1.    A college education secures our future. The number of employment opportunities is greater and statistics reveal that most leaders are college grads.

2.    If you have a college education you will make more money which in turn will enable you to have a better lifestyle. If a high school graduate earns US$ 34,303 annually, a college graduate will earn US$ 56,334, and a person with a professional qualification will net at least US$ 99,411.

3.    It is not just earnings. A college education makes you a rounded person. It shapes your communication skills, expands your knowledge base, makes you methodical and organized, and exposes you to a whole new world of learning.

4.    People with a college education have better value systems and are healthier. They are able to guide their family positively.

5.    College can help you qualify in fields you are interested in. So if you are an innovator, inventor, or healer, or artist you can train in the specific field and qualify.

6.    According to experts, college graduates are self confident, have greater knowledge of governance, are less likely to become criminals, are emotionally and financially secure, make better partners and parents, and have a deeper understanding of  human nature.

7.    College instills a deep sense of right and wrong and is they very essence of a democratic world.

8.    Education opens the doors to many things like multiple jobs, career choices, the chance to further education at any point in life, and the option of teaching others what you have learnt. Be it a child, family member, or a poor person you meet.

9.       College education is an investment in you that yields much more than Wall Street investments.

10.    College educated citizens will ensure the continuing success of the “American Dream.” The ability to see the right path and work for peace and prosperity.

Students according to Jose Marti a patriot are the very ramparts of a nation and the strongest advocates of freedom. Education creates a conscience and as a result a better human being. College education eventually becomes a legacy for future generations. Most succeeding generations of college educated people go to college themselves. The value of a good education becomes ingrained in their genes. Huge stones can be moved with muscle power but it is brain power that tells you how to move it and what can be done with it.

Many traditional colleges and universities offer a convenient payment plan, which can be divided up into 10-12 months.  After determining the entire yearly cost, that figure would be divided by the number of monthly payments and paid at the college’s billing office.  Payments are usually determined from one year to the next and students must finish paying for one year of college before entering into a payment arrangement for the next.  An example would be a college that would cost $12,000.00 per year in courses, meals and living on campus.  In this scenario, many students can pay $1,000.00 per months for one year.  For many families, a payment plan is much easier than trying to come up with a lump sum payment upfront.

Every year, many students qualify for federal student loans.  Applications and information can be obtained at a high school guidance counselor’s office and/or the college of interest’s billing office.  Applications for student loans are accepted each year and are generally required to be submitted at, or near, each new year.  In order to be considered, student’s must be willing and able to provide documented income for themselves and their family so that their loan application can be properly assessed.

Local businesses, organizations and even colleges often provide scholarships to students who they believe will excel at college studies.  These scholarships are usually available to high school seniors and are based on a number of factors, including grades, participation in school activities, employment and a personal interview.  In order to be considered for a scholarship, students must apply by obtaining an application at their high school guidance counselor’s office or from the organization granting the scholarship.

For students who are not eligible for the above options, but still want to attend college, there is an alternate option that will gradually help them to work toward their degree.  College courses are offered at a certain cost, which is calculated on a credit hour basis.  Many colleges allow students to enroll in several classes without becoming a full-time student and being required to pay the full tuition.  These students can often pay as they go, which means they only pay for the course(s) they are taking at the time and this will be a much more affordable way to pay for college.  It will take longer to obtain a degree, but anything worth having is worth waiting for.

Anyone who wants extra cash to pay for college may find that a part-time job will help, along with selling items at online auction sites, such as eBay and Yahoo.  Many students have financed their college tuition through these auction sites without taking too much time away from their studies.

The cost of a college education is probably the most expensive item in bringing up children today. When you take into account tuition fees, exam fees, living expenses, accommodation, books and computers it’s not surprising that the average cost of college education is over $20,000 per year and that’s before the social side of college life.

Today we live in a world where only the best educated and most prepared can succeed. The Job market is probably the most crucial and competitive element of our society and having a college education and degree goes a long way towards succeeding in it.

When our children are ready to enter the world of work it will be even more difficult and a college education will be essential to succeed. Here are 5 ways to fund your child’s college education.

1. The usual method of parental funding of college education is out of current income, that is out of your weekly or monthly salary.

Whilst this is the most common method of funding college education it is one that only the very rich or highly paid can afford to do with ease. Even if there are 2 salaries most families find it difficult and will require sacrifices, even more so if you have more than 1 child. At best most parents can only afford to contribute part of the costs of college education out of current income. Additional sources of income will be required.

2. Your child can work his or her way through college.

Many students have to work whilst studying but many find the experience of juggling a job, lectures and a social life very difficult. Often the result is that students drop out of college education, fail their exams or don’t do as well as they could.

3. Your child may have the opportunity to take out student loans to fund their college education.

Today the vast majority of students are forced to take out student loans to fund all or part of their college education. Usually to subsidize parental contributions, student loans are the most common way of students funding their own college education. Many students however, leave college with substantial debt and even with interest rates at historically low levels today’s students can expect to have to pay substantial monthly repayments for many years.

