Monday, August 4, 2008

Education Grants - what are they?

Could you be using grants to help pay for college tuition??? Read the article to find out more.

Grants for Education

By Angela Linton

When we think about grants, the first thing that comes to the first thing that comes to mind for many of us is education. This is not just due to the fact that there are a lot of grants available for education. It is due to the fact that this concept has been with us for quite some time now. It has given departments and students alike areas to venture into, areas that apart from the grant they would never have entered.

Types of Education Grants

There are many types of grants provided by the government, non-profit organisations as well as within the private sector. There are education grants available for children as well as for adults.

For example, there is the Toshiba America Foundation that provides grants that will help K-12 students in the areas of Mathematics and Science. On the other hand, there is also the Citi Group Foundation they provide grants for those who are pursuing a course (studies) in Financial Education.

There are also other areas of studies that they provide grants in.

Online Application

In the United States of America, the US Department of Education has provided e-Application (On-line) to assist in the application for grants. Therefore by using this avenue your application will be delivered to the correct department. Along with that it will reach the department a lot quicker.

By applying online you will also be given access to certain areas that normally you would have had to call or email about. By that I mean you will have access to your profile among other things along that same line. So seeking out organisations that provides grants for education online will be helpful to you in more case than one.

Other Organisations

The government, as I have alluded to before is not the only organisation that provides education grants. There are non-profit organisations as well as foundations that does this. The Annenbery Foundation as well as the Albertson is just a few such agencies.

Different Types

Education grants are made available to both individuals as well as to organisations. Therefore, when checking out education grants, it is a good idea to be certain about the type of grant and to whom the grant is being offered.

Use your Situation

Education grants are also offered to certain groups of people. For example, the African American Success Foundation speaks for itself. Therefore it goes without saying that those who are African American and are in need of an education grant in the areas that this foundation deals with, should be taking a look here. I will also add that paying close attention to the persons that a grant is been offered to will save you a lot of time and energy.

There are also education grants that are specifically for women. For example, the Altruse Foundation offers grants to women who are living in “third world countries”; and desire to study in one of the collages in the United States of America that the Foundation is satisfied with.


Choose the rights student loan

Not all student loans are created equally... and how do you know which is the best option for you as a student. This article outlines the differences between student loans to help you find which one is right for you.


Which College Loan is Right for You?
By Jill Dow


Many young college students are under tremendous pressure trying to figure out how they are going to pay the high costs of college tuition. Often times, their parents are equally concerned about where the money will come from for their child's education expenses. If you're a worried student or have a college bound child and have exhausted the financial aid and scholarship avenues, your only solution is a college loan. There are several kinds of college loans available, but which college loan is right for you?

The first type of college loan is a federal student loan. This loan is either subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized college loans are when the government pays the interest of the loan for the student for the time they are in school, but the student must show a great financial need to get this type of loan. Unsubsidized federal loans are available to anyone. With an unsubsidized college loan, the student must pay the interest beginning at the time the loan is issued. There is no deferment. Federal student loans are very easy to obtain and are the most commonly used.

The next type of college loan is a private student loan. A private student loan may be required to add funding when other types of financial aid are not enough to cover the student's costs. Private student loans are credit based. They are unsecured, which means they require no collateral, but they have very high interest rates. Private college loans can be used for anything, not just tuition costs.

Parent college loans are another type of college loan to consider. A parent college loan is a loan the parents can take for the full amount of the college tuition. This loan can span the tuition costs for all of the years the student will be attending college. This loan is convenient because it will be the only loan needed for the duration of your college years. The interest rates are much lower on parent student loans.

The last type of loan is the college consolidation loan. This loan is used to consolidate several prior loans into one loan source with one payment to a single lender, rather than having several payments to several lenders. Most students find that they need this type of college loan after they made the mistake of not getting enough funding in an initial loan.

These are the college loans available. Before choosing a college loan, try to figure out how much you need. Then see if you can get any help from your parents, financial aid or scholarships. Be sure that when applying for a college loan that your credit is as good as possible. With some careful thought, you should be able to select a college loan that is right for you.

For more information about college loans and some great college loan calculators visit http://collegeloanresource.com


Alternative Ways to Pay for your Education

So you want to further your education... but how are you going to pay??? This article helps outline some options students have to stay in school!

