What is the average cost of college tuition? This is one question that most parents and future students ask themselves and need to know in order to plan for a college education.

The national average college tuition rate for public universities is $4,694 per year for in state residents. This figure includes both tuition rates and fees for a full time student.

The average college tuition rate at private colleges and universities is around $20,000 per year in tuition and fees.

Many students take advantage of the low tuition rates of two-year public colleges and junior colleges. The average tuition for a two year school is only $2,076 per year.

College Tuition Increase

While it is good to get an idea of the current cost of tuition, it is also important to understand the expected increase in tuition costs. Students who still have several years before entering college and their families should be keenly aware of the projected estimates rather than the current costs so that they can plan accordingly.

Tuition rates increase at about twice the general inflation rate. On average, tuition rates tend to increase about 8% per year. Some academic years see a greater increase than others and many economic factors come into play when a college decides to increase tuition.

For the school year 2005-2006 many colleges dramatically raised tuition rates. An example of such tuition hikes is at the University of Colorado where tuition rates have been raised for all of the system’s campuses. Tuition at the Boulder campus will go up by 27.8 percent, from $3,480 to $4,446. Other University of Colorado campuses will see a similar increase.

And now the good news…

Even though college tuition rates increase, more students than ever are benefiting from educational aid programs. According to a report from The College Board, “In 2003-04, the amount the average student actually paid for a public four-year institution, after receiving grant aid and education tax benefits, was about $1,300 per student.”

Government grants such as the pell grant provide funding for many college students. In fact for students who attend two-year colleges the grant award may cover the entire cost of tuition.

Scholarship programs awarded by colleges, businesses and non profit organizations are available to help students defray the cost of college tuition. There are many college scholarship programs available and it is becoming even easier to find these programs with the use of the internet.

With a combination of savings, financial aid, and scholarships many students today are able to afford college tuition and further their education.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out about more College Financial Aid Information

Introduction

Whilst it is recognized that South Africa is still in a process of transition regarding higher education to address the imbalances of the past, it should also be emphasized that Institutions of Higher Education in large are still underplaying the importance of higher education as commercialized commodity in the global world. This resulted in a low commercial higher education presence in the global world, a limited capability to attract quality students from foreign countries and a national oriented education approach. Even the school law that will soon be introduced in South Africa to address the imbalances of the past may have a negative effect of institutions of higher education to play a significant role in the commercialized educational world. The proposed new law emphasized adherence to the principles of equitability, rectification and representativeness above competence in the appointment of teachers. This may undermine the quality of education firstly, in schools and later in institutions of higher education in South Africa.

This is in sharp contrast with international trends signaling that the international higher education market is becoming more competitive as education competes as export and import commodity. Figures available indicate that higher education export represents on average around 6.6% of total student enrollments in 2000. This figure can still not be matched b South African Institutions 5 years later. In countries like Switzerland, Australia and Austria these figures were above 11% in 2000 making these countries the highest internationalized higher education countries in the world. Similarly, educational services in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America respectively represent the third, fourth and fifth largest service export sectors. This clearly provides evidence that these countries realize the significance of higher education to transfer intellectual capital and enhance the economic competitiveness of nations.

Interventions required

It is important that Institutions of Higher Education in South Africa position themselves as nodes in an increasingly seamless knowledge base in the global world, which could have a greater interface with the knowledge-driven global economy. Therefore, Institutions of higher education in South Africa should given even more attention to integrate with influential international institutions that will enable them to internationalize higher education.

Currently, internationalization of higher education in South Africa happens more by incident rather than through thoroughly planned and organized approaches. If institutions of higher education in South Africa intend to consider higher education as a commercial trade commodity, serious emphasis should be place upon:

· Introducing purposeful policies and strategies that clearly indicate the road forward with regard to internationalization intentions and the specific areas that would need priority attention. However, this should not be developed as separate internationalization strategies, but should e seen as a natural element of the overall strategy of the institute.

· Implementing induction and course programmes that will attract quality foreign students to the institutions.

· Supporting academics to participate in conferences as well as in reputable academic journals to publish research results.

· Ensuring that all course offerings meet international accepted criteria as defined by the leading institutions of higher education in the developed world.