4. Your child may obtain a scholarship or be entitled to grants from either federal or local funds towards the cost of their college education.

There are many sources of student scholarships or grants and with a bit of research most students today can find some grant funding. These sources however cannot be guaranteed for the future. Whilst scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid and as such are preferable to loans they are not guaranteed or predictable and therefore relying on them for our children is a risk.

5. Take out an education savings plan to fund college education.

An education savings plan is a regular saving plan into which you and your children can contribute. The plans are administered by colleges or state authorities and can be taken out for any child including a newborn babies. Because of the effects of long term compound interest the earlier you take out your plan the easier it will be and the lower your contributions will be. Because the funds are built up prior to going to college students do not have to rely on scholarships, grants or loans and they can concentrate on their studies.

There are a number of options to fund your child’s college education but the only way funds can be guaranteed is by you taking out an education savings plan. With the education savings plan you decide what you can invest and your child can also contribute to his or her college education. With luck scholarships and grants will still be available as will loans to top up if necessary. If your child does not go to college the fund can be cashed in.

Taking out an education savings plan early will give your child the real opportunity of a college education and the best prospects for a job when they leave college.

Getting your MBA online is a great way to get you ahead in your career path.  By taking online MBA courses, you can get your degree at home, on your own time.  Imagine the convenience!  Getting your MBA online is also great if you are a working parent, yet wish to further your business education.  By participating in an online MBA course, you do not have to attend classes at an actual university.  You can take all courses online, in the privacy of your own home.  Online classroom procedures vary from class to class.

Another way getting your MBA online gets you ahead fast is you can usually complete the online MBA program in about two years.  By taking your MBA courses online, you can get your MBA degree quickly, and enable yourself to do what is necessary in order to reach the next step in your business career goals.

MBA online courses come with may benefits that will help you in your business career.  As long as the university is accredited, you may be eligible to get grants, loans, and/or scholarships to help you financially with payment of your MBA course studies program.  You can get applications for these loans, grants and scholarships directly from the learning institution’s online web page, if you are unable to get to the learning institutions financial aid office in person.

The value of an MBA degree is surely to help you when trying to advance in the right business career.  The MBA is taken very seriously in careers including:

ท    accounting
ท    economics
ท    marketing

Many businesses will look very highly upon a potential employee with an MBA degree.

The MBA can also help you make more money.  It is estimated that the MBA is alone worth $10-30,000 a year, depending on factors such as your employer and the location of your jobs.  Investing in a MBA degree online can ensure you larger earnings for your future.

Getting your MBA degree online can be very beneficial to your business future.  Getting your MBA degree online can be less time consuming, and much more convenient than the traditional classroom.  Not only can you be eligible for grants, scholarships, and/or student loans, but getting your MBA degree can ensure you more money added to your annual salary.  But do not jump headfirst into the first online MBA program you find.  It is always best to do some research, as questions, and evaluate different schools to ensure you are enrolling in the online MBA program that is best suited for you.

1.  Be clear about your needs

Different people have different needs for getting an online education. Before you begin considering your options, do some introspection to determine what kind of education you seek, how you can schedule your online education to fit into your routine, how much time and effort you are prepared to spare and whether it is personal fulfillment or career advancement that you aim to achieve through the course.

2. Investigate your options

The Internet is teeming with offers of online education for every conceivable purpose. So take the time to gather information about the options that suit you. Most schools provide free information kit on their education programs that can help you get a better idea of what’s in store if you choose to enroll with any of them. You have the option of conducting searches according to the type of courses you are interested in and colleges based on locations. Make sure you have a clear idea of the program being offered before you invest your hard earned money and time into any one of them.

3.  Be wary of scams

As with all offers on the Internet, there is no dearth of scams that you need to be wary of when doing your searches for the right course. If you’ve heard about a course through a spam e-mail, steer clear of it. Fake degrees and credentials are plentiful and you’ll only be wasting your time, effort and money if you go with one of them.

4.  Look for accreditation

Accreditation of the school or institute that you enroll in, is of vital importance. After all if the reason you are pursuing further education is to advance your career, the degree you will be earning needs to be recognized by your employers or prospective employers.

5.  What are the facilities being offered

Different online courses have different facilities to offer their students. Many offer services like tutoring, reference links, library access, technical assistance, discussion threads, interaction with fellow students and a variety of other features. Depending on the kind of study aids that are likely to benefit you, make your choice based on the kind of facilities you can avail once you enroll for a course.

If you are one of the many who is trying to make a decision about where to spend your money and invest your future, read on. This article provides a comparison of 4 year colleges and technical schools. Which one is right for you?

How to choose between 4-year colleges and technical schools:
Ask yourself these questions and then consider the benefits and disadvantages of each type of school.

What are your goals? Do you have a specific career goal? What are your educational goals? Do you want to learn as much as you can about a variety of subjects? Do you want to learn as much as you can about one specific topic (become an expert)?

What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Would you benefit from a shorter more targeted program?

