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Prospective College Students Still Have Options for Fall 2017

Think you’ve missed your chance to apply for college this fall? Think again.

More than 400 colleges and universities are still accepting applications for fall 2017, according to the College Openings Update put together by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

The annual list shows which of the organization’s member schools have open spots for freshman and transfer students, even though National College Decision Day — May 1 — has come and gone.

[Learn more about applying to college.]

“Some colleges and universities may have faced challenges predicting the number of students who would accept admission offers,” said Joyce Smith, CEO of NACAC, in a statement, “and they may have found openings in their incoming freshman class for deserving students if their predictions were slightly off.”

The list will be online through June 30 and will change between now and then as schools update their listing based on their needs and as additional schools join.

Both public and private institutions are included. These institutions range in size, though most of the schools have 5,000 or fewer students.

One of the larger schools on the list is Oregon State University, which in fall 2015 enrolled 29,576 students, according to U.S. News data. Noah Buckley, the university’s director of admissions, says students should not feel ashamed if they are still working on their college applications.

“Definitely speak up if you need someone to help you through the process,” he says. If students have questions, Buckley says a good first step is to contact the admissions office.

Oregon State