· Creating conducive learning environments equipped with the latest learning technologies.

Internationalization requires that institutions of higher education in South Africa should emphasize a somewhat loosening of the relationship with Government to create new transformational bodies to address the imbalances of the past, but also to broaden this mission to play a more active role in regional economic development. This can be achieved by establishing strong horizontal links with other universities research institutions and industry in the Southern African Development Community. If this can be achieved, the activities of institutions of higher education will no longer be isolated from the marketplace and its outputs could become merchandise products as well. Loosening the relationship with government will not only provide for more freedom to autonomously decide what educational and research outputs to create, but will also increase the pressure on institutions of higher education to perform better as they take up the responsibility to raise funds for projects and salaries.

It is imperative that higher education in South Africa can no longer take the disposition that placed research and development in contrast to one another. Rather, it should take the stand that the outputs of institutions should have a strong:

· Social development and application in which the simultaneous promotion and integration of education, scientific research and production occurs;

· Science and Technology Financial Management Support System in place in order to create a safe and secure research environment for academics; and

· Set of “ Key State Laboratories” where research and education of strategic importance to the development and well-being of the country can be carried out.

Conclusion

South Africa institutions of higher education currently rated only among the top 40 of the world’s host countries. An urgent need exist to rethink and reformulate the educational thinking models of institutions of higher education in South Africa. Because of the changing political situation accompanied by a changing global economy, many traditional ways in which institutions of higher education were previously governed will change. Unless institutions of higher education in South Africa succeed to internationalize successfully, huge opportunities to earn foreign currencies using higher education as a trade commodity will be lost.

Jan Grundling is the Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. He has published extensively in accredited Journals nationally and internationally.

Any student who is on the lookout for online degree colleges would probably have been swamped with the many options marketed to them over the internet. Therefore, it is not a wonder that many students feel confused on the right college selection as they may not know the way to nail down the advantages that certain colleges have over others. Although many renowned colleges charge higher fees for their courses, the extra costs incurred may not necessarily be justified by the facilities, recognition and educational value that they provide to students.

For one thing, different online colleges are accredited by different authorities. Therefore, it is important to find out whether the degrees offered are actually accredited by the relevant educational association for your particular state. Otherwise, you may end up having a degree that is not valid and be rejected by your employers. There are also times when colleges may be in the process of getting accredited. Therefore, this information is important to you as their applications for accreditation may be rejected by the authorities later.

One of the qualifying factors that can be utilized by students to make correct enrolment decisions is by determining the type of college accreditation that has been received by their college of consideration. If the college vaguely states itself as having “nationwide or worldwide accreditation” without stating specifically which regional accreditation body it is accredited with, then most likely this college does not possess legitimate accreditation.

Once you are certain of a college’s accreditation, you should then determine the history of the college. How many students have graduated as compared to the enrollment numbers? How long has the course been offered? Answering these questions will give you an idea on the level of experience and expertise that the college has to offer for the particular course you want. After all, you are paying them for online education and deserve to get value for your money.

Apart from that, different colleges will have lecturers of different educational levels. Of course, it would be best that a college have more lecturers with Ph.D. qualifications. Most lecturers should at least possess a Master’s Degree in order for them to qualify teaching an undergraduate course. Again, the quality and quantity of lecturers will give you a good gauge on the standards of the college.

You can also check on the lecturer-student ratio that the college is proposing. In order for online education to be successful, the lecturer-student ratio should ideally be low. Better colleges will recognize the importance of this, and will ensure that they don’t over-enroll their online students so as to maintain the quality level of their courses. With a low ratio number, students will be assured of having adequate time to work with lecturers.

Apart from that, different colleges impose different rules on their students. For example, some colleges allow students to go on overdrive mode and complete their credit hours over a shorter period of time. On the other hand, other colleges have a minimum course study period that a student has to adhere to and therefore will not be allowed to accelerate or take up extra credit hours for the course. There is good and bad to both of these scenarios as certain colleges want to ensure quality by not allowing students to sacrifice quality for speed of completion. It is therefore up to the discretion of the student to determine if slowing down on their course would be acceptable to their circumstances.

