Web Wealth: Financial aid for returning students
We're back with more sites about paying for college. The focus this week is on financial aid for "nontraditional students" - meaning older people heading back to the classroom.
We're back with more sites about paying for college. The focus this week is on financial aid for "nontraditional students" - meaning older people heading back to the classroom.
At Finaid.com there's a page of links and tips for nontraditionals. Many state colleges, including those in New Jersey, allow older residents to audit courses for free when classroom space is available. Income is also key to winning financial aid, so even elder students need to fill out the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA form.
Finding grants for adults in college "takes research," notes this page for adult students at Collegescholarships.org. It says to look for grants under the headings of nontraditional or "special populations" programs, and lists several that are specifically designated for adult women - including those offered by Executive Women International, the American Association of Business Women, and the Business and Professional Women's Foundation.
Even older students who can demonstrate financial need can qualify for federal Pell Grants, which provide up to $5,500 per year that students don't need to pay back. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can't get a Pell Grant. But this page at the U.S. Department of Education site describes the program and links (on the right side of the page) to descriptions of other programs for adults, including the $4,000-per-year Teach Grant for students - even those who already have degrees - who want to become teachers in low-income neighborhoods.
The Geteducated.com site helps adult students find and compare accredited online degree programs. It also features the "Diploma Mill Police," a database of hundreds of fake online colleges. The site's financial-aid page has a good guide for cutting costs by, for example, taking advantage of education tax deductions and credits, seeking assistance from your employer, and learning how to buy cheap textbooks online.