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Iowa St-Oklahoma St Preview Capsule

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

IOWA STATE (1-3, 0-2 Big 12) at No. 21 OKLAHOMA STATE (3-1, 1-0), noon EDT (Fox Sports 1)

Line: Oklahoma State by 17.

Series Record: Oklahoma State leads 27-18-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Oklahoma State is climbing in the AP poll and establishing itself as a contender in the Big 12. The Cowboys can’t afford to get derailed in the final game of a four-game homestand. Though Iowa State is coming off a 49-28 loss to Baylor, the Cyclones battled before losing 32-28 at home against Kansas State on Sept. 6 and beat Iowa the next week. Iowa State has been close to breaking through, and a win on the road against a ranked team would provide a confidence boost.

KEY MATCHUP

Oklahoma State’s run game vs. Iowa State run defense. Oklahoma State’s trio of Desmond Roland, Tyreek Hill and Rennie Childs has combined for 523 yards and six touchdowns so far. They face a defense that has surrendered 227 yards rushing per game. Roland ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns against the Cyclones last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: Quarterback Sam B. Richardson. He’s a dual threat who passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 99 yards against Baylor. He has passed for 803 yards this season and is the Cyclones’ leading rusher with 218 yards.

Oklahoma State: Quarterback Daxx Garman. He was the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Week after passing for 370 yards and four touchdowns and running for another score last Thursday against Texas Tech. If he gets time to throw, his strong arm and his fast receivers make him a threat to post similar numbers on a weekly basis.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oklahoma State has won four of the last five against the Cyclones. … The Cowboys have won 25 straight at home against unranked teams. … Oklahoma State won 58-27 in Ames last year. … Seven Oklahoma State players have a reception of at least 39 yards. … Iowa State linebacker Jevohn Miller leads the Big 12 with 11.5 tackles per game. … Iowa State ranks second nationally with 29.3 yards per punt return. … Iowa State has just 17 wins all time against ranked teams, but one was a 37-31 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma State in 2011 that cost the Cowboys a shot at the national title.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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