Finally, always ask for a hotline number from the online college that you are planning to enroll in. Legitimate colleges will have a number and someone qualified to answer your questions whenever you need help. Call them up before you enroll and test them out by asking a couple of questions. Also, check with them on other numbers and the suitable time that you can call should you encounter problems with your coursework. Through practical experience and gut feeling, you will then be able to make the right decision on choosing the right college for your online education experience.

Rose Musyoka is the editor of http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find answers, information and advice on distance learning colleges, accredited online degrees and online courses. See more related information on distance learning colleges and why college accreditation is important.

My name is Debbie Ross. The information I have about my journey in finding a college can help both parents and students alike. Going back a few years, I was at the turning point of my life. Graduation from high school was just around the corner and I had no clue which college I was going to attend. My parents had their list of colleges that I could attend, and most of my friends were already being accepted to their college or university. With deadlines for applications approaching, I knew that I had to begin finding a college. Choosing the right college is such an important decision, and so I came up with a game plan to find a college. Here are the steps I took in choosing a college.

1. Choosing my future career

The first step I took was to determine what I liked and what I did not like. I quickly ruled out being a doctor, a lawyer or a dentist. In addition, I knew there were career choices that were out of my league, such as being an architect or engineer. My high school grades proved this! Therefore after a lengthy thought process, I narrowed down my choices to Communications, Journalism, Business Management and Information Technology.

My school counselor also helped me by giving me a Career Assessment Test. This revealed many of my strengths and tendencies. From this, I discovered that I was best suited for Business Management related studies. I highly recommend this. Career Assessment Surveys are not very expensive and can be found through an internet search.

2. Matching courses with colleges

The next thing I did was to list the colleges and universities that offered Business Management studies and had a good track record. I used The Fiske Guide to Colleges. Within a short span of time I came up with a list of 20 colleges that I could see myself in for the next 4 years. All of these colleges had multiple specializations within my field of study, were fully accredited, and had good graduation rates with good reputations. I further narrowed my list down to 14 by selecting those universities which were located near a larger city, one of the criteria that I was looking for in my college.

3. Narrowing it down to my top five

I had above average SAT scores (nothing to take me to Harvard though) and therefore had a wider selection of options for myself. Therefore, my final decision would largely be determined by the funds from my parents, any scholarships or grants, and the money I could earn through on-campus work study. I visited the web sites of each college and took virtual tours of the facilities they offered. Each had its strengths -huge libraries, modern student housing, student body size, a variety of extra curricular activities and sports, and more.

I was able to narrow the list from fourteen to five based on the following criteria: going to college within 4 hours of home, my budget for college, and a smaller student body to offer a more personal approach to my education.

4. Parents and Applications

Next, I got my parents involved in my decision. They had been helping me all along the way, but I needed their help in making the final, important decisions. I showed them the list of 5 colleges that I had, including details, locations, and costs. Together, we narrowed the list to three possible colleges that I could attend. They wanted a college or university which would be easy for them to visit, but would also have excellent teaching and housing facilities. The following weekend I filled out all 3 applications and mailed out them to these colleges and universities. Now it was time to wait for the response.

5. Making the final choice

Within a few weeks, I had received acceptance letters from all the colleges where I sent my applications. In the end, my parents and I decided the best way to make the final decision was to visit the campuses. We took two days to visit all three campuses. Visiting the actual university was vastly different from the virtual tours. My final choice was actually rather easy. I decided on the University of Texas at Austin.

The most important steps along the way for me were to take the Career Assessment Test, researching my college choices online through virtual tours, and sitting down with my parents to discuss which colleges to send applications to. This helped make my final decision easier. I hope these steps can help you in finding a college or university as you make career choices.

Rich Niccolls has been a college recruiter and professor for 12 years. Read his 7 key factors for choosing the right college for you. Visit the Find A College website.

Finding money for college can be a challenge for many students and their families. While saving in advance is the best choice, many times saving money for college is not easy for families. Even for those who do save, many find that the savings are not enough to cover the full cost of a college education.

So what should students and parents do to find money for college? There are many programs available to help students get money for college including scholarships, grants and several types of loans.

