Improving Your Career Without Breaking the Bank

Education can be expensive. Fortunately, financial aid options are available, whether you attend school online, or whether you attend a traditional school. Whether you attend a traditional college or go to school online, the process for applying for financial aid is the same. There are three main sources that can provide you with help for attending school: the government, scholarships, and your employer.

The Government

The U.S. Government provides financial aid every year to students that need the money, in the form of Pell Grants and Stafford Loans. In order to apply for governmental financial aid, all you have to do is fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. Visit the FAFSA web site in order to fill out the form and send your financial information to your school of choice. The government will come up with your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on your age, any dependents you might have, your income, and any money you might have in savings. Based on your EFC, your school will come up with a financial aid package. Often you will primarily be offered grants and loans.

Scholarships

Another common source of funding for college is scholarships. The College Board can provide a free scholarship search for you. You might also be able to find smaller, less-advertised scholarships on bulletin boards at your local library or college guidance office. There are scholarships available based on your major, ethnicity, hobbies, and for many other reasons. Financial need plays a factor in many, but not all, scholarship offers. There are some scholarships that don't give their scholarships away during some years, because they don't get qualified applicants. Investing a small amount of time applying for scholarships can pay off big time later on.

Your Employer

Your employer is in the business of making money. When employees are more knowledgeable, happy, and productive, businesses make more money. For this reason, your employer probably has an interest in you furthering your education. Many employers offer tuition assistance or reimbursement programs. If you work for a larger company, you can check with your human resources department to find out whether they offer these programs or not. If you are with a smaller employer, you might want to ask your boss if the company offers financial assistance. Even if they don't have a formal program in place, they might be willing to help foot your college bill, especially if your education is directly relevant to your field of work. The worst they can do is say no.