, with varying degrees of strictness.

What this means is that there is every chance that, regardless of the financial situation of an applicant, the funds can be secured to pay the necessary college fees. While there are no guaranteed student loans despite bad credit the chances of success are much higher with the alternative lenders and financing sources.

Student Loans are Different

It is understandable if someone with low credit scores believe that they would be unlikely to secure a student loan with bad credit. After all, when banks reject a loan application, it is placed on the credit record and can convince other lenders to reject his or her application too. But the fact is that student loans are considered different to personal loans.

Traditional lenders, like banks and credit unions, usually take a very strict view of bad credit rating, but this is not the case with all loan sources. Because the purpose of loans for students with bad credit is to fund the costs of returning to college, or even beginning a college career from high school graduation, there is a more supportive attitude shown by lenders on general.

In essence, this means that some of the strict criteria are relaxed, with some applications normally rejected for personal loans accepted for a student loan. Of course, guaranteed student loans despite bad credit do not really exist, but the chances of success are higher.

Public Loans

Public loans refer to the lending that national and federal government does to aid those students who are in financial need. Of course, such student loans with bad credit are invariably available on far better terms than similar loans from banks and other lenders.

The loans are secured by filling out a FAFSA, or Free Application for Financial Student Aid, which can be done on the internet. But because they are specifically loans for students with bad credit and is acute need for financial help, credit rating does not matter. What is more important is information pertaining to income and also tax returns.

There are two main loan options to applicants, namely the Perkins and Stafford loans. The former is awarded to applicants with extreme needs, while the latter is available either subsidized, when the Government pays the interest, or unsubsidized, when they do not.

Of course, in the absence of guaranteed student loans, despite bad credit, this option is the next best thing for those who qualify by reaching the required benchmarks.

Check Your Option as College

There are several financing options available to students other than student loans, and it would be wise to consult that Financial Aid Office that is open on the college campus. Every college has one, and in terms of providing accurate and helpful advice on loans for students with bad credit, their input can be invaluable.

True, there is no such thing as a guaranteed student loan despite bad credit, but the options exist that make the whole process run that much smoother. Colleges themselves offer help, while an early application could see a scholarship secured, making student loans unnecessary.

Joycelyn Crawford is the author of this article. For more information about Easy Loans for Bad Credit and Easy Home Equity Loan please visit EasyLoanForYou.com

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How to Afford a Child Prodigy's Education

When parents have a child that is very talented at a young age, it may be difficult to know how to provide a quality education. Some parents feel that a basic public school education is not sophisticated enough for a child who is exceptionally bright. Children that have high levels of artistic talent and athletic ability may also need higher levels of learning to fully develop their skills. Private schools and private instruction are more likely to give the child the special attention needed to foster these academic, athletic or artistic abilities. For children that come from a financially comfortable family background, this may be an easy task. Simply enrolling the child in the best schools with the best tutors and coaches to foster a child's talents is a rewarding and easy task for parents without financial concerns. Parents who must spend carefully and already live on a tight budget may have justified concerns about affordability. There are a number of ways to work around this.

Scholarships

For children who have had some instruction, they may be able to enroll in a specialized learning environment. Private schools and boarding schools often admit very bright or prodigy-type students to their institutions based on their excellence. Partial scholarships are sometimes offered to allow more children the opportunity to attend.

Governor's School

Some states have a governor's school program for junior high and high school students gifted in the arts. The tuition is typically paid for by government funding and treated as a part of the public school system. Students must audition for these programs and competition is fierce. Transportation may be provided by the state. Some programs provide a voucher for students to take public transportation to and from school.

Student Loans

When public schools do not offer enough challenge and instructions for gifted children and child prodigies, it is possible to send them to schools that will help them to further develop their gifts. There are private educational loans available that can be used for nearly anything school-related. This includes private schooling, music lessons, football camp and art classes. They also cover tuition, room and board, transportation, musical instruments, athletic equipment and uniforms. These low-interest loans offer long-term payments that can be deferred up to three years.

Extracurricular Lessons

When local professionals work as tutors and coaches for children with athletic, musical or academic talents, they often enjoy training very talented students. Sometimes they are willing to take on a financially disadvantaged student in exchange for the opportunity to train and observe the natural gift. This is especially true for tutors and coaches involved in artistic or musical occupations. As they get older, students can attend schools that will also foster their talents if they have been developed end encouraged.

Author writes about a variety of topics about paying for school and helps students learn more about scholarships and student loans.

Original article

Get a Bad Credit Student Loan to Further Your Education

If you find yourself unemployed and feel that furthering your education would help you in the job market, you are not alone. But many adults find themselves in the position of having bad credit and wonder if they can get the financing they need to get the education they need. That usually puts the kibosh on their seeking to further their education. They do not realize that they can land a bad credit student loan.

