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The state of Michigan is set to offer two years of free community college to essential workers who were required by their job to leave the house and work at least 11 weeks in the spring during the coronavirus pandemic. This unique opportunity, called Futures for Frontliners, opens doors to essential workers who are not commonly considered front-line workers and an estimated 600,000 residents could qualify.

Michigan Offers Free Community College Education to Essential Workers

September 24, 2020 11:15 AM

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

The state of Michigan is set to offer two years of free community college to essential workers who were required by their job to leave the house and work at least 11 weeks in the spring during the

Each year, upwards of $3 million in college financial aid goes unclaimed by low-income college students, despite the fact that it costs nothing to complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and that more than half of U.S. high school graduates qualify for free federal student aid. To help close the gap of unused and unmet financial aid for many students, states are beginning to enact Mandatory FAFSA policies, which require high school seniors to either apply for federal student aid or opt-out before they graduate. So far, the results have been promising for three states who are leading the way.

Mandatory FAFSA Policy to Become New Graduation Requirement?

August 18, 2020 2:22 PM

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Each year, upwards of $3 million in college financial aid goes unclaimed by low-income college students, despite the fact that it costs nothing to complete and file the Free Application for Federal

Traditional colleges and universities aren't the only institutions that have had to make significant changes to their in-person, academic instruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. College prison programs have faced their own unique challenges, requiring them to adopt new methods of remote instruction or risk program suspension.

College CARES Act for Incarcerated Students

June 18, 2020 4:32 PM

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Prison College Programs Go Remote Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Photo credit: Jared Ames

A new PBS documentary exhibiting prison education, titled College Behind Bars is set to air on November 25 and 26. The four-part series documents the journeys of dozens of incarcerated men and women as they pursue college degrees in the Bard Prison Initiative - deemed one of the most rigorous prison education programs in the United States, according to Inside Higher Ed.

PBS Airs Documentary About Higher Ed in Prison

September 18, 2019 11:53 AM

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Photo credit: Jared Ames A new PBS documentary exhibiting prison education, titled "College Behind Bars" is set to air on November 25 and 26. The four-part series documents the journeys of dozens

Lawmakers are considering extending Pell Grants to people who pursue short-term training in order to land better jobs, faster. Federal student aid in the form of Pell Grants can currently be used for college degrees and qualifying certificate programs.

Proposed Pell Grant Expansion for Short-Term Training Programs

July 9, 2019 4:00 PM

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Lawmakers are considering extending Pell Grants to people who pursue short-term training in order to land better jobs, faster. Federal student aid in the form of Pell Grants can currently be used for

Why should you use scholarship websites? How should you use them? And what are the chances of you actually getting scholarships off of these sites? I had the opportunity to interview Scholarships.com VP Kevin Ladd and here's what I found.

Why Students Should Use Scholarship Websites

July 15, 2015

by Genevieve Grant

Why should you use scholarship websites? How should you use them? And what are the chances of you actually getting scholarships off of these sites? I had the opportunity to interview Scholarships.com

The financial aid process can be a daunting one but if you're planning on attending college any time soon, you should know that there are tons of federal student aid options available. From Pell Grants to Perkins Loans to the FAFSA, the funding is out there but your eligibility to receive aid depends on your level of need and, subsequently, how much aid you are eligible to receive. Translation: For the majority of students, loans are inevitable. But don't fret just yet because President Obama announced the Student Aid Bill of Rights initiative to help student borrowers with the challenging student loan process.

Understanding President Obama’s Student Aid Bill of Rights Initiative

March 13, 2015

by Suada Kolovic

The financial aid process can be a daunting one but if you're planning on attending college any time soon, you should know that there are tons of federal student aid options available. From Pell

When it comes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a decimal point could make a world of difference: An update to this year’s FAFSA has cost some low-income filers a chance at some serious federal student aid.

What’s in a Decimal Point?

July 7, 2014

by Suada Kolovic

Online FAFSA Error Makes Low-Income Filers Look Like Millionaires

With all this talk about possible Pell Grant cuts, acceptance rates plummeting and universities facing serious tuition hikes, which schools are worth the outrageous sticker price of about $200,000? According to PayScale.com’s annual survey of colleges with the highest return on investment rates, Harvey Mudd College tops the list with a 8.8% annual return. PayScale.com’s data is pulled from 1.4 million pay reports from persons who obtained bachelor's degrees in the last 20 years, for more on their methodology click here. Check out who made the cut below:

Which Colleges Are Worth the Sticker Price?

March 28, 2014

by Suada Kolovic

Colleges with the Highest Return on Your Investment

Summer classes are great for getting ahead or catching back up if you’ve fallen behind. They aren’t for everyone, though, so when deciding on extra courses for the summer, keep these factors in mind:

Financial Aid: An important factor is whether or not you can financially afford to take summer classes. When I was a freshman, I was able to take two summer courses using a summer Pell grant but unfortunately, that option is no longer available. Summer financial aid is included in your fall/spring aid year so if you use your loan money in entirety during the fall and spring, then you may not have any left for summer classes. Check with your campus financial aid office to get the most current information and payment alternatives.

Class Location: You do not have to live near your university or stay on campus to take a summer class. You could take a course at a nearby university while living at home – just go to your admissions office to fill out the necessary paperwork to complete this. Online classes are also always an option; there may be a price difference between online and traditional in-person courses so be sure to check that before signing up.

Time Spent in Class: My university has a breakdown of three short semesters during the summer that last one month each. I took two “Maymester” classes and we were in class for almost three hours a day Monday through Thursday; I found this easy because the professors taught only the needed information without the extra projects that usually fill up a semester. Not all universities have this option so check with your advisers on the different summer class options.

Are Summer Classes Right for You?

April 29, 2013

by Chelsea Slaughter

Summer classes are great for getting ahead or catching back up if you’ve fallen behind. They aren’t for everyone, though, so when deciding on extra courses for the summer, keep these factors in

News Articles About Pell Grant

Michigan Offers Free Community College Education to Essential Workers

Mandatory FAFSA Policy to Become New Graduation Requirement?

College CARES Act for Incarcerated Students

PBS Airs Documentary About Higher Ed in Prison

Proposed Pell Grant Expansion for Short-Term Training Programs

Why Students Should Use Scholarship Websites

Understanding President Obama’s Student Aid Bill of Rights Initiative

What’s in a Decimal Point?

Which Colleges Are Worth the Sticker Price?

Are Summer Classes Right for You?

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