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Funding Your Online Degree 
Part 2
In Part 1 we discussed scholarships as a way to fund your degree . In this article we will look at having your boss help pay the bill and getting governmental aid for your college education.
Employer Funding
If you are currently employed, especially at a larger corporation, then there is a good chance that you will be able to have your work fund your education. Usually, this will involve a contract that requires you to, among other things, stay with the company for a specific amount of time after finishing the degree.
What You Can Expect from Your Employer
The average employer will pay up to $5,000 of tuition each year, but depending on the value of the degree, many will pay much more than that. It is not uncommon for companies – especially large, successful companies – to pay for entire degree programs, including textbooks and degree-related fees.
The requirements will vary from company to company, but the practice is extremely common, and there is no reason for you not to speak with your employer about the possibility of having work fund your education. Prepare yourself for the discussion beforehand so that you’ll be confident and self-assured when the time comes to have this conversation.
Government Assistance
As soon as you have decided on which school you’ll be attending, you can fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is a highly-detailed application.
You can use this application for traditional or online schools, so there is no reason not to fill one out as soon as you have been accepted to a program. The process for filling out the FAFSA is different for adult learners than it is for traditional students.
Grants and School-Offered Assistance
The government provides over $166 billion to students who need assistance with their education post-high school. This includes plenty of aid for returning students and adult learners. Another great resource is the Pell Grant, which does not have to be repaid and is available to students of any age, provided they are studying an undergraduate program. These, too, are applicable to online degrees, and can provide up to $5,550 to eligible applicants each year.
Most online colleges provide vast amounts of information to students and prospective students. For instance, Kaplan University has devoted several pages to explaining in great detail how students can obtain scholarships, financial aid, loans, grants, and additional funding for their education. With their average degree program totaling roughly $30,000, the financial aid provided by scholarships, grants, and employer tuition reimbursement can make your costs minor, or even non-existent.
Stay Positive and Keep Searching!
The key to finding financial aid in any form is to simply search for help and apply to legitimate scholarships and grants. There are millions of dollars available in scholarships each year, and these awards are routinely claimed by students of every type– including adults attending online classes.
How do you go about funding your online education? Are there any special tips or tricks you’d like to share? Let us know in the comment section below!
Do you want the benefits of an online degree? Talk to an advisor at an online college and get started today!
More posts by Elena Jacob »
Author: ElenaJacob
Elena Jacob is a freelance writer for several blogs and online publications. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and is working toward her PhD in Physics. She lives with her family in Las Vegas and spends her days reading, writing, composing, and inventing. Visit her online at www.RavenhartAssociates.com, or email her at jacob.elena@gmail.com.
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