Regular Loans Different From Bad Credit Student Loans

Of course, bad credit can hamper your ability to land a traditional loan. But getting a bad credit student loan is a somewhat different process with benchmarks regarding credit history, bad or otherwise, not coming into play as much as for traditional loans. The nation is going through an economic trial, but the vitality of the economy in the future is dependent on education. The nation needs to retain the technological advantage it now holds. A fact important to remember is that no credit history is pretty much the same as having a bad credit rating. You need to prove yourself to the lending industry by establishing a good payment record or repairing the one you already have.

Financial Need Benchmarks

Though you may have a tarnished credit history, you will be happy to hear that most student loans are based on financial need. Of course, this means that you can get enough of a loan to finance your education, but there the limit lies. Your first step will be to fill out a Free Application for Financial Student Aid, or FAFSA. You can find the document online and fill it out there. All the information you will need is documentation to affirm basic information about your household and you will need recent tax return records.

Government Bad Credit Student Loans

Having filled out the FAFSA, you are ready to continue your search for funding. The federal government is the first option you should investigate. The federal Department of Education does not just dispense grants. It also offers a variety of loans mostly based on your financial need, among other lesser important information. While some of these government loans are dispensed directly by the government, often they are provided through a bank or another lending financial institution.

Check With the Financial Aid Office of Your School

When you are applying for entry into the school you have chosen, it would be a good idea to stop by the financial aid office of the educational institution. The experts in those offices are well qualified to give you information on bad credit student loans. Many schools have already made arrangements with lending institutions. Because of their arrangements with the school these lenders usually offer very lenient requirements. It is the financial need that is the focus.

Take the Advantage

If you are unemployed or under-employed, use the time wisely. By furthering your eduction you will be providing future opportunities for yourself and your family. And you can do it without having perfect credit or a lot of money stashed away. No matter the venue you choose to advance your education, you will be able to find the financial aid you need, most likely in the form of a bad credit student loan.

Mark Venite is the author of this article and a successful financial advisor with 20 years of experience. He helps people to get approved for Bad Credit Personal Loan and Student Loans with Bad Credit. For more information about his services please visit him at AccessMyLoan.com

Original article

Financing Your Education With Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants assist those undergraduate students signed up for a postsecondary education that cannot afford their educational expenses without financial aid. The grant is in place to enable them to meet their educational expenses to the successful completion of a postsecondary degree.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are overseen by the Department of Education and are categorized under the Federal Student Aid Information Center. In order to be eligible, students have to be enrolled in eligible schools which may be public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education. These can include but are not restricted to universities, colleges, hospital schools of nursing, vocational-technical schools and for- profit institutions.

Students need to sign a statement of educational purpose, a statement of registration compliance (selective service) are not permitted to owe reimbursement on another a Title IV grant, cannot actually have a Title IV loan that is defaulted, cannot already have a bachelors degree and must file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

While the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program is overseen by the Department of Education, the disbursing agent will be the Federal Student Aid office. The Federal Student Aid office will both determine and notify participating institutions. From there the institution awards these funds to the students based on financial need. The necessity for financial assistance is as established using the Federal Needs Analysis. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants require the institution to match funds with what is awarded.

To be qualified to receive the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants the student is required to be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen (this implies those with an Alien Registration Card or those with Arrival Departure Record with specific designations). The student should also be accepted for enrollment into an eligible institution of higher education.

The total grants were $770,933,000 in 2007; approximately $757,464,800 in 2008; $757,464,800 in 2009 and $757,464,800 in 2010. Depending upon the need of the student and how much they are assigned designated by the institution, the grant received through the program can vary between $100 and $4,000; mostly, a new student was able to expect around $736 in 2010. A student cannot receive more than $4,000 unless the study abroad costs (within reason) exceed the cost of attendance at the student's home institution, at that point the student can receive up to $4,400.

There were around 1,302,740 recipients for the program in 2010. That year the exact amount available was $958,816,000; this represents the amount of funds awarded to participants in this program. This total can include federal appropriated dollars and institutional matching dollars.

Students that want to find out more or want to declare that they are interested in being considered for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity can contact the educational institution that they already attend or plan to attend in the future. More information is available at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fseog/index.html

Michael Saunders is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com. He maintains Websites providing resources on small business grants and philanthropy giving.

Original article

Help! I Need to Start Saving for My Kid's College Education

It's the American Dream. To have your kids grow up and go to college. To graduate from a university. To have earned the right to have those little letters after your name BA or BS. To know that your child is on the right track. The he or she has the world at their feet. Opportunity is abound. Oh what a joy as a parent to know that you did as much as you could to help them get to this moment. You helped with their homework. You drove them to their after school activities. Bought their clothes, cheered at their games. Just one little thing you forgot, HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THIS??

