Skip to main content

Women Are More Concerned About Paying for College Than Men

By U.S. News & World Report

Cost is a constant worry for some college students.

And, according to a new survey, the dilemma of higher education’s hefty price tag follows a gender gap.

A survey of freshmen at 184 U.S. colleges and universities by the University of California–Los Angeles‘ Higher Education Research Institute found that 34.3 percent of men are “either somewhat or very worried” about paying for college compared with 65.7 percent of women.

[Find out why colleges should start classes later in the day.]

Overall, 55.9 percent of college students have some concerns about how they will afford tuition.

Gender isn’t the only demographic that presents a divide when it comes to worrying about college costs. According to the survey, just 9.2 percent of white students had “major” concerns about paying for college, yet 22 percent of black students and 24.7 percent of Hispanic students are worried about how they will pay for a degree.

[See which college is America’s dream school.]

Another major issue facing many college students today is mental health. According to the survey, a record high 11.9 percent of first-year students felt depressed “frequently,” while overall just 47.3 percent reported “above average” mental health compared with their peers.

Of all students surveyed, 34.5 percent said they “frequently” felt anxious.

The study also addressed other topics, finding that:

— 35.5 percent of students consider themselves to be liberal, while 22.2 percent consider themselves to be on the right

— More women in college want stricter gun control laws, as 75.4 percent are for it — while just 58.8 percent of men want stricter laws

— 57.3 percent of Latino students are the first to attend college in their families

— 40.9 percent of students use social media for at least six hours per week

— 18.5 percent of students plan to live with their parents while in college

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

More from U.S. News

10 Celebrity Commencement Speakers in 2017

Colleges Should Start Classes Later in the Day, Study Says

This Is America’s Dream College

Women Are More Concerned About Paying for College Than Men 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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote