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Correction: Obit-Sperling story

By WTOP Staff

PHOENIX (AP) — In a story Aug. 25 about death of University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, The Associated Press reported erroneously the day that Sperling died. He died Friday, not Sunday.

A corrected version of the story is below:

John Sperling, University of Phoenix founder, dies

John Sperling, founder of for-profit University of Phoenix, dies at 93 near San Francisco

By BOB SEAVEY and ASTRID GALVAN

Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — John G. Sperling was in his teens — illiterate and the survivor of a childhood filled with illness — when a shipmate in the Merchant Marine taught him to read.

Enchanted by the likes of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sperling began a journey through higher education that ultimately led to his founding of the University of Phoenix, a for-profit institution.

Sperling, 93, a billionaire, died Friday at a hospital near San Francisco, according to a statement from Apollo Education Group, the parent company of the University of Phoenix. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Sperling stepped down two years ago as Apollo’s executive chairman, but his legacy remains as the founder of one of the biggest disrupters of traditional higher education.

Sterling founded the University of Phoenix to accommodate older students who wanted to advance their education but didn’t have time for a typical classroom schedule. He built his schools near highways and busy intersections and scheduled evening classes.

“He was trying to provide a service that the private sector was not interested in doing,” said University of Southern California professor William G. Tierney, who authored “New Players, Different Game: Understanding the Rise of For-Profit Colleges and Universities.”

Sperling once said to Tierney: ” ‘I had one good idea, but it was a darn good idea,’ ” he recalled.

The University of Phoenix’s reputation has suffered in the past few years as federal regulators reviewed its financial aid practices, and as criticism of for-profit colleges and how they attract students grew louder.

Tierney, however, said that misses the bigger picture of Sperling’s contributions to education.

“What people have made of it, including the University of Phoenix, is different than someone who invented an idea and moved forward with it,” he said.

Sperling’s son, current Chairman Peter Sperling, and Chief Executive Officer Greg Cappelli said in a statement on the Apollo website that John Sperling made higher education more accessible to adult students.

The University of Phoenix has a presence in 38 states and in Puerto Rico, and at one point touted 470,000 students, although that number has significantly dropped.

It was a long road for Sperling, who received an undergraduate degree from Reed College and later earned a fellowship at King’s College at the University of Cambridge and obtained a doctorate in 18th century English mercantile history in 1955.

In 1972, after years of teaching history at San Jose State University, Sperling founded his first company, the Institute for Professional Development. It worked mostly with Jesuit universities to create degree programs for working adults.

The programs didn’t prove too popular at most universities, and Sperling headed to Arizona, where he founded the University of Phoenix in 1978.

Sperling used his wealth on several philanthropic projects, including research into seawater agriculture and anti-aging medicine. He was also an outspoken critic of the government’s war on drugs, advocating for treatment instead of criminalization.

He valued his education roots the most.

“University of Phoenix is my proudest legacy,” Sperling said in a 2011 interview with The Arizona Republic. “Knowing that over 1 million staff, faculty and students have benefited in some way from the university is something I’m very proud of.”

He is survived by his long-time companion Joan Hawthorne; his former wife, Virginia Sperling; and his son Peter, daughter-in-law Stephanie and two grandchildren.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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