It is true that college is part of the American Dream. Not only is it part of the dream, it's a necessity. College graduates earn more over their lifetime on average than those that did not attend college. In today's economy your child will need every advantage he or she can get to help them find a good paying job, if they're lucky they will even be offered benefits. Probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, obstacles they will have to face is paying for college. Let's face it, college costs a lot of money. According to Regional average data: College Board "Trends in College Pricing" 2010 in 20 years the cost to attend a public regional commuter college, in 2030, will be $53,023.00. The following year it will go up to $55,674.00. The year after that is will be $58,457.00 and $61,380.00 the year after that. The cost for a 4 year college education for someone attending a regional college in 2030 - 2034 will be $238,534.00.

Right now in Chicago you can buy a nice 3 bedroom ranch style house for under $200,000.00. You'll be paying more for your child's education than you just paid for your house. It's time to think about saving for college.

One way is to establish a 529 plan. The definition and benefits of a 529 plan as stated in the IRS publication entitled "How 529 Plans Help Families Save for College and How the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Expanded 529 Plan Features"

In summary - A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. It is named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code which created these types of savings plans in 1996. 529 plans offer tax savings. Although your contributions are not deductible on your federal tax return, your investment grows tax-deferred, and distributions to pay for the beneficiary's college costs come out federally tax-free. The tax-free treatment was made permanent with the Pension Protection Act of 2006. There are also downsides to a 529. These plans are usually run by outside fund managers. This adds risk to the fund. In 2008, 89% of all 529 plans lost money.

Another way to save for college that offers less risk is to establish a high yield fixed flexible annuity. A high yield fixed flexible annuity offers tax savings as your money grows tax deferred. The annuity is fixed so the rate of return is guaranteed. If the stock market takes a plunge your finds are safe. It's high yield so you money grows at a rate of return that is usually better than any bank CD or Money Market can offer. There is a downside, if you withdraw the money before age 59 1/2 you have to pay a penalty of 10%. That's 10% of the interest earned, not on the principle. A flexible annuity also lets you self direct the investment. You have the option of investing your funds in any investment vehicle you want but doing so will release the issuing company from guaranteeing your rate of return.

Another big piece of advice is to keep the account in your name, not in your child's. Right now your child maybe a bundle of joy. In 20 year that could change. Maybe your child got involved with the wrong crowd or has issues. You don't want to give someone a large sum of money that can possibly do more harm to them. Also, if the account is in your name, they won't be penalized when it comes time to apply for financial aid.

Congratulations! You now are on your way to save for college.

Michael J. Ferro
President
Ferro Financial Services, Inc
http://www.ferrofinancialservices.com/

Original article

Profit From The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

For new nurses, the prospect of paying off several years worth of education loans can be intimidating. Some people even choose to avoid furthering their education for fear of becoming trapped by student loans.

For those who choose to enter the nursing profession, the US Government has great news, in the form of the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. The goal of the program is to help reduce the drastic shortage of registered nurses that many agencies are facing by helping nurses in certain positions repay their student loans.

The program is fairly simple. When a nurse signs up for the program, he or she must make a two year commitment to work in an underserved facility, usually a non-profit group. In exchange for successfully completing those two years of work, nurses receive sixty percent of their total student loans. If a nurse chooses to stay for an additional year, he or she will receive another twenty five percent of their original loan balance.

While nurses are working in these positions, they are earning a regular salary and receiving benefits that are the same as they would be for those not participating in the program. In essence, the program offers nurses the ability to nearly eliminate their loans in three years without doing anything extra.

Sound too good to be true? There are a few rules that nurses considering the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program should know about. First, the program is for registered nurses who have completed an educational program that resulted in the awarding of a diploma, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or a graduate level program in nursing from a school that is located within the United States. Nurses must be licensed and eligible to work at full-time status in one of the eligible non-profit facilities listed by the government. Students must be either US Citizens or must be legal, Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.

The next part is where nurses will need to do a little homework. You will need to be working at an eligible non-profit facility or be working as a teacher in a non-profit school that teaches nursing. There are a number of different non-profit facilities that are eligible for the program, including hospitals, nursing homes, state or local health and human services departments, certain hospice programs, skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, and federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.

There is a limit on the number of nurses who receive funding through this program, and preference is given to nurses who receive lower pay and who work in areas with the most drastic nursing shortages. Applications for the program are accepted annually, and nurses should read the information provided with the application packet completely because they will be entering into a contract with the government if they are selected. The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program can help you start the career you have been training for without the burden of student loans.

Steven C. Brown is helping nursing students prepare for exams and tests. Read more about nursing careers and the TEAS test when applying for a nursing school.

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