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The National Center for Fair & Open Testing

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing
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Four Financial Tips Every High School Senior and College Freshman Should Know | EdCircuit Photo credit: 401kcalculator.org by Afoma Okoye Financial planning is important for students seeking post-secondary education. Poor financial planning is one of the major reasons why students drop out of college. Fill out the FASFA The first step all students need to take during their senior year is to apply for FASFA. Federal student loans must be paid back after college graduation, or in the event that the student drops out of college. Students should talk to their parents about ways they can contribute money towards their own education. Some parents cannot afford tuition, but they can help by providing groceries, offering a home if their child wishes to commute, or they could help their child find local and national scholarships. Parents and student should be attentive to the interest rates on the loans. Focus on the college program, not the name of the college Apply for scholarships There are many scholarships for prospective college students. Do not feel pressured to attend college

Search BrowseTrending LoginorJoin 19 Results for "college tuition" All Colleges College Tuition Public Schools Graduate Business Schools Medical Schools Colleges & Universities Historical Tuition vs. Harvard University Profile Massachusetts Institute of Technology Profile Princeton University Profile Explore More California Institute of Technology Profile Yale University Profile Weekly Earnings & Employment-Bachelor's Degree Only Most Selective Colleges by State Average College Student Ethnicity by State Student Loan Auto Loan Credit Card Other Historical American Household Aggregate Debt U.S. U.S. For-Profit Colleges & Universities Median Income In-State Tuition (Inflation Adj) Out-of-State Tuition (Inflation Adj) U.S. U.S. States with Highest College Entrance Exams Average Tuition for Graduate Business Schools U.S. © 2015 Graphiq, Inc.

Congratulations to Class of 2014, Most Indebted Ever - The Numbers ByPhil Izzo As college graduates in the Class of 2014 prepare to shift their tassels and accept their diplomas, they leave school with one discouraging distinction: They’re the most indebted class ever. The average Class of 2014 graduate with student-loan debt has to pay back some $33,000, according to an analysis of government data by Mark Kantrowitz, publisher at Edvisors, a group of web sites about planning and paying for college. Even after adjusting for inflation that’s nearly double the amount borrowers had to pay back 20 years ago. Meanwhile, a greater share of students is taking on debt to finance higher education. The good news for the Class of 2014 is that they likely won’t hold the title of “Most Indebted Ever” very long. But as the debt burden of college graduates continues to rise faster than inflation, it begins to complicate the question of whether a bachelor’s degree is worth the expense. Zuma Press But will the debt associated with a college degree always be worth it?

The Teacher’s Guide To Open Educational Resources You’ve probably heard about Open Educational Resources and maybe even used some in your classroom. But the world of OERs is growing constantly, with more quality resources available every day. If you aren’t taking advantage of them yet, now is a great time to take a closer look. What’s so great about OERs? Open Educational Resources are learning tools like textbooks, lesson plans, and other media that are in the public domain or openly licensed, meaning that use you can freely use and adapt them. You can also contribute your new, modified version of the work back to the public, making OERs a wonderful way for you and your students to share your work with other classrooms around the world. How can I tell whether a work is an OER? The easiest way to find out whether a work is an OER is to look for a Creative Commons (CC) license. Where to start Since anyone can create an OER and share it online, the field of resources available out there is constantly growing. Literature Math and Science

Young Scholars | Office of Extended Studies Terp Young Scholars: July 10-29, 2016 In this demanding pre-college program, high school students pursue academic interests, discover career opportunities, earn three university credits, and explore university life. Terp Discovery: July 17-29, 2016 Middle school students discover academic and career opportunities, learn about campus life, and engage with experts in innovative classes. Terp Young Scholars and Terp Discovery provide a great introduction to the University of Maryland, ranked 19th among national public universities in America’s Best Colleges 2013, U.S. News & World Report. The University of Maryland’s vast resources, including libraries, computer and instructional labs, recreational, residential, and dining facilities underscore our record of excellence in providing exceptional academics, cutting-edge research, innovative technology, and world-class facilities. In Terp Young Scholars and Terp Discovery, you’ll get a glimpse of all that Maryland has to offer.

