11 Ways to Expand Your College Education Through Off-Campus Study and Exchanges

college student waving goodbye representing Ways to Expand Your College Education Through Off-Campus Study and Exchanges

Student waving goodbye representing ways to expand your education with off campus studyMost college students know that they can study abroad but fewer realize that there are opportunities for off-campus study without ever leaving the country. Why would you want to do that? Because such exchange programs allow you to explore academic subjects not normally available on your campus or to immerse yourself in one area for a semester. Off-campus study programs can help you establish contacts in distant cities for internships or job opportunities. They can provide you the chance to try something different without having to commit to four years at one campus.

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50-50 Highlights: 54 Public Colleges for Merit Aid

A piggy bank wearing a graduation cap sits on a calculator with the display reading "SCHOLARSHIP," symbolizing the savings possible through public colleges for merit scholarships.

Piggy bank on calculator representing best public colleges for merit aid(The following has been updated for 2019.) Merit scholarships from colleges aren’t simply a way for schools to reward students for accomplishments, it’s part of the supply and demand of paying for college. Colleges use merit aid as a way to increase the supply of “accomplished” students at their schools. This is why the most competitive colleges in the country such as Princeton and Harvard don’t offer merit scholarships–they have no problem attracting high achieving students to their schools.

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50-50 Highlights: Colleges with the Best Financial Aid

Table showing best colleges for financial aid

boy digging for buried treasure representing colleges with most generous financial aidThe list of 50-50 colleges and universities is designed to provide students and their families with options for good schools where students are likely to be admitted. What makes a 50-50 school even better is when it provides generous financial aid. This can come in the form of scholarships and need-based grants. And quite a few 50-50 colleges do and are worth looking into.

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College’s Prices as Simple as Pie: Catching up with TuitionFit on FB Live

Join us for an informative FB Live event with Mark Salisbury, founder of TuitionFit, on March 20th at 7:30 pm CST. He will be discussing how college prices have varied significantly over the past year. Don't miss this insightful conversation!

ShareTweet1FlipEmailPin1 SharesEveryone knows that most students don’t pay the full sticker price for college. Now you can find out how much other students are actually paying by using TuitionFit for free. All you have to do is upload a copy of your financial aid award. We’re going to be talking with Mark Salisbury, founder of TuitionFit.org, … Read more

What Happens to Students Once They Get on Campus-The National Survey of Student Engagement

Student sleeping on desk representing best colleges base on NSSE experience

student sleeping on desk representing NSSE resultsIt’s hard for anyone looking for the best college not to have heard about the US News College Rankings. It’s very easy for students to go through the college application process without ever hearing about the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) which is a shame but not surprising. After all, it doesn’t have “rankings” in its title and isn’t going to crown the best college or university in the nation.

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50-50 Highlights: Reasons to Choose a Small College

small ball outweighing a large ball on a balance representing benefit of small colleges

small ball outweighing a large ball on a balance representing benefit of small collegesThe argument over which is better, large universities or small colleges, is essentially the big fish in a small pond or little fish in a big pond debate. Ultimately, the fish is the same size, it’s more a matter of where the fish will thrive. Having already discussed the advantages of a large university, I think it’s only fair to go over the reasons to choose a small college. Of course, there are disadvantages just as there are for large colleges. I’m not going to cover them here since the point is to focus on the advantages of a small college.

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50-50 Highlights: College Awarding Most Financial Aid by State

tables listing college offering most financial aid in each state

file folder titled "grants" representing colleges providing the most financial aid by stateIf you knew that the average amount of financial aid a college awarded freshmen was $25,000, would you consider it? With the cost of four years of college ranging from $100,000 to over a quarter of a million dollars, why wouldn’t you? I’m not saying you have to apply to the college, I’m just saying give it a look over because chances are it’s one that wasn’t on your radar. The table below lists all 50-50 colleges that provide the most institutional aid in each state according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Since it is limited to 50-50 colleges, there are only 36 private colleges and 46 public institutions on the list.

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FAQ: What is work study?

girl on college campus with note asking what is college work study

Note asking what is college work study?The federal work study program is one of the financial aid options available when you qualify for federal aid.  Colleges administer the work study program with the federal government paying half the salary. The amount of money earned by the student in a work study job is considered part of the financial aid package and doesn’t reduce future financial aid awards.

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