Michigan State-Oregon Preview Capsule

By WTOP Staff
September 4, 2014 | 3:50 PM

The Associated Press

No. 7 MICHIGAN STATE (1-0) at No. 3 OREGON (1-0), 6:30 p.m. (Fox)

Line: Oregon by 12.

Series Record: Tied at 2-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Saturday’s game will be the first nonconference clash at Autzen Stadium that features two teams ranked in the top 10. Third-ranked Oregon is the highest ranked non-conference opponent for the No. 7 Spartans since they played at No. 1 Nebraska 1996. The home team has won in each of the four previous meetings between the two teams, evening the series at 2-2. Michigan State won the most recent meeting 27-20 in 1999 in East Lansing.

KEY MATCHUP

Oregon’s offense against Michigan State’s defense. The Ducks piled up 673 yards of offense in their season-opening 62-13 victory over South Dakota, after averaging 45.5 points and 565 yards last season. The Spartans, who defeated Jacksonville State 45-7 in their opener, had the fourth-ranked defense in the nation last year, allowing opponents an average of 274.38 yards offense per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan State: Defensive end Shilique Calhoun, a 6-foot-4, 256 pound junior, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and is projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick.

Oregon: Quarterback Marcus Mariota, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the opener against South Dakota. The junior Heisman hopeful, considered one of the best dual-threats in the country, has thrown at least one touchdown in each of the 27 games he’s played at Oregon. He has thrown 66 touchdowns, rushed for 15 and caught one for the most career touchdowns in school history.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oregon has won 11 straight games against nonconference opponents. Their last loss came in 2011 against LSU in the Cowboys Classic. … Michigan State has won its last 11 straight games. … One of Oregon’s two losses last season was to Stanford, which lost to Michigan State 24-20 in the Rose Bowl. … The Spartans have won their last six games away from Spartan Stadium, including the Rose Bowl victory.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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

Read Next Story