As I search for a possible grad school I am terrified by the idea of taking out more than $50,000 in loans. Are there other sources of money for grad school besides loans? Also, as I research scholorships I am wondering whether DL learning will be a hinderance. If I live in South Carolina but I am looking at a school in say Florida, would I look for scholorships both one or the other or both??? Marnie
Even though the book Finding Money for College is out of date (1999), a lot of the advice my daughter and I came up with is still relevant for the nontraditional or distance learner. Perhaps, of all the ideas in there, the one that has produced the most positive feedback has been the idea of a foundation grant. There are more than 2,000 foundations that make smaller grants to individuals (as contrasted with schools, hospitals, opera guilds, etc.). Most are listed in the annual publication "Foundation Grants for Individuals." One real drawback is that most foundations dispense money only once a year, with a far-in-advance application time. The book is long out of print, but many libraries have it, and perhaps used book finding services. I have hopes that the rights will revert to my daughter and me later this year, at which time, it would be nice to get it updated and republished by someone else.
Thanks for posting this, John. I've spent a few minutes following up on this. Last published in 1997, it has gone the way of a number of such resources and is still available and updated, but completely online. You can see it on the Foundation Center's website . The cost is $9.95 a month. Tom Nixon
Are you only looking at DL? There's not much I've found for scholarships for DL learners. (I haven't found any.) Most DL programs are considered "part-time" and most scholarships are for full-time students. But to be honest I haven't looked very hard. Another option would be to look into assitanceships and fellowships. These however are usually for on-campus, full-time students. Best way to find these is to contact the department of the school you want to attend directly.
If you live in South Carolina then you should seriously consider resident programs. South Carolina universities are fairly cost effective and generally free with funds and/or assistantships if you have something to offer the school. A public university graduate education in South Carolina shouldn't cost you $50 grand... Clemson is $3918 or so per semester or $400 per hour. Assuming a 32 hour grad program, the cost would be $12,800 without books and lab fees... well under $50K though in reality likely to near $22K. This assuming you are near enough to a public university that offers a program that you're interested in. Also, you should be aware of the Academic Common Market. It is possible to attend some out-of-state schools for in-state tuition depending on what you want to study. Academic Common Market DL is often a valid option but not always so if you are looking for the most cost effective route -- though it could be more cost effective as well. I've not found anything in the way of scholarship money for DL grad students except for those programs offered by the specific schools. You can learn more from the financial aid office of that school. I've not read about any SC state grant funding for graduate study -- if you find something please let us know. In the event you did find something, SC would not likely fund your education in Florida. I don't think I've ever heard of a DL grad assistant but I guess it's not out of the question. Why couldn't a DL grad student teach lower undergrad DL courses? hmmmmm. I need a grad assistant gig....
Thanks for your reply. I live in Myrtle Beach and the only choices for grad school are Webster U. for counseling and Coastal Carolina for teaching. I am looking at Argosy (Sarasota) for clinical. There are few options available here. Clemson only has school counseling in DL. DL works best for me becasue of my family and my business. I will continue to explore all the avenues available. Marnie
for those who hit this thread on a search querry. Coastal Carolina has MEd and MAT programs in education. They also have an MSc in Instructional Technology (no teaching certificate required) and an MSc in Coastal Wetland and Marine Studies (no specific undergrad required). Webster offers an MBA and 5 MAs (bus., counseling, HR, Mngt., and IT) in Myrtle Beach. Winthrop and USC each offer MBA programs on the Coastal Campus. UNCW is not really that far (66 miles) from Myrtle Beach if you can schedule your classes well. Charleston (90 miles) is probably a bit far. Charleston Southern is doing a cooperative undergrad with HGTC, and Coastal in criminal justice. If DL is your only available option then you may find the only source of funding is loan money. That said then, you have to consider whether the degree will provide enough return on the investment to warrant the loan amounts. If you plan to remain in Myrtle Beach for post-grad employment, you may want to really explore the job market before you invest a really large sum. I like it in Myrtle Beach alot!
