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Where SEC Schools Rank Among the 2017 U.S. News Best Colleges

By U.S. News & World Report

How SEC Schools Rank Off the Gridiron

The SEC almost always has a team near No. 1 of the nation’s top 25 college football polls, but when it comes to overall quality, the SEC schools don’t quite match up to those in the Big Ten.

Only five SEC schools rank among the top 100 in the 2017 U.S. News Best National Universities rankings. In comparison, all but one of the Big Ten schools rank inside the top 100, with five of them inside the top 50.

Here’s where the SEC’s schools rank on the 2017 National Universities rankings.

Mississippi State University

Location: Mississippi State, Mississippi

U.S. News rank: 176 (tie)

Learn more about Mississippi State University.

University of Mississippi

Location: University, Mississippi

U.S. News rank: 135 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Mississippi.

University of Arkansas

Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas

U.S. News rank: 135 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Arkansas.

Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

U.S. News rank: 135 (tie)

Learn more about Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge.

University of Kentucky

Location: Lexington, Kentucky

U.S. News rank: 133 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Kentucky.

University of Missouri

Location: Columbia, Missouri

U.S. News rank: 111 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Missouri.

University of South Carolina

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

U.S. News rank: 107 (tie)

Learn more about the University of South Carolina.

University of Tennessee

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

U.S. News rank: 103 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Tennessee.

University of Alabama

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

U.S. News rank: 103 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Alabama.

Auburn University

Location: Auburn, Alabama

U.S. News rank: 99 (tie)

Learn more about Auburn University.

Texas A&M University–College Station

Location: College Station, Texas

U.S. News rank: 74 (tie)

Learn more about Texas A&M–College Station.

University of Georgia

Location: Athens, Georgia

U.S. News rank: 56 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Georgia.

University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida

U.S. News rank: 50 (tie)

Learn more about the University of Florida.

Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. News rank: 15 (tie)

Learn more about Vanderbilt University.

Find the College for You

Get more information about how to choose a college and check out the complete rankings of the 2017 Best Colleges to find the school that’s the right fit for you.

For more advice and information on selecting a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.

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Where SEC Schools Rank Among the 2017 U.S. News Best Colleges 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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