Partnership Between FindTheBest and CollegeRecruiter.com Puts College and Scholarship Data into Context

FindTheBest and CollegeRecruiter.com have partnered to help students find not only the best colleges and graduate schools for their educational needs, but also the right scholarships to help pay for that education.

FindTheBest, a data-driven comparison engine, has created six customized comparisons for CollegeRecruiter.com—the leading job board for college students searching for internships and recent graduates hunting for entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Comparing Options

The comparisons are divided into three categories: colleges, graduate schools and scholarships. Each of the comparisons provide students with key filters and sorting functionality needed to narrow options, as well as a comparison feature that allows students to view their options side-by-side.

The Colleges comparison allows students to find and compare colleges and universities based on key factors like location, tuition, programs, school size, ranking and more. Continue Reading

$6 Million in New Scholarships to Assist Nontraditional Students

Certain college students could benefit from new scholarships designed to ease the financial burden of furthering their educations.

Stevens-Henager College, a leading provider of on-campus and online higher education, in May announced in 14 new scholarship programs worth $6 million annually. All of the new scholarship programs may be awarded on a quarterly basis to recipient students at each Stevens-Henager campus and the campuses of its sister schools, CollegeAmerica and California College San Diego.  The number of scholarships that each campus may award per quarter will be based upon the campuses enrollment size. Continue Reading

“You got accepted! But…can you go?” Eight Steps to Take When Financial Aid Isn’t Enough

Laura Gilbert, Ph.D.

High school students across the country are eagerly anticipating the arrival of college decision letters.  For most students, acceptance is only the first hurdle.  Money is the second and often bigger hurdle.  Receiving a healthy financial aid package (scholarship-heavy, loan-light) can feel like hitting the college-funding jackpot. Yet a weak financial aid package doesn’t have to be the end of the road.

If the college of your dreams says “yes” but their financial aid award says “no”, don’t give up!  Take a deep breath.  Sit down with paper, pencil, a calculator, your family and the college budget you and your family have in mind.  Bring a creative, flexible spirit to the table. Continue Reading

College Financial Aid Process Myths and Realities

Are you bound for college?  Here are some things to think about concerning what is true and false about financial aid.

For two million-plus college applicants, how to pay for college is always top-of- mind – particularly during today’s tough economic times.  Competition for much-coveted financial aid remains as fierce as the college admissions process itself, so it’s imperative that applicants and their parents know fact from fiction.  Below are three common myths about the college financial process, followed by advice for students and their parents. Continue Reading

Another Debt-free Education Offer – This Time From the University of California

An exciting trend is developing in the collegiate world. Following in the footsteps of Harvard University, the University of California Board of Regents approved a new financial aid plan, on Jan. 5, by unanimous decision.
The Bule and Gold Opportunity Plan, as it’s called, will provide grant and scholarship assistance to undergraduates whose families earn below the state’s median income of $60,000. According to UC’s Web site, the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan “will initially provide a minimum level of gift assistance for 48,100 eligible California-resident students … eligible students with sufficient financial need will receive additional grant support to help defray other educational expenses such as books, housing, food and transportation costs, among others.”
“This plan is intended not only to make our financial aid message clearer, but to encourage more low-income students to apply to the University of California,” UC President Mark G. Yudof is quoted. “There is no better time than during this period of economic hardship to reassure families and students that UC is financially accessible. The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan sends a simple but powerful message to these families that the University of California is committed to helping them cover the cost of a college education.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan can visit the UC Web site at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu. Parents interested in learning more about whether their families qualify for the Blue and Gold plan, or any other type of financial aid, can visit one of the UC campuses’ interactive Web-based financial aid estimators that can be accessed by visiting http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying.html