| Online college, university and technical school studies | | | | the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) as |
| can be more affordable than their campus-based | | | | an emerging varsity competition, are open to female |
| counterparts. Students don't have to worry about | | | | students, according to a recent report in Virginia's |
| commuting back and forth to campus, and they don't | | | | Goochland Gazette. By combining an athletic |
| have to pay for meal plans. Now, eligible students | | | | scholarship with an academic one, it's possible for |
| enrolled in traditional and distance learning programs at | | | | students to get full tuition scholarships, Coach Frances |
| the college level can reap the rewards of an | | | | Major of the University of South Carolina was quoted |
| expanded federal grant program and, in some places, | | | | in the Goochland Gazette as saying. |
| expanded scholarship offerings. | | | | Students considering online college studies can find |
| The federal government's expanded Pell grant | | | | grants and scholarships based on leadership, |
| program went into effect as of July 1 as part of an | | | | community involvement and subject area of study as |
| education bill that President Barack Obama signed into | | | | well. There are also grants and scholarships set aside |
| law earlier this year. Pell grants were expected to be | | | | for women and minorities. Large corporations, |
| provided to over approximately 600,000 more | | | | non-profit organizations and community and civic |
| students than last year. The size of the median grant | | | | groups also are a source of grants and scholarships |
| is, at $3,865, about $220 more than students last year | | | | for online studies. |
| averaged, according to a June article in US News & | | | | Some scholarships and grants might be intended for |
| World Report. Also as of July 1, Iraq and Afghanistan | | | | high school graduates, while others can be applied to |
| Service grants for students entering college are | | | | studies at any college level. An Arizona chapter of a |
| expected. Those who will qualify are in the group of | | | | women's society known as P.E.O. (Philanthropic |
| those who, after the September 11, 2001, attack had a | | | | Educational Organization) International, for example, |
| parent or guardian die in service. | | | | recently awarded two continuing education grants to |
| The federal government isn't the only financial aid | | | | adult women whose studies had been interrupted, an |
| provider to expand its offerings. In Arkansas, | | | | August report in the Sierra Vista Herald noted. One of |
| Academic Challenge Scholarships this year nearly | | | | the grant recipients intends to apply the grant to |
| tripled over those of last year, with more than 25,000 | | | | graduate degree studies that are part of a distance |
| students qualifying as compared to 8,282 in 2009, the | | | | learning program at Northern Arizona University, |
| Arkansas News Bureau reported in August. The | | | | according to the Sierra Vista Herald. |
| reason: The scholarship program is benefiting from a | | | | Distance learning is well-suited to professionals who |
| new state lottery. At the University of | | | | want to update their skills or advance their degrees |
| Nebraska-Lincoln, new Chancellor's Scholarships are | | | | with minimal workplace interruption. Parents, too, are |
| providing students with $2,000 in additional support, an | | | | reporting taking online courses. A K-12 study |
| August report in the York News Times noted. | | | | conducted by Blackboard Inc., and Project Tomorrow |
| Athletic scholarships often get attention, but parents in | | | | in June reported that 33 percent of parents said they |
| Virginia's horse country have found a source of athletic | | | | had taken online classes for their own professional |
| scholarships in what might be a little known college | | | | needs and personal interests. |
| sport. Equestrian competitions, recognized in 1998 by | | | | |