Financial Aid Available From Employers
It's a very common story. A high school graduate wants to further his/her education, but times are tough. His grades might not have been the greatest, so getting that academic scholarship is more pipe dream than reality. They are more than willing to work their way to an online degree, but the prospects of earning the big bucks with only a high school diploma aren't always the greatest.
Prospective students may not realize this, but their biggest source of financial aid could be their place of employment...and by that we don't mean their weekly paycheck either. Many companies out there will gladly help pay the way for their personnel to advance their education, and pay a regular salary while they're at it. For more informantion on apply for a pell grant online, check the web.
What an employee should do first is go to their human resources office and find out if their company does offer such programs. You'd be surprised at the range of companies that do offer them. They include such fast food operations as McDonald's and Chick Fil-A, Humana, the Queens (NY) Public Library and pharmaceutical giant Glaxo SmithKline. Many a Wall Street bank or investment house also likes it if their employees go to online schools to get their MBA's. If they do, the assistance primarily comes in four forms:
Direct pay tuition assistance - in this case, the employer pays for the course, certificate, or degree program up front. The employee doesn't have to pay anything. In turn, the employee is required to fill a specified course load, usually with a short list of online schools, within a prerequisite amount of time.
Reimbursed tuition assistance: The employee must first complete the program, then the employer pays for the course, certificate, or degree program. The employer may pay after each course or only after the certificate or degree is completed. This method is a surefire way the company sees its personnel fulfill their course load before paying out.
Educational/Professional Development travel assistance: The employer may pay for travel expenses related to educational programs including courses at distant institutions or conferences/conventions. The medical, political and financial worlds are particularly known for these. If you are looking for more information on graduate school scholarships, you can research the internet.
529 College Savings Program - One could call this a kind of savings program. As part of an employee benefits package, the employer may match contributions made by the employee into the program. It's a good way to insure employee loyalty and longevity.
The one important tip is the online school itself might not be aware of the company's program, so it's up to the prospective student to do that bit of homework. This financial aid can range anywhere from $500 to full tuition and fees, so they are definitely worth it.
