Money Matters for the Online Student

Quick & Easy Ways to Save Money

Going back to school requires quite a bit of financial planning, especially if you have a family.

Proper financial planning can help relieve the sting of online degree sticker shock. Alongside scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition reimbursement, there are some small but useful ways to save a buck or two.

A penny saved is a penny earned, right? Read more from "Quick Ways to Save Money."

How Long Will It Take For a Degree To Pay For Itself?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Educational Attainment in the United States: 2006, adults 18 and older with advanced degrees (a master's, professional, or doctoral degree) earned an average of $79,946 in 2005.

Those with a bachelor's degree earned an average of $54,689, while those with high school diplomas earned $29,448. Non-high school graduates earned $19,915.

Now, that's all well and good, but we know you're curious — How long will it take for a degree to pay for itself?

Using Exams to Earn Credits and Slash Tuition

Just because college is a wise investment doesn't meant you shouldn't do what you can to make it cost as little as possible.

When it comes to paying tuition, one of the best ways to do that is through "credit by examination."

Read "Slash Your Tuition Through Credit By Examination" to learn how to use certain standardized tests to earn college credits, saving you very valuable time and money.

Advice for Scholarship Searches

The cost of tuition rises every year, but there are a number of scholarships that can help cover your educational expenses.Even the smallest scholarship awards can really add up.

You don't need to be a traditional high school age student or have a stellar GPA to apply. Talk to folks in your financial aid office, search the Internet, and ask around. There could be money out there for you!

Go to "Advice for Scholarship Searches" and learn about how to start a successful scholarship search.

Back to School Bargain Hunting

It's that time of year again. Kids have their eyes on new clothes and school supplies, while your eyes are stuck on the price tag.

Going broke should not be part of back-to-school shopping and you won't with a few creative tips to avoid school supply sticker shock.

Shop a couple weeks after school is in session to get better deals. Refurbish last year's supplies with crafts and paints. Go to Back to School Bargain Hunting to learn more.

Freshen Your Skills — Free!

Free samples are great: you can try the product out before you purchase it.

You can try out any number of online courses for free and sample what online education has to offer you.

Go to Freshen Your Skills with Free Courses Online to see the variety of free classes available today.

Debt-Free College Guide

Need help paying for college?

Our state-by-state reference guide of 500+ financing options, including grants, scholarships, tax credits, tax deductions, and the Internet's most comprehensive list of loan forgiveness programs is, of course, free.

Check out the Debt-Free College Guide for different ways to help finance a college degree.