Read on for a free ride for college.

Through Project Working Mom, eLearners.com will be a catalyst for communities to come together to help establish resources for the working mother population. There are three barriers associated with moms returning to school: time, money and confidence.

The full-ride college scholarships through Project Working Mom 2 are for online programs from the associate's to Ph.D. level at American Sentinel University, Ashford University, Capella University, Everest University and Penn Foster College. To apply for the scholarships, working moms submit a short application and an essay with their life, education and/or career goals, and explain how an online education will allow them to achieve those goals.

If you are interested in applying, you have no time to waste. The deadline to apply for a scholarship at Project Working Mom is August 31, 2008. The recipients will be announced in September. This program could really fit into anyone's budget.

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Posted By: Joe on Friday, August 01, 2008
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I came across some information on a tuition forgiveness program for teachers and other state programs.

The Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, individuals who teach full-time for five consecutive complete academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $5,000 ($17,500 for certain highly qualified secondary math and science teachers, and elementary and secondary special education teachers)in principal and interest of their Direct Loan and/or Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFELP) loans.

Additionally, here is a list of loan forgiveness programs by state.

Even if you are not a teacher, you get the general idea that this field is in need and that could assist you paying for a particular career field. At Kansas State University, the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas offers after graduation, $20,000 worth of educational debt is forgiven for every year up to four years that these new graduates practice in rural Kansas.

And don't forget, you do not have to go into debt to attend college. There are options like College of the Ozarks, aka, Hard Work U where you work at the college for tuition. Of even greater help is getting some budget training, you will be surprised where your money really goes.

Photo credit: Delta Niner

Labels: college, hack, money saving tip

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Posted By: Joe on Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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Another college you can attend without incurring student loans. Check out Berea College, in Berea, KY.

A recent article in the New York Times told about Berea College, in Berea, Kentucky.

What provides the education is Berea's $1.1 billion endowment, which puts the college among the nation's wealthiest. But unlike most well-endowed colleges, Berea has no football team, coed dorms, hot tubs or climbing walls. Instead, it has a no-frills budget, with food from the college farm, handmade furniture from the college crafts workshops, and 10-hour-a-week campus jobs for every student.

Berea'sapproach provides an unusual perspective on the growing debate over whether the wealthiest universities are doing enough for the public good to warrant their tax exemption, or simply hoarding money to serve an elite few. As many elite universities scramble to recruit more low-income students, Berea's no-tuition model has attracted increasing attention.

At most top colleges, only 8 to 15 percent of students receive Pell grants to help with tuition costs. At Berea, more than 75 percent of the students receive Pell grants.

Overall, Berea's statistics speak worlds about the demand for affordable higher education; this year, the college accepted only 22 percent of its applicants.

The best quote was at the end of the article from Berea's president, Larry D. Shinn:

"You see some of these selective liberal arts colleges building new physical education facilities with these huge sheets of glass and these coffee and juice bars, and charging students $40,000 a year, and you have to ask, does this contribute to the public good, or is it just a way for the college to keep up with the Joneses?" Mr. Shinn said. "We are a tax-exempt institution, so I think the public has a right to demand that our educational mission be at the heart of all of our expenditures."

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Posted By: Joe on Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Kentucky public defender, Adam Greenway, knows hard work. He delivers pizza to pay off college loans. Greenway, who works for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, graduated in 2005 from Syracuse University College of Law in New York with a $130,000 student loan. Currently with a salary lingering right around $30,000 per year, a mortgage, three children and a $130,000 student law school loan to pay, Greenway picked up the second job in October 2006.

"Being a lawyer doesn't give me any kind of excuse not to work hard," he said. "It doesn't make me above anybody else just because I'm a lawyer. I could have decided not to be a public defender, not to come to Kentucky and stayed in New York or New Jersey or Pennsylvania and done private practice and done fine. But this is what I really love doing. As long as I still love it, I hope to keep doing it."

Labels: college, Debt Reduction

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Posted By: Joe on Monday, May 19, 2008
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I saw this list in a book the other day. It listed four things that appreciate in value. Can you guess what they are?

1. House
2. Education
3. Home Improvements
4. Rental Property

Overall, a house is a great investment, if you own it for a good period of time.

I can agree somewhat with investing in an education, but you do not have to get into debt up to you ears. As I mention before, it is possible to be debt free at college.

Home improvements are great, especially if you buy a handyman special. Some of the top returns on home improvements are:
Siding Replacement (Vinyl)
Window Replacement (Wood)
Minor Kitchen Remodel
Bathroom Remodel
Window Replacement (Vinyl)
Two-Story Addition
Major Kitchen Remodel

Notice the pool and hot tub are not on there.

Rental property, is almost like owning a home. They can be real winners or a mill stone. If you enjoy the dealing with renters, go for it. If you can get the mortgage paid off, they can be some real consistent income.

Labels: college, credit, home improvements, housing market

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Posted By: Joe on Saturday, April 19, 2008
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As reported on the Barf Blog , a shortage of veterinarians who treat farm animals is, according to USA Today, putting a strain on the country's food inspection system, prompting the federal government to offer bonuses and moving expenses to fill hundreds of vacancies. Read on to see what Kansas State University is doing to solve the problem.

The Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas as a way to ensure an adequate number of veterinarians practicing in rural Kansas is allowing selected veterinary students to borrow $80,000 over a four-year period while in college. After graduation, $20,000 worth of educational debt is forgiven for every year up to four years that these new graduates practice in rural Kansas. This opportunity is granted to five KSU veterinary students every year.

The program allows new graduates to establish themselves in underserved areas without worrying about paying back large educational debts.

Labels: barf blog, college, money saving tip

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Posted By: Joe on Saturday, March 08, 2008
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The college's nickname is Hard Work U because the students pay NO tuition to attend, instead, they all have to work on campus. Read on about this unique college.

College of the Ozarks is dedicated to providing a superior education to qualified students who have financial need. Lack of funds should not keep students from attending college. The College will provide a way to meet the cost of education for every student admitted.

The cost to College of the Ozarks for providing an educational opportunity is approximately $15,900 per year for each student. Most colleges and universities attempt to pass along a portion of this cost as tuition; this is not the case at College of the Ozarks. The college guarantees to meet all of this cost for each full-time student by using earnings from its endowment, operation of its own mandatory student work program, accepting student aid grants, gifts and other sources. In effect, each full-time student's Cost of Education is met 100 percent by participating in the work program and a combination of private, institutional and federal/state student aid.

The participation in the work program might mean spending 15 hours a week working in the Computer Center, Child Development Center, Ralph Foster Museum, McDonald Hospital, or in any of the 80 other work areas on campus.

Gee, a college that teaches hard work.

Labels: college, College of the Ozarks, Debt, money saving tip

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Posted By: Joe on Thursday, March 06, 2008
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