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Sam Houston State-LSU Preview Capsule

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Sam Houston State (1-1) at No. 12 LSU (1-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Line: N/A

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

LSU has moved up a spot in the national rankings after a season opening victory over Wisconsin and doesn’t want to slide back down the poll, which could happen with anything less than a convincing victory over their second-tier Football Championship Subdivision opponent. Sam Houston State aims to make national headlines by playing the Tigers close and perhaps even staging an upset, and wants to stay healthy for its Southland Conference slate in the process.

KEY MATCHUP

Sam Houston State’s fast-paced, pass-happy offense, which has averaged 613.5 yards through two games, against LSU’s talented defense, which is led by an experienced secondary that produced a pair of interceptions last weekend.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sam Houston State: QB Jared Johnson has averaged 351.5 yards passing with five TDs through two starts. WR LaDarius Brown, a transfer from TCU, has nine catches for 110 yards.

LSU: WR Travin Dural had three catches for 151 yards, including an 80-yard TD against Wisconsin last weekend.

FACTS & FIGURES

LSU is 9-0 all-time against FCS teams and have gone 6-0 under 10th-year coach Les Miles, outscoring those six opponents 232-64. … LSU has the nation’s longest regular season nonconference winning streak of 46, including 36-0 under Miles. … Sam Houston is facing its 30th Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since starting play at the FCS level in 1986. All 29 previous games have been on the road, and the Bearkats have won three of them, winning at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2000, at Louisiana-Monroe in 2001 and at New Mexico in 2011. This game will mark the fifth time Sam Houston State has played a nationally ranked FBS squad. … Among FCS teams, the Bearkats are ranked 13th nationally in the NCAA Coaches Poll. … The game will be the first played in Tiger Stadium since the completion of a new high-end section above the old south end zone stands. The new structure essentially closes in one of the nation’s loudest stadiums on three sides and increases capacity to just more than 102,000.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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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