Higher Education: The Facts, Risks, and True Cost Skyrocketing college costs make higher education seem like a pipe dream for many. In this article, we discuss the evolving facts and risks associated with getting a higher degree – and the true costs of going to college that no one is talking about. New FAFSA Rules As of January 1, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education laid down some new laws for parents who want to help their students with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Two unmarried parents who live together must file jointly. Tougher Parent PLUS Loan Requirements The federal Parent PLUS loan program provides fixed-rate loans to parents who want to help pay for tuition, room, board, books, and more. An unfortunate takeaway from this situation is that certain credit-based loan programs, including the Parent PLUS program, may not be viable options for your family, or shouldn’t be solely relied upon. Market-Based Student Loan Interest Rates The True Cost of Education That No One Is Talking About In Short

How Technology is Changing the Way Colleges Recruit Technology has transformed the way colleges run — from classrooms to learning management systems to handing in homework. It’s also changed the way colleges recruit students. Most colleges now only accept paperless applications and students normally interact with a college digitally before they even visit or apply. Admissions offices are not only taking advantage of the new ways in which they can get students excited about their school, but entrepreneurs are looking at how they can help students in their college search. YouVisit, a website that takes prospective students on virtual tours, was created by international students who were frustrated at the lack of materials they were given over the web. Suzanne Sanders, Director of Marketing at YouVisit, says virtual reality is changing the way colleges recruit students. YouVisit works with admissions offices and with the technology and marketing departments in order to make their vision a (virtual) reality. Michelle Harven

College Prep for POCS (Parents of College-bound Students) The Death of Textbooks? Artificially intelligent software is reshaping traditional teaching materials—but it's unclear what the new technology will take away from the learning experience. At a recent sit-down with executives representing one of the biggest players in the textbook industry, my colleague and I felt surprisingly out of touch. The executives spent most of the meeting touting the evolving market, namely how their newfound allegiance to digital learning materials—rather than old-school physical textbooks—would place them at the forefront of the new wave of education technology. These executives certainly seem to have popular opinion on their side. Nostalgia aside, it may come as a relief to many, then, that textbooks are becoming anachronistic. But as the executives failed to acknowledge in that meeting, the shortcomings of this trend—and its prospective impact on how humans learn—are worth keeping in mind. Increases in New College Textbook Prices by Percentage, 2002-2012

Putting a Dent in College Costs With Open-Source Textbooks College students could save an average of $128 a course if traditional textbooks were replaced with free or low-cost “open-source” electronic versions, a new report finds. The Student Public Interest Research Groups, state-based advocacy groups that promote affordable textbook options, analyzed open-source pilot programs at five colleges and found that the savings for students can be significant. While the price of textbooks at four-year schools pales in comparison to the cost of tuition, the cost still can weigh heavily on students with tight budgets. The average cost for books and supplies for the current academic year is between $1,200 and $1,300, depending on the type of school attended, according to the College Board. Textbook costs are particularly burdensome for students at two-year community colleges; the cost, more than $1,300, is about 40 percent of the average cost of tuition, according to the College Board. Here are some questions about textbook costs: Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.

7 Common Myths about Financial Aid College application deadlines are fast approaching and you may be wondering if you can even afford to go to college. What you might not know is that the federal government provides almost $150 billion a year to help students just like you pay for college. Right now, you’re probably thinking of all of the reasons why you won’t qualify for financial aid. Myth #1: My family makes too much money for me to qualify for aid. There is no income cut-off for federal student aid. Myth #2: I need to file taxes before completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA). You can use estimated information on your FAFSA so you’ll be able to submit it before you file taxes. Myth #3: The FAFSA is too hard to fill out. This is a very common misconception, but the FAFSA has come a long way! Myth #4: My grades aren’t good enough for me to get aid. Eligibility for most federal student aid programs is not linked to your academic performance.

Financial Aid Errors No College Student Should Make One of the worst mistakes you can make with college financial aid is simply failing to file the all-important Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The U.S. Department of Education began accepting FAFSA applications for the 2015-16 academic year on Jan. 1, and most forms of financial help - grants, loans, work study - depend on your turning it in. Related: How We're Secretely Funding College Athletic Programs But there are plenty of other ways to cheat yourself inadvertently with this form. 1. Many forms of financial aid are first-come, first-served, and some states set deadlines as early as February for their own programs. College consultants suggest filing the FAFSA with estimated numbers as soon after Jan. 1 as you can and then updating it with the actual figures once your tax returns are filed (which you should also do as early as possible). Apps such as education lender Sallie Mae's free "College Ahead" can help you keep track of all these deadlines. 2. 3. 4.

Student Loan Refinancing Calculator - Should you refinance? | Student Loan Hero Student Loan Refinancing Calculator FAQs 1. Does this calculator tell me what refinancing rates I’m eligible for? No. This calculator simply provides savings estimates based on the refinancing rates you input into the calculator. 2. See our top partners for refinancing student loans here to view available rates and terms. 3. If you have multiple student loans, use our Weighted Average Interest Rate calculator to find your average interest rate. 4. That depends on several different factors. Interested in refinancing student loans? Here are the top 6 lenders of 2017! Advertiser Disclosure Student Loan Hero Advertiser Disclosure Our team at Student Loan Hero works hard to find and recommend products and services that we believe are of high quality and will make a positive impact in your life.

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