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League Strong, Says WNBA President

By WTOP Staff

AL BRAVO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — The WNBA is in good shape, financially and competitively, league president Laurel Richie said Sunday.

She also said she believed there would not be ownership issues in the offseason as there were a year ago when Los Angeles was left in limbo just a couple of months after the end of the 2013 season.

“But I think our ownership group has seen the numbers, they’ve been in arena, they’ve been to games, they know that our fan base is growing, that the level of talent is increasing,” Richie said before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between Phoenix and Chicago. “Do I expect any surprises of that nature this year? No, I don’t.”

Six teams should end up in the black this season, the same number as last season, and ownership groups are stable, Richie said.

Richie said San Antonio, Minnesota, Connecticut, Indiana, Phoenix and Seattle all turned a profit or broke even in 2013. She declined to say if the same six would do so in 2014, saying final numbers were not yet available, but that she believed six would be in the black this season.

Richie also addressed the fact that Game 3 and 4, if necessary, would be played in the University of Illinois-Chicago’s arena, which holds 9,500 people, rather than the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont, where they have played all season.

“I think the fans in Chicago are going to find the Sky,” Richie said. “I think their first trip to the Finals, I think we are on track to have a record crowd in Chicago.”

Richie noted that attendance was up and television ratings have been good.

“I couldn’t be more excited, I think we have our veterans showing up, we have fresh young talent coming in and two coaches who are making their first appearance in the WNBA Finals so we are very excited,” Richie said.

She added, “This is really our fans responding to the state of the game in the WNBA today.”

She said the success of Phoenix’s Brittney Griner, Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne and Tulsa’s Skylar Diggins — the first three players taken in the 2013 draft — was a milestone this season.

“I think we have seen the same attention from Brittney and from Elena, to not only to arrive as perhaps the most heralded rookie class in WNBA history but with one season under their belt, each one of them did incredible work in the offseason to take incredible games and take them up to the level necessary to be competitive in the WNBA,” Richie said.

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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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