There is one form the student needs to fill out each year which will determine his or her eligibility for need based programs including loans, grants and work-study called the FAFSA, found online at fafsa.ed.gov.

After submitting the FAFSA students will be notified by mail which programs they qualify for. Priority deadlines for most colleges are late spring to early summer. However students can continue to apply until the end of the school year.

If you have gotten your FAFSA results and didn’t get as much money for college as you need, the first thing you should do is visit the financial aid office at your school. It is possible that there may be other sources of aid available. Some colleges participate in state funded financial aid programs and special need based programs that you may qualify for.

Secondly you can request that the financial aid office review your application and family contribution analysis. Perhaps there are circumstances such as a job loss, unexpected family expense or another factor that will reduce the amount of money the family is expected to contribute. This could possibly help you get more money for college in the form of loans and grants.

Most students qualify for Federal Student Loans (Stafford Loans) and the FAFSA results will reveal the amount students will be able to borrow. If this loan amount is not enough, students can inquire with the financial aid office about other loans.

Students may be able to take out additional Stafford Loans in the form of an unsubsidized loan. Unsubsidized loans are not awarded on the basis of need and students will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it’s paid in full. Borrowers also have the option to add the interest to the principal amount of the loan until graduation. However additional interest will be based on the higher amount.

Other loan options that provide money for college students include Perkins Loans which are designated for students that meet low income criteria. The availability of Perkins loans are usually limited because each school participating in the Federal Perkins Loan program is given a maximum amount of Perkins Loan funds each year.

PLUS loans are available for parents to borrow money for college for their children. These loans are awarded regardless of financial need and allow parents to borrow up to the full cost of the child’s education. To qualify for a PLUS loan the student must be classified as dependent.

Knowing your loan options is important but students should not ignore scholarship programs that give away free money for college. Many students think that scholarships are only available for straight A students, but this is not the case! There are many college scholarship programs based on a variety of criteria including essay contests, volunteer work or area of study.

Scholarship money for college can be found by inquiring at your college scholarship office, searching online and using scholarship directories.

By exploring all of the options available students and their families can successfully find money for college.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out how to apply for student loans.

We’re going to college, and we need cash. We have tuition and food, housing, books… like I said, we need cash. We hear about these billions of dollars of unclaimed scholarship money just floating around, yet you can’t seem to get your hands on any of it, nor on any other form of financial aid. We’re out here working like dogs, trying to make time to study an keep from losing our insanity, until we finally just give up. This sounds like a pretty big problem. What to do?

First of all, you should know that there aren’t billions of dollars out there just waiting to fall in your lap. In fact most counselors and financial aid assitants wonder why this rather enormous figure is stated so often, but its not the case. So don’t feel bad or think you "suck" because you haven’t won some of this dough. However, there IS some money to be made out there that many people either overlook or figure it isnt worth pursuing. Trust me, its worth taking a look at and worth pursuing.

Usual Suspects

Your first destination should be the government. The FAFSA needs to be the first thing you do. You may be eligible for grants or other special awards. Then go to your school to see if they have any special scholarships that are only available to students of that college or university. After that, sign up to fastweb.com and scholarship.com and become familiar with those two sites, they are two of the most used on the web.

There’s something for everyone!

People commonly think that only minorities and people with really low incomes and awesome grades can get scholarships. This is just not so. There are plenty of scholarships out there that are aimed at people in certain national or local clubs, that serve different interests such as drawing, writing, or a sport, and even some that are strictly for those with work experience. Tons of scholarships for college students are aimed at specific majors and corresponding social networks, for example the Audio Engineering society and American Medical Association. Be creative when searching. There are plenty of companies giving money away in hopes of attaining a student base of prospective future employees. If you’re working on computers, for example, see what top technological companies such as Qualcomm and IBM have to offer, if you’re working in finance and economics, checkout some big time (and small time) Wall St. corporations, for instance.

Also, don’t forget to checkout your own community. YMCA, churches, local youth groups and sports teams, they all give out money to deserving individuals, so do some homework on your hometown before moving on to bigger venues.

The essay contest

These are wonderful. Checkout what you like, what you know a lot about and are passionate about, and write an essay to submit to a contest or scholarship offer. Get friends in on it…help each other out and promise to share earnings.

