Contributing Author: Natasha Bright
Students have an opportunity to attend college for free - and take a friend, family member or another deserving individual along for the ride. This essay-based scholarship opportunity is being offered by a college with locations in Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin and New York. Called "Pay It Forward" these scholarships are available via online degree programs at the associate degree level. In addition to providing five students with two full-tuition scholarships each, one for themselves and one to pay forward, five finalists will be awarded $5,000 each in scholarship money to be applied to its online degree programs.
College and university tuition gets a lot of attention for rising faster than the rate of inflation. There is, however, what's known as published and net tuition rates. Thanks to scholarships such as the one being offered by one college, the published tuition rates are discounted enough that the average "net" tuition that students pay has increased at rates slower than that of inflation, information from the non-profit College Board suggests.
A university in Boston this year alone provided public high school graduates in the urban Boston area more than $3.3 million in full-tuition scholarships for four years. The scholarships were made as part of the university and high schools in a scholarship program. Since 1973, when the program was launched more than $1,700 students have received more than $132 million.
In Dayton, Tennessee, a college there this year awarded what they called a new presidential scholarship. One of the founders, a Christian education instructor, and the other was a career-long professor of bible studies. Both had spouses who were also influential in this program orientation.
Still other colleges and universities have found methods outside of scholarships for making college and university studies more affordable. One institute is working with corporate tuition reimbursement company. As a part of this company's preferred school network, this particular college provides substantial discounts on tuition to employees of Fortune 1000 companies that contract with the reimbursement company for their tuition benefits.
Those who take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits can work toward bachelor's or associate degrees in technology, healthcare, business, nursing, justice studies, design and education. This particular college has campuses in Minnesota, where this institution was founded, and in Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Florida. The college also offers online degree and certificate programs at the associate and bachelor's degree levels.
Many colleges and universities also offer discounts in instances where family members, such as siblings, enroll. One recently began offering tuition discounts of five percent to family members in instances where more than participates in its programs at one time. They also offer five percent parent discounts to parents of students in traditional undergraduate programs as well as Christian worker discounts to students who work in positions as pastors, missionaries or Christian music or education directors.
In addition to colleges and universities, students can find scholarships available from government agencies, large corporations, non-profit organizations, professional associations and community and civic groups. Counselors can help students complete scholarship and grant applications. They can also help students with completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is available online and provides information about the type of government assistance that students might expect to receive.
Some of these scholarships are used as a way to take a free course online, with the student learning if online education is right for them. As technology advances, it's believed that more students will obtain their education via the Internet - when costs - such as no travel, no childcare expenses, no on-campus residency fees - are deducted, distance learning is definitely more cost effective.
Natasha Bright is a platinum level freelance writer with over 938 articles published on the field of college education and financial aid.
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