Paying for Further Education: The Alternatives by Isla Campbell

The prospect of paying significant tuition fees for further education, as well as needing further money to live day-to-day can be off-putting to many prospective students about to leave school or sixth-form college; as a result many are choosing to jump straight into the workplace rather than opt for further qualifications.

However, there are also a number of government grants and college bursaries available to those who fulfil certain criteria. So, before applying for a higher education course it is worth doing a little research to see what help is available as there could be an alternative to the prospect of spending many years repaying student debt. But, don’t despair. Even if after researching all the help available it transpires that you will still have to take out a student loan it is worth remembering that you will not be required to repay a penny until you have left university or college and are earning at least £15,000 per annum.

Student loans from the government changed after the 2005/06 academic year meaning that anyone now applying for a full-time higher education place could qualify for annual loans of up to £3,145 to cover the cost of tuition fees and up to £6,475 to cover other living costs, including accommodation. The interest rate payable on student loans is linked to inflation, meaning that in real terms you will pay back roughly only what you borrowed, and would certainly be a cheaper option that taking out a personal loan.

In addition, grants are also available to those who qualify, but unlike student loans they do not need to be repaid. Starting in academic year 2008/09 up to £2,835 per annum is available to students depending upon the amount of their annual household income. Any student from a household with an income of less than £25,000 per annum will qualify for the full maintenance grant of £2,835. A student from a home where the annual income is £50,000 would qualify for £524 and once the income exceeds £60,005 no grant is claimable.

Bursaries are also available directly from universities and colleges, and the amounts vary according to the institution. If you are thinking of applying to a particular university, first research the financial help available from that educational establishment. In some cases it can be as much as £1,000 for those on a full maintenance grant.

Even mature students don’t necessarily need to resort to a student loan or personal loan

Financial help is also available to those who choose to undertake part-time undergraduate study, but anyone thinking of choosing that route of higher education should do their research according to their own personal circumstances, as financial aid varies widely.

Disclaimer: This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as advice or used to make financial decisions. Expert financial advice should always be sought and any links contained within this article are included for information purposes only. drawn from a bank or other lender to pay their way through college, as they could also qualify for help. Dependent upon their personal circumstances and providing they are less than 60 years old when starting their higher education course mature students are usually treated as any other undergraduate with regards to the financial help they can obtain.


About the Author

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

So what exactly is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?

So this year, my financial aid packet from school consisted of both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I had no idea what the difference is, until now. Hopefully, now you'll know the difference too!!!


Subsidized Vs Unsubsidized - Making Student Loans Simpler
By Gary Marjani


Before beginning the process of acquiring financial aid, it is important to understand a few essential facts, especially when it comes to student loans. This is particularly important because more and more potential college student have to rely on so many student loans these days. To begin with, it is vital to understand the two primary kinds of student loans. There are subsidized loans and unsubsidized student loans. The two types of loans are somewhat similar, but the differences between them are key. Understanding those differences is crucial when it comes to putting together a financial aid package.

To begin with, an individual student's need for financial aid is what determines the amount of a subsidized loan. Some common subsidized loans are the Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. Succinctly, a subsidized student loan does not make students pay interest while they are enrolled in college. Instead, the federal government takes care of the interest while the student is in school. This is, in fact, why they are called "subsidized loans" - while a student is in school, the government subsidizes his or her interest for the duration. Following a student's graduation, there is a grace period, and after that, the student must begin paying back both the loan(s) and the interest.

Conversely, unsubsidized loans stipulate that a student must pay back the loan's interest while he or she is attending college. That is, of course, why they are referred to as unsubsidized loans - the federal government does not subsidize any of the balance for the student. As with subsidized loans, students have a grace period immediately following their graduation from college. The main difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans here is that all of the financial responsibility is solely left up to the student.

Another key difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans exists in the amount a student is allowed to borrow each year. As aforementioned subsidized loans depend on an individual students need for financial aid and financial status. As such, there may be a limit to how much a subsidized loan allows any single individual.

While unsubsidized loans may also limit the amount given to any one student, their limitations are usually far lower than those for subsidized loans. In general, unsubsidized loans allow students to borrow as much as five thousand dollars more than subsidized loans offer.

In most cases, a student must be enrolled in college on a part-time basis, at least, in order to receive either a subsidized loan or an unsubsidized loan. If a student with a subsidized loan finds that he or she needs more money, he or she can certainly turn to an unsubsidized loan instead. However, that is not the only other option at all - there are many types of student aid available; these are just two of the most common kinds. There are also a variety of grants, scholarships, and private loans available if a student's subsidized or unsubsidized loan does not meet all of his or her financial aid requirements.