Lifestyle. How will school fit into your life? Would you benefit from non-traditional scheduling such as online, evening, or distance learning? 4-year colleges and technical colleges both offer such options, but it varies by school so check with any schools you are interested in attending.

What do you need? Realistically, what sort of degree or training do you need to pursue your dreams? Research your desired field–know what the requirements are and how they compare to the programs you are considering. The US Department of Education website offers resources for career and training research.

Be a consumer. Check equipment; is it new and up-to-date? How does it compare to the equipment you will be using on the job? Trust me, this can be tedious but it is quite important. After graduation I realized I should have taken more time to research the computer programs employers expected me to know for technical writing jobs. Had I been better informed, I could have taken extra courses dealing specifically with those programs.

Investigate the following: campus size, current and former students, faculty and staff;
Find out if the school is accredited and licensed; Do they make extraordinary claims? Will your credits be transferable?

4-year Colleges
Some people like to learn just for the sake of learning, while some are more focused and driven and use school as a steppingstone for job advancement. If you are interested in more scholarly pursuits a traditional 4-year college might be your best option.

Benefits: liberal arts training applies to many fields, diverse topics to explore, prestige, “college life”

Disadvantages: expensive, time consuming, may get degree in area you no longer wish to pursue, high admission standards and prerequisites, job market may be slower upon graduation-may require additional training

Technical Schools
If college was for everyone, technical schools would not exist. Some people may feel a stigma is attached to technical schools. In a society where attending college has become standard, we lose sight of the value of skills training. People feel abnormal and may be angry if they don’t want to go to college but feel pressured to do so anyway.

Benefits: shorter duration, focused programs, easier admission standards, flexible scheduling, certifications not necessarily offered at 4-year colleges, hands on training

Disadvantages: may be viewed as less prestigious, can be expensive, may be less room for exploration of other subjects, accreditation, for-profit institutions

Many of the fastest growing jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree but do require post-secondary education (education beyond high school) These jobs include:
•    Medical Assistants
•    Social and human service assistants
•    Home health aides
•    Medical records and health information technicians
•    Physical therapist aides
•    Physical therapist assistants
•    Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
•    Veterinary technologists and technicians
•    Hazardous materials removal workers
•    Dental hygienists
•    Occupational therapist aides
•    Dental assistants
•    Personal and home care aides
•    Self-enrichment education teachers
•    Occupational therapist assistants
•    Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
•    Preschool teachers, except special education
•    Respiratory therapists

For more information on job growth statistics see the Bureau of Labor Statistics webpage.

Remember, the best way to determine what is right for you is to simply know yourself and be informed.

There are 3 common types of scholarships grants awarded to college students and soon-to-be college students: athletic scholarship grant, academic scholarship grant, and departmental awards. Each has its criteria to consider before awarding the grant. Each also has a particular group of student to target.

Academic Scholarship Grant

This type of scholarship grant is awarded to students who achieve a qualified GPA or has achieved an exceptional academic performance before entering college. This grant is usually awarded to students who have received honors. It is sometimes awarded automatically upon entering college or university but most schools require application for academic scholarship grants.

Basically, the primary focus of schools giving academic scholarship is of course the academic aspect; however, some colleges and universities base the grant on either merit or need, or both.

Upon passing an academic scholarship grant, the student is required to maintain a ceiling grade. If not achieved after the end of the term, colleges and universities usually put the student on probationary status until the grades reached the prescribed level. If not achieved however, the academic scholarship grand may be terminated.

Athletic Scholarship Grant

If you are on the competitive edge, you get an athletic scholarship grant. However, this is highly sought after type of scholarship and there are many students applying for this.

An athlete of course wants to go through college for free using this type of scholarship. Some even dream to finish college as an athlete. And this dream is not far from the realizing. With good personal marketing and exceptional skill in any sport, you will be able to apply and be granted with this type of scholarship.

Departmental Awards

This type of scholarship grant aims to provide the student with the option to stay or take up his or her studies on a particular department. Usually, it is offered to exceptional students with desire to take other fields. The departmental awards are given so as not to keep the students in the department. Or, it is given to attract interested students to take study at a particular department.

You can inquire about this type of scholarship directly on the department of the school.

There are other college scholarship grants that are given to students but basically, these three are the ones given by the schools themselves.

The two types of associate degrees offered are the A.A. or associate of arts degree, and the A.A.S., which is the associate of applied science degree. You can earn and A.A. degree at a community or junior college, at a technical school, or even online. This degree designation indicates that you have completed a course of study with an extensive foundation in general education, as well as concentration in a particular area. Your degree is often in an occupational area, or in liberal arts. This degree is designed to transfer to a four-year college or university.

Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) is intended for graduates that seek career entry or job advancement after 2 years of college study. AAS degrees will possibly transfer some or all credits to a four-year college. Associate of Applied Science degrees are the preference of employers seeking people to fill various middle level technology positions.

Once you get an associate degree, you typically need another 2 years or 60 credit hours to earn a bachelor degree. Earning an associates degree is a great away for a student to see what direction they want to take in their education. Either degree is a great option for those seeking to earn an associate degree.