Need advise on Financial Aid for DL schools

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by nobycane, Apr 16, 2003.

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  1. nobycane

    nobycane New Member

    Hello,
    I have a question...
    I recently enrolled to Excelsior College and was accepted.
    I only need to complete 18 hours (6 classes) in order to complete the degree program I had enrolled in.

    My problem is that the school doesn't accept certain financial aid programs such as Pell Grants and Stafford Loans... and the school is suggesting private loan program - Which I don't really want to get into (intrest rates are a joke).

    I requested a few scholarship apps, but I don't think I will really qualify due to the fact that I am so close to graduation and my GPA is like a 2.9.

    Can anyone else have any advise on financial aid that they would recommend to use for this school...???? I don't have the finances to float the bill myself...

    any advise would be helpful
    Thank you
    JAY
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Join the military.

    Take a job with a tuition reimbursement plan.

    If you will be taking classes to satisfy your remaining requirements, apply for financial aid at that school.

    See if your home state has financial aid available.

    Work and save the money.

    Borrow the money from other financial institutions.

    Borrow the money from family or friends.

    Get Matthew Lesko's book and see if government money is available. http://www.governmentgrant.com/

    Wait


    (Those are a view ideas. I'm sure there are others.)
     
  3. plumbdog10

    plumbdog10 New Member


    Consider testing out of your remaining six courses. Testing is almost always cheaper than DL courses.
     
  4. alexn

    alexn New Member

    Excelsior has an installment payment plan for their enrollment fees. You can make payments as little as $162 per month for six months. It's not free but nonetheless it is a very accessible option for many.

    Assuming you have a good credit history, credit cards may be another option. My permanent rate (APR) on my Wachovia Bank Visa is assessed at 1% over prime, and with the current low cost of borrowing, this might be the way to go.

    Finally, if you are looking for cheap classes, look at the usual suspects: LSU, Western Illinois, Indiana. Western Illinois will let one enroll in courses without prepayment as long as one is in good financial standing with them. I suppose that means you have to be fully paid up by the time the semester ends.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2003
  5. anthonym

    anthonym New Member

    I started Excelsior with 21 semester hours remaining to finish my B.S. and used examinations to complete 18 of those hours in a short time and then finished with an independent study course.
    LSU (www.is.lsu.edu, only $214 per class) and Southwest Texas State University (www.ideal.swt.edu, about the same $ as LSU) are very inexpensive options. I found SWT to be more convenient because they allow public librarians to serve as proctors while LSU requires its exams to be administered by a college or university. LSU, however, has a larger selection of courses. Either way your max cost is about $645 to finish with Independent study.
    Also, you might consider the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP for a cheap and quick 6 semester hours. The CLEP General Exams are also worth 6 sh's each. With this option you will likely spend less than $200.00 to finish.
     
  6. ada2001

    ada2001 New Member

    You said that private students loans would have a high interest rate. If you have to go this route, have you looked into Sallie Mae? I took a small loan from them to finish a couple classes for my BA, and the interest is only like 4%, and they are a private loan company. Hope this helps!
     

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