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Plug In to Scholarships for Aspiring IT Professionals

By U.S. News & World Report

Information Technology and related disciplines are highly sought-after fields of study for aspiring young professionals, offering a wide range of career opportunities in both the public and private sectors. IT careers often offer perks such as a flexible schedule when working remotely that make them desirable for individuals with busy schedules.

The first step of this career path is to establish a solid base of knowledge. Scholarships for IT students can help fund traditional education costs and, in some cases, provide opportunities for additional hands-on learning.

To begin your scholarship search, seek professional organizations like the Foundation for IT Education, whose mission is to address the changing educational needs of IT professionals throughout their careers. The foundation offers three national scholarships for full-time students with GPAs of 3.0 or higher: the Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship, the Kevin Jetton Service Scholarship, and the William R. Reaugh Scholarship.

[Get tips on using professional organizations to find college scholarships.]

Selection is based on a variety of factors, including scholastic ability, leadership potential and financial need. Apply for all of these scholarships between Jan. 1 and May 31 by using just one online application.

In addition to national scholarships, the Foundation for IT Education also offers funding opportunities through three chapter-based scholarships for active Association of Information Technology Professionals members. In Colorado, the Dave Sanders Columbine Information Technology Scholarship offers rewards up to $1,000 for high school seniors from Columbine High School. Applications are accepted from Jan. 1 to April 1.

The Harold M. Pool Recognition Award is another opportunity for national AITP student members, with nominations due in the spring. In Wisconsin, the Sherry Anklam Memorial Award offers a $1,000 scholarship for full-time students and a $500 scholarship for part-time students. Application materials for this merit-based award must be postmarked no later than March 31.

If you are interested in using your IT skills to make the world a better place, consider opportunities from service-oriented and nonprofit organizations. DoSomething.org, a social action non-profit organization for young people, teamed up with The Flatiron School to offer the Code for Good Fellows program.

[Learn about scholarship competitions for technology enthusiasts.]

Beginning this summer, a $2,000 scholarship is offered for high school students to attend a two-week coding boot camp at the Flatiron School in New York, Boston, Miami, Chicago or Austin. Students who are able to attend the boot camp should apply online no later than April 1.

Another unique opportunity exists with Cyber Corps, part of the Scholarship for Service program aimed at protecting the federal government’s information infrastructure. Scholarships can fully fund IT educational expenses and provide stipends for undergraduates, master’s and doctoral students.

Opportunities are merit-based and students must be enrolled full-time at participating universities. Contact the principal investigator at your institution for details.

Graduate students can find additional funding for research from the Science, Technology and Society Program from the National Science Foundation. The STS program is designed to support interdisciplinary studies related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The award size varies based on the project, but the deadline does not. A full proposal is due by Aug. 3.

[Check out STEM scholarships for aspiring scientists.]

With IT being a predominantely male profession in the past, female students should look for scholarships designed to correct this imbalance. Visionary Integration Professionals, a technology company, offers the Women in Technology Scholarship with awards up to $2,500. Women who are enrolled in two- or four-year colleges in computer science, information technology, management information systems, computer engineering or related fields are considered.

Scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic performance, a written essay and community service. This year’s deadline has passed, but this is a great resource for next spring.

Keep an eye out for local opportunities as well, such as The ITWomen Charitable Foundation in Florida. They offer renewable scholarships totaling up to $8,000 over four years for high school seniors in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties. If you live in this area and are pursuing a career in the field of IT or engineering, apply between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1 for future funding.

Like all students, try to diversify your funding opportunities to pay for college. Some colleges offer IT course work through study abroad programs, which may have their own set of applicable scholarships and grants available to you. Don’t allow the cost of education to deter you from your dream of a career in the IT field.

More from U.S. News

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Plug In to Scholarships for Aspiring IT Professionals originally appeared on usnews.com

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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