According to the figures released by the College Board and highlighted in the New York Times, the price tag on colleges rose at more than double the rate of inflation in the last year.

Interestingly, public colleges lead the pack with a 6.6% rate hike to $6,185 a year. Private colleges are close behind, with an average annual cost of $23,712.

With room and board amounts added to tuition and fees, the public and private college costs average $13,589 and $32,307 respectively. 

As these costs go up, parents and students are forced to shoulder a tremendous amount of debt — including federal financial aid and private loans. If something does not change, thousands of students could find themselves priced out of a college education.

Online school students are able to save money because there are no room and board fees; and there are no costs associated with transportation to a college campus.  Also, junior colleges continue to be a great bargain for the first two years at an average annual tuition & fees cost of only $2,361.

Future college students may need to be creative in finding ways to afford the expensive cost of higher education.

online schools, college, junior college, education, higher education, private colleges, public colleges, inflation, financial aid, College Board, New York Times, college students

Popularity: 18% [?]

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Of course, no one really wants to work when they can play. And who would choose a difficult path over an easy one? Not many of us. But there are times when it makes sense to go against the grain to achieve a worthwhile goal. Earning a college degree or professional certificate falls within that category; and here are some reasons why.  

A college education is a proven way to change your destiny. Anyone can dream about becoming successful in financial management, software design, information science, medicine, education, law and other career fields. But in order to excel and move up in these fields, it is important to gain the training and skills required to competently perform the job requirements. Online schools are a great pathway to these career destinations.

A college education increases knowledge and self-esteem. Obviously, with the completion of each college course, knowledge is increased and the student is one step closer to his or her goals. As each required course is checked off, there is a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and increased self-esteem. Ultimately, the educational goal is attained; and graduation from the program or school is a celebration of a student’s diligence and perseverance. Accredited online schools allow students to choose their study environment and schedule while pursuing these educational goals via computer learning. 

A college education leads to fulfilling employment, promotion and higher earnings. Although the minimum educational requirement for an entry-level job is typically a high school diploma, earning a college degree generally opens up new doors of opportunity in professional positions offering higher salaries. Those who are ambitious may want to earn an online MBA or Ph.D. to bolster their credentials. Online education offers a flexible alternative to traditional schools so the student can work full-time and attend school at the same time. 

With so many accredited online schools to choose from, it is easy envision the possibilities of a new life after receiving a college degree or professional certificate. But why just dream about it? Instead, do something now– enroll in school. There is so much to gain and so little to lose.

online education, online school, distance learning, computer learning, college, life, career, job, e-learning, work, promotion, fulfillment, dream, online MBA, opportunity, employment, online Ph.D., professional certificate

Popularity: 26% [?]

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Imagine being accepted to your college of choice, then losing your hard-earned space in the entering freshman class. Some high school students found out the hard way that this little-known scenario is possible.

The Los Angeles Times (6-22-07) reported that a small percentage of horrified high school students received letters of rejection from elite colleges to which they had just been accepted. To make the situation doubly tragic, many of these students had already turned down other schools and were scrambling to find somewhere to enroll for the fall semester. 

So how did this happen? 

The answer lies in two words: conditional acceptance. Most students were either unaware or did not take seriously the fine print on their acceptance letters. The original acceptance to college was conditional and depended upon stellar final grades from the spring semester.  

These now-disappointed students slacked off during their last semester of high school, following a frowned-upon tradition of “senioritis”. Some partied to the detriment of their grades, others celebrated their college acceptances by skipping homework or classes, and still others simply opted to relax from the high pressure of being a high-achiever. But when some colleges received the less-than-stellar final grades, it was all over and the axe fell.  

At least four California colleges – USC, UCLA, Cal State Long Beach and UC San Diego – were among schools that sent out letters revoking acceptance. Reportedly, UCLA will send out 90 such letters by the end of July. Still, schools are between a rock and a hard place as they seek to keep their admissions standards and statistics high. They are often concerned about college rankings and accreditation; and their admissions officers would rather see the coveted spots in their schools go to students who maintain excellence throughout the entire four years of high school. 

But thankfully, most slacking seniors got off with either a warning from their chosen college, or an acceptance based upon successful completion of their freshman year’s coursework.  

Still, copping senioritis is like playing Russian roulette: Why take the risk?

high school senior, high school graduate, education, college, school, disappointment, freshman, college acceptance, USC, UCLA, UC San Diego, Cal State Long Beach, California

Popularity: 29% [?]

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