Gary Marjani is author of several articles pertaining to student financial aid such as FAFSA, Stafford Loan, Pell Grant, etc.


THE INTERNET - Your one stop shop for paying for college!!!

The internet... so many people and so much money to be made. Find out how to best utilize the internet to help with college costs!!!

How to Pay College Tuition by Interning
By Violet Williams

Paying for college is quite a pain in the you know what these days. As students struggle to afford tuition costs, housing costs, books, food, clothes, car, the list goes on and on. There are opportunities that exist which can help students to cover their tuition costs and personal research is the key to finding such opportunities.

For many, opportunities to pay for college tuition, and just to survive, are a part of every college experience. Seeking out these opportunities is a great way to stabilize your income when in school. Scholarships and other opportunities, such as grants, can bring in great income and cover the cost of school. So what if you are not fortunate enough to have gained a college scholarship, or grants, and you are looking for a way to support yourself through college? There are great companies that exist to help support students, and a bit of personal research can help to expand your mind, making you even more aware of what you have to do in order to survive. One of the greatest steps to covering costs as a student is seeking a means to make money, to support yourself, while gaining valuable experience in some field. This is a great way to expand your wallet as well as your resume.

Paying for your college tuition seems like a lofty bill to cut, but when you are a student and you have few opportunities for financial aide, you have to seek out ways to make it work. You have to find a way to be persistent and really examine what you have going for you and what you plan to do about it. For those seeking out college support, it is a great idea to get online, look at what internships are available, and what you can do to support your own way through college. It is important to be aware of the many opportunities around you and stay focused. College tuition need not be as challenging as it appears, and that is why it is necessary to put it all into perspective. Internships are a great way to make college money that supports you through school, helping you to make rent, to pay for food, and other bills that must be figured into your expenses.

Students all must pay their college tuition and there are a number of ways to do this. For those seeking out a means to survive, opportunities do happen and many students find that they are in fact able to support themselves. Hard work will be required and this is a given but looking at the many resources available widens your chances of success. Income is not everything; in fact, there are a number of ways to grow while interning or working and this usually involves working with a company that supports your goals and is helping you to succeed, to get you where you need to be. Seek out opportunities and dive into speaking with others, getting the word out that you are looking for internships or some gig that will support you through school. Get resourceful and many opportunities will arrive.

More information on how to pay your college tuition and College Works Painting in your area is just a click away.


Student loans can pave the way to success!!!

As a current college student, I know the high price of education. My school's tuition is almost $37,000 a year... something my working middle class parents could not afford. How did I make my dreams come true and attend school, student loans! They can make all the difference... Read on!

Student Loans - Opening New Doors of Success For You
By Peter Maxwell


For a student to finance his educational costs had never been as easier as it is now. Earlier on if you or your family could not support the educational costs then there was no hope of continuing studies. But now the student loans have changed the entire scenario. You will now do not have to worry but to make your mind to reach your goal. These loans will help you to get what you want in each and every step.

If you want to adopt these loans for your higher studies than the amount required will be bigger. However, based on the type of the course the expenses vary and on this basis you can choose to pick either the secured or the unsecured loans. Keep your valuable asset as security and get the secured loans. Amount offered is higher in it. For the unsecured no collateral is required and the amount offered is small. So, it is essential to calculate the total requirement of finance for picking the right loan.

Such loans will not let you spend extra money while you pursue the course. Right from the admission in college to habitation, buying study materials, foods, travel expenses, medical expenses and classroom projects are being financed by it. So, there is no scope for the student to think or to take tension about all those things.

For repaying it too you will not have to bother much. As soon as the course gets completed you can start repaying the loan. If not that you can repay the loan after getting a job too. The rate of interest too is kept very small in it.

Further the student loans allow the bad credit holders too. No student is discriminated on the basis of his credit record. So your dream of getting educated will never be hampered for your credit status. Come with records like late payment, bankruptcy, CCJs or arrears and take way the amount you require.

Peter Maxwell is an expert loan advisor at Students Loan. He has done MSc Management and Finance from University of Whales. To find Student Loans, federal student loans, consolidating student loans, bad credit student loans visit http://www.studentsloan.org.uk/