Online Graduate Degrees
FINANCIAL AID
Many institutions, both public and private, provide low-interest loans to students and their parents or guardians. The Federal Government also provides several types of student loans based on the applicant's level of financial need. The amount of money a student can receive in loans varies by the distributing institution and depends on whether the student is claimed by a parent or guardian as a dependent. Since the process of applying for a loan may take several months, it is a good idea to start applying for Federal student loans well in advance. Complete the four easy steps on the right and begin this journey today!
Online universities offer multiple financial aid options to help you meet your tuition needs. These options include:
- Scholarships - There are just as many scholarships available for online students as there are for four-year college students. Many online universities offer a search service to help you to find the scholarships for which you may qualify.
- Federal Financial Aid - With recent changes in financial aid laws, more online university students now qualify for Federal Stafford Student Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Pell, and Federal SEOG Grants.
- Private Loans - Online universities can put you in touch with national lenders who offer private loans to cover your tuition and other educational expenses.
- Corporate Reimbursement and Third-Party Billing - Many employers will pay some or all of an employee's tuition for continuing education. Online universities will help you to set up payment plans for Corporate Reimbursement or Third Party-Billing.
- U.S. Armed Forces Tuition Assistance - Members of the United States Armed Forces are eligible for up to $4,500 per year in tuition assistance from their branch of service.
Please note that you do not need to have financial aid in place before you apply for an online degree. Many online universities have financial aid referral programs for incoming students, and will help you to get in touch with the resources you need to finance your continuing education.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Sources of Financial Aid, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20023.htm
