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Federal Student Education Loans May Be Your Ticket to an Online Degree

September 9th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are anxious to get an online college degree but felt that you just couldn’t afford it right now, the answer may be a Federal student education loan. These loans are offered through the Federal Government and come in a variety of loans, each tailored for a specific educational need. If you apply for any of the online student education loans, your chances are very good of being approved.

Why a Federal Student Education Loan?

Of all the student loans available today, it is the Federal student education loans that provide some of the lowest interest rates and most flexible repayment terms. You will find that some of these loans even offer a subsidized payment feature.

And then once you graduate, the loans provide a grace period where no payment is required for a certain period of time. This allows you to find employment with your new online degree and get your feet on the ground before you have to start re-paying the student loan. It is obvious that ‘Uncle’ Sam really does want you to get an education and they are willing to help you bankroll your online college degree. So, why not take them up on their offer?

How Much Funding Can I Get?

This will really be determined by the online school you wish to attend. Also, the amount will be determined based on a number of factors. These include; what year of school you are in, the tuition costs of your online college, and lastly, your financial need. Not surprisingly, many online students pay for most, if not all, of their tuition costs of attending their online college through federal student loans and grants.

How You Can Apply for a Federal Student Loan

Your first step should be to contact your online college’s financial aid counselor. They can offer recommendations on applying for a student loan, what loan amount to expect, and perhaps where to find alternative or supplemental sources of funds (like scholarships and grants). They can also advise you of what documents will be required to expedite the application process.

As a convenience, the government allows you to apply online for student education loans (even with bad credit). You will be required to fill out a form called a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA website will explain in detail the application process and required information and forms. Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information.

7 Probing Questions to Ask Your Prospective Online College

May 23rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

By the time you start your search for the right online college or university, you have already learned a lesson on distance education and the benefits involved with this type of educational program. So, as you close in on the final few school selections, what questions should you ask the school that will help you narrow down your search to the final one?

We have prepared a list of the 7 most important questions to pose to your prospective college choices. Get the right answers to these questions, and you will be almost assured of making a wise decision. Here they are:

#1 - Is the school and your desired program accredited? If so, by whom?

This is probably the most important question you can ask the online college. If the program and college is NOT accredited by the correct regional association, your degree could be diminished or rejected by prospective employers.

#2 - How long has the college or university been in existence?

This is important to determine the stability of the institution and the reputation associated with their degreed programs.

#3 - What online degrees are offered?

You may already know the answer based on your research, but not all institutions offer all degree levels in your chosen field of study. Make sure they offer the specific degree that you want.

#4 - How long will it take to get your online degree?

This will tell you whether there is flexibility in the program to allow you to accelerate your degree or extend the period to completion to accommodate your personal lifestyle.

#5 - What is the total cost to get your desired degree?

We are not just talking about the average cost on online courses here, but a total cost of your education. Start by asking about tuition costs, fees, books and course materials, hidden fees, etc. Your cost should be slightly less than a traditional “brick and mortar” university, but make sure you are not over-paying for the privilege of a distance education.

#6 - How many students are attending the university and how many have graduated?

This will again give you insight into the stability of the institution (large number of students) and give you a gauge of how satisfied the existing student body really is (the more that graduate, the more satisfied they are with the school).

#7 - What are the materials required to take the classes?

This will tell you if you need to purchase textbooks, lab materials, computer hardware and software, and any other course fees. All of these should be considered a cost of your online education.

There you have it - the best questions you need to ask your prospective college or university to get to the bottom line. And if you would like additional information about your final school selections, why not visit eLearners.com and let them do the “legwork” for you. The cost is right – FREE – and you can request information about your chosen online degree and online college just by filling out a short form. It’s the smart thing to do!

How to Select the Best Online College for You

May 9th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Selecting the right online college is not a simple task, but asking the right questions will definitely step up the process. Trust me, an accredited college with distance learning programs in your desired field is out there, you just need to do a little research to find it. Your first step in finding this online school is to narrow down the field by searching for “online colleges”, “distance learning degrees”, or “online education” and then visiting each college’s or university’s website.

This can be a tedious and time consuming process, but you do have options that will help you streamline your search. Online education websites like eLearners.com can really save you time and money. They have a database consisting of 100’s of colleges and universities offering distance learning degrees, with a search function that will help you isolate only those schools providing online classes or degrees in your desired field of study.

Once you have narrowed down the field, so to speak, you can easily select a handful of colleges that appeal to you. The next step will be to gather as much information as possible about the school, its distance learning programs, accreditation, and tuition rates. Once again, a site like eLearners.com can help you obtain this information just by filling out a short form.

Once you receive the requested information, it will be time to seriously evaluate each online program and whether it is right for you. But before making the final decision, you will want to talk to the school and get satisfactory answers to some very vital questions.

Q: Is the college or university accredited? If so, by which accrediting organization?

Q: How long has the school been in existence?

Q: How many students are presently enrolled and how many students have graduated in the program?

Q: What hardware and software is required (i.e. personal computer, Internet connection, Microsoft Word or Excel, etc.)?

Q: What is the TOTAL cost of the program (look for hidden charges and fees)?

Q: What is the specific degree that will be earned and how long will it take?

Q: Is the online program flexible (ability to accelerate or extend the time to complete the program)?

Q: How will you communicate with your professors if extra help is needed?

If you get satisfactory answers to the above questions(and hopefully you will), you will be well on your way to making the right decision about your online college and desired degree. But the key here is to do your research the “smart” and efficient way.

To put it another way, if you had the choice, wouldn’t you rather let an expert guide you through “uncharted” territory rather than trying to blaze a new trail? Of course you would. And this is why so many other intelligent college-bound students like you choose the smart approach to online college selection.

So, why not let experts like eLearners.com help you streamline the online college search process so you can put your valuable time and hard-earned money to better uses?

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