| There are hundreds of resources available to students | | | | enrolled in college for a certain amount of hours each |
| who want to continue their education and receive an | | | | semester, while private student loans begin accruing |
| online college degree but are unable to pay for it up | | | | interest rather quickly (2). |
| front. Whatever route you're choosing for student | | | | Loan Forgiveness Programs |
| financial aid - an unpaid monetary gift or re-paid | | | | While loan forgiveness is not necessarily a way to |
| financial assistance - funding your way through school | | | | fund your way through school, it is an excellent way to |
| is achievable. Money no longer needs to be a factor in | | | | eliminate your loan debt quickly once you've received |
| your decision to return or even go to school the first | | | | your traditional or online college degree. The |
| time around! | | | | government has devised a way to purge most (and |
| To decide which type of student financial aid would | | | | sometimes all) debt for students who involve |
| suit your educational pursuits, the following information | | | | themselves in community or military service or work |
| on loans and scholarships should come in handy. | | | | for AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America |
| Before enrolling at any school to acquire your online | | | | (VISTA), Teach for America, Peace Corps, National |
| college degree, however, you need to make sure that | | | | Health Service Corps, or teach students in a |
| it's accredited, the degree program you're interested in | | | | low-income area (3). |
| is eligible for student financial aid, and you've discussed | | | | Most of these programs, which serve underprivileged |
| your situation with the college's representatives in the | | | | families and individuals, will forgive a large portion of |
| financial aid office. | | | | your loan debt if you work full-time upon graduation. |
| FAFSA: Student Financial Aid | | | | The National Health Service Corps, for instance, pays |
| The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or | | | | up to $25,000 per year towards your debt. To learn |
| FAFSA, is an office of the U.S. Department of | | | | more, visit the Sallie Mae website. |
| Education that provides student financial aid or | | | | Scholarships |
| monetary assistance to eligible individuals who wish to | | | | Attend the college of your choice and acquire your |
| continue their educations well beyond high school and | | | | online college degree - for free! How is that possible? |
| receive a traditional or online college degree. FAFSA | | | | Student financial aid in the form of scholarships from |
| strives to encourage all Americans to achieve a higher | | | | organizations, clubs, and fund programs all over the |
| education and realize the power that it has within our | | | | United States offer billions of dollars to students around |
| society. | | | | the nation to help them realize their dreams. |
| By partnering with a large number of postsecondary | | | | Scholarships recognize scholastic achievements or |
| schools in the U.S., FAFSA is able to play a vital role in | | | | merits, while some focus on personal interests, |
| ensuring that interested individuals have ample student | | | | community involvement, and/or financial need. You |
| financial aid to continue their schooling and receive an | | | | may be required to write at length on a topic or simply |
| online college degree. The program, which processes | | | | submit some detailed information on your educational |
| 14 million applications each year, distributes more than | | | | interests. |
| $80 billion per year in student financial aid to eligible | | | | Best of all, scholarships are free money in your pocket |
| applicants (1). To apply online or learn more, please visit | | | | - you do not have to re-pay this gift! To learn more |
| FAFSA's website. | | | | about scholarships or to find a few that may be of |
| Students Loans | | | | interest to you, please visit |
| In essence, student loans are low-interest monetary | | | | Realize Your Dreams with an Online College Degree |
| assistance from the government to help cover the | | | | If you receive a loan, the important thing to keep in |
| cost of education (tuition) as well as books, housing, | | | | mind is that you've been given more money than |
| and incidentals. However, upon graduation and receipt | | | | needed. Try not to spend it all; tuck some away and |
| of your online college degree, the loan must be re-paid. | | | | save it for when you must begin re-paying the loan. |
| There are three types of student loans: federal | | | | Otherwise, you may find yourself with a large loan bill |
| student loans doled out to the students themselves; | | | | each month (with all the interest to boot). If you've |
| federal student loans to parents, which are normally | | | | received a few scholarships or other type of student |
| referred to as PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate | | | | financial aid, congratulations! This money is yours and |
| Students); and private student loans, which are funded | | | | you can do what you wish with it. You are off the |
| by banks and/or financial companies rather than the | | | | hook and are released from re-paying these generous |
| government. | | | | contributions to your educational pursuits to receive an |
| Advocates for private student loans say that this type | | | | online college degree. |
| of student financial aid combines the best of the | | | | Regardless which student financial aid route you |
| low-interest rates, but with a higher loan amount and a | | | | decide to take, enrolling in college, learning all you can, |
| longer grace period. Private loans have two methods | | | | and acquiring your online college degree are things to |
| of disbursement of funds - school to channel (money | | | | be proud of! |
| is distributed to the school) and direct to consumer | | | | Sources |
| (money is given to the individual to use as he or she | | | | 1. federalstudentaid.ed.gov |
| sees fit). Before deciding which type of loan is | | | | 2. finaid.org |
| appropriate for your particular situation, do your | | | | 3. collegeanswer. |
| homework! Federal student loans require that you are | | | | |