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Stocks rally…NFL sponsors unhappy…NASA picks Boeing, SpaceX to carry astronauts into space

By WTOP Staff

NEW YORK (AP) — Investors are waiting to hear the Federal Reserve’s latest assessment of the economy tomorrow, but that didn’t stop the buying today. The Dow gained 100 points to close at 17,132. The S&P 500 gained nearly 15 points, finished just below 1,999. The Nasdaq composite rose almost 34, finishing at 4,552.76.

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s some deal news following the end of Wall Street’s trading day. Endo International says it is making an unsolicited offer for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals that values Auxilium at $28.10 per share, a 31 percent premium on today’s closing price. The deal is worth more than $1.4 billion in cash and stock, based on Auxilium’s shares outstanding. Endo values the offer at $2.2 billion.

UNDATED (AP) — One of the NFL’s biggest sponsors says it isn’t happy with the controversy that has engulfed the league. Anheuser-Busch issued a statement on today saying it is “disappointed and increasingly concerned” by recent incidents and is not yet satisfied with the league’s response. It says it has shared its concerns and expectations with the NFL. Sponsorship consultants IEG say Anheuser-Busch’s sponsorship fees alone are worth an estimated $50 million a year to the league. Visa and Campbell Soup say they have voiced similar concerns.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is a step closer to launching Americans into space from U.S. soil again. The space agency has picked Boeing and SpaceX to transport astronauts to the International Space Station in the next few years. The deal will end NASA’s expensive reliance on Russia. U.S. astronauts have been riding Russian rockets ever since NASA’s shuttles retired in 2011. The latest price tag is $71 million per seat. NASA has set a goal of 2017 for the first launch under the commercial crew program.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nonpartisan congressional investigators are warning of significant security weaknesses in the HealthCare.gov website. The Government Accountability Office has identified more than 20 specific security issues related that it says the Obama administration must resolve. The issues relate to who can get into the online system, who can make changes in it and what to do in case the network fails. The GAO says the weaknesses put Americans’ personal information at risk.

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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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