How To Get Financial Aid For Top Online Colleges

So you're interested in attending an online college, well, that is fantastic news. Now comes the question of how you are going to pay for your education.

A few years ago getting financial aid for an online college was very difficult, but thanks to some changes in the rules, online colleges can now qualify for federal student aid. This is great news for anyone interested in attending an online college. Finding financial aid for an online college is now similiar to finding financial aid for a campus-based college. As with campus-based colleges, the first step is to fill out the FAFSA.

The FAFSA stands for the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid. The purpose of the FAFSA is to determine your specific financial need by taking into account your income, tax returns, expenses, assets, and those of your parents. By doing so, the FAFSA can determine your elligibility for loans, grants, and many other financial aid options. The FAFSA used to be a tiresome process taking hours to process and fill out. There are questions on it that appear to be irrelevant. But only days before writing this article, it was announced that the FAFSA would be reduced in size. They claim the FAFSA online application went from 30 "screens" of questions, to just 10 "screens". They also announced that in January of 2010 applicants will be able to automatically insert their tax return data from the IRS online. This should streamline the FAFSA process for the majority of students.

Receiving federal student aid in the form of a low interest loan is not the only way to pay for your education. Because remember, loans need to be payed back in full. Unless you qualify for a loan forgiveness program usually associated with public service over a period of years. Scholarships are a great way to pay for your online degree. People often overlook the fact that most scholarships require an accredited 2 or 4 year college. That is exactly what online colleges are. And when in doubt, contact the administrators of the scholarship to confirm if the scholarship can be used at an online college.

Don't forget to be resourceful when financing your education. A great number of students who attend online colleges are working adults who cannot spare the time away from their job for a campus-based education. Inquire into your place of work if they have any sort of compensation or work program to help you fund your education. Some of the larger corporations in the United States offer full tuition reimbursement if you meet certain criteria. Speak to your human resources department for more information.

Also keep in mind that often the greatest source of financial aid is the online college you will be attending. However, this shouldn't be your only plan because if the online college provides a financial plan that works for you, but they don't have the exact online degree program, you may be inclined to settle for something similiar. But with that in mind, top colleges usually have an entire department at their college dedicated to helping students finance their education. Once you have your online college locked in, it is best to immediately schedule an appointment with a financial adviser from the college's financial aid department.

Top Online Colleges

Select from these top online colleges to receive a top online degree:

1. Ashford University

   At Ashford University the mission is to provide accessible, innovative, affordable, quality educational opportunities and degree programs that fulfill the various needs of individuals striving to for success in their career, life and community.

   The goal of Ashford is to foster a vigorous, diverse learning environment shaped by contemporary awareness, intellectual inquiry, and a shared search for truth in which students gain knowledge and build skills and values useful in their personal and career development.

   Ashford places priority upon institutional effectiveness, excellent value, affordability, responsive student services, accountable administrative processes, continuous assessment of student learning, and curriculum improvement to assure quality in a rapidly changing culture and demonstrate innovative leadership in higher education.

2. Pioneer Pacific College

   Pioneer Pacific College is a career-focused, private college with four campuses in Oregon. For almost 30 years, Pioneer Pacific College has been educating successful professionals in some of the most popular career fields, including Business, Healthcare, Information Technology and Legal. Degree programs are available with day, evening or weekend schedules.

3. Saint Leo University Online

   Saint Leo University Online is a leading provider of accredited online education to working adults and is a major global provider of education to the military. The online programs are designed to meet the growing needs of adult students and offer the best attributes of traditional classroom education in conjunction with today's most innovative computer technology.

   At Saint Leo University, classroom attendance is never required. Set your own weekly study schedule and "attend class" anytime -- anywhere you have access to a PC. Work and family responsibilities, travel, shift changes or commuting problems will never interfere with your studies.

4. Jones International University

   Jones International University®(JIU®), the first fully online accredited* university and one of the world’s leading online educational institutions, recently announced the launch of several new Accelerated Bachelors to Masters degree programs that offer business students the unique opportunity to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degree in a consolidated timeframe.    

5. Florida Career College

   WHY FLORIDA CAREER COLLEGE? Because FCC is more than just a college! ... it is a way of life, a mind set, an understanding that you can do more, achieve more and go farther in your life with proper training, support and hard work. At FCC we understand that not everyone was a star student in high school. We understand that starting college, especially if you have been away from school for a while, may have challenges that require additional support on our side. We know this. We are experienced in working with students who come to us with all levels of academic experience and we help them strive for excellence.