Why isn’t this EASY?

Now, I don’t want to brag, but I won quite a few scholarships in my day. However, I remember always getting questions about "how do you do it," "you’re so lucky," and so on. Well, it really isn’t that complicated– its going to take some work and dedication. Start early, make a list of scholarships, plan for scholarship-work time, and get busy. Don’t feel bad when you don’t win, most students are happy to win a few because that’s usually what it takes. Just keep focused on what you’re trying to do, hope for the best, and do NOT stress out about it.

Alternatives

There are a few alternatives. Never resort to credit cards. Ever. What you want to look for are student loans because they have lower interest rates and usually have friendlier grace periods and payback periods. Don’t worry about being in student loan debt upon graduation…$10000-$15,000 is not bad at all (if being repaid in ten years). Stafford loans are the most common. They offer around $2600 for first-year, $3500 for second year and $5500 for third year students. Perkins loans usually don’t have to be repaid until nine months after graduation and you have 10 years to pay. Checkout private loans, maybe from loan-specialists companies and your own school. Checkout the American Education Society which also provides private loans for people.

Don’t Stress It

There is money to be made, just be focused, dont’t get discouraged, and work hard at it. Well, what are you waiting for?

Vincent St. James is a writer and researcher for thecollegeguys.com, where you can find more of his work related to finance, health,and movies.

Living in an apartment during college can be the highlight of a student’s life. You’re away from home, living with friends. You don’t yet have the stresses of a full time job. You only have a few hours of class a day. And there are always opportunities for fun. How can you maximize this chance to live while still keeping school your priority?

First, it’s important to have a common understanding amongst your roommates that school is the priority during the week. Everyone has different class schedules, so for some of your roommates Thursday night is the weekend or perhaps Wednesday’s classes don’t start until the afternoon. Hopefully you chose roommates who will be courteous enough to understand that you have a different schedule then they do.

If weeknight partying continues despite your reminders, you may have to scout out some alternate study zones. In my experience, obvious studying areas such as the library or a coffee shop near campus are poor choices. They are typically overrun with students and can, ironically, get quite distracting. Look instead to some smaller study areas around campus or perhaps a nearby public library.

If the problem isn’t just getting your studying done, but getting your sleep in, things are much more serious. It would be ridiculous to start sleeping somewhere else since your spending hundreds of dollars a month to stay at your apartment. At this point, a more serious confrontation with the offending roommates may be in order.

In such a confrontation, roommate alliances will play a major role. If you’re up against three other party people, there may not be much you can accomplish unless you get an authority involved. However, at this point do you really want to continue living with these people? You may need to start looking for a new place to live in this extreme case. Otherwise, you can probably work out an agreement. Restraining from hosting weeknight parties will seem reasonable to most people when you explain your 8:00 classes.

Keeping the communication channels open is vital to living with college roommates. Always be willing to give a little and chances are they will return the favor. Keep on the lookout for some out of the way study spaces so you can get out of your apartment and remember to maintain good relationships with your roommates in case you need their backup.

Ian Byrd runs websites dedicated to helping UCI and UCLA students find housing.

Getting an apartment as a college student is one of the most difficult housing experiences you will go through. As a student, you are immediately judged as a risk. You don’t have a good job and probably only work part time since school is your focus. You carry the “college student” stigma, bringing to mind parties, late nights and loud music.

Furthermore, there is intense competition for apartments near college since everyone moves in at the same time. Apartment owners whose complexes are near campus can be very selective since their facilities are in such demand. They can also charge higher prices and many will be willing to pay.

So how can you possibly find a decent apartment near your college campus without getting gouged?

The easiest way to find more affordable housing is to look a couple miles away from campus. Housing within walking distance comes with a premium. Once you get a few miles away, prices drop noticeably. What about parking and driving costs? If the weather allows, a bike costs almost nothing. Otherwise, carpool with your roommates. With either solution, the money you save on rent every month will quickly pay for a parking permit or a bike.

You can also check out some alternative housing ideas. Although it may sound silly, trailer parks can offer great deals if you can get a hold of an RV for cheap. You can also look into renting a room from a family or even, perhaps with your parents’ help, buying a house in the area. Think of it as an early graduation gift.

But if you’re really want that housing next to campus and your lack of income is a problem with the landlord, look to getting a cosigner. Your parents or one of your roommate’s parents can sign on, agreeing to make your rent if you fail to. Of course, if you really think you’ll have a problem making rent, you should be looking further away. It will certainly strain relations with your parents if they’re suddenly footing your rent.

Before signing up with the high priced apartments near your college campus, be sure to check out housing options further away. You can easily bike a couple miles to save hundreds a month. A thorough investigation of you housing options will pay off big during your college years.

Ian Byrd lived in student housing for 4 years and now runs websites dedicated to UCI and UCLA Housing.

Online bachelor degrees are quickly becoming the most popular means for students to further their educations. The Internet is simply exploding with schools offering online bachelor degrees in many different fields of study. Now, getting a degree can be simple and convenient with an online bachelor degree program. If you have ever considered a degree and want to start or continue an education, then perhaps an online bachelor degree program is for you. Careful investigation of the various schools and programs offered would help you choose the right school for your education and career goals. Not all schools and programs that offer online bachelor degree programs are the same, so before enrolling, students will need to fully understand all course expectations.

The Internet is changing the way many industries do business and the Internet has altered the way many students receive their educations. Now, a student no longer must attend a university class on campus and students can attend class and receive online bachelor degrees right at home, on their computers. There are many different methods used in online bachelor degree programs, and the primary source for online bachelor degrees is, of course the computer. Students "e-learn" from online classrooms that have live chat, message boards, and often videos. Some courses will require using live videos for lectures and teaching in synchronous format.

There are hundreds of schools that advertise online bachelor degrees and study programs. There are some online bachelor degrees that are awarded by accredited schools. Programs that have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education accredit most accredited schools. The course of study chosen, and the career field desired will help a student determine which school to choose, what courses to pursue, and how important an accreditation will be. Online bachelor degree fields are almost limitless. There are online bachelor degrees in health care, technology, business, education, and hospitality. Many more disciplines exist for online learning, so students should research and find a bachelor degree program that will accommodate their future careers.

Education programs that offer an online bachelor degree are increasing, and perhaps because of the flexibility of theses programs. Students can easily access school studies and assignments online, from home. Students seeking an online bachelor degree can continue to work a full or part-time job if needed. Online learning also allows for students to raise a family, working on courses when it is most convenient. Studies are proving that online learning equips students for careers as well as the traditional classroom format has provided in the past. If you seriously want to further your education, browse the Internet today, and find an online degree program that will fit your education needs.

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Living away from home in a college apartment is an awesome experience. Complete freedom, a few hours of school, and little parent involvement combine for some crazy times. Unfortunately, there is the side of apartment living that is not so fun: paying rent and bills.

As a young person, your first year in an apartment will most likely be the first time you’ve ever had the responsibility of keeping track of and paying for bills. To make thins more difficult, you have to work with your roommates to get it all paid for. Here are a few tips to make sure it all goes smoothly.

First, you need to have a meeting to get everyone on the same page regarding rent. Make sure everyone knows how much they are paying each month. Put one person in charge of getting the big check to the landlord. You can switch this off monthly to make it less responsibility, but this will make things a little more complicated. Have a hard set date when everyone’s checks are due so that there is enough time to assemble the big check. Keeping on top of this can really help the monthly process.

Bills are another complicated issue. Again, you can put one person in charge of all the bills and have every give them their share of the money each month. If someone is responsible and willing to do this, go for it. Also, split up the bills as simply as possible. Obviously dividing it equally is the easiest way to go. Sometimes, however, people will claim that they don’t watch cable TV or don’t want to pay for certain features that other people wanted. If their claim is true, then let them pay less. Otherwise, stick to a simple payment plan.

Communication is key to keeping money matters simple. As long as everyone knows the procedures and people stay on top of it, you shouldn’t have any problems getting the rent and bills in. As soon as there is a problem (money is late, someone had to cover for someone) make sure to address it and possibly rearrange the procedure if someone is dropping the ball.

Ian Byrd runs websites dedicated to helping UCI and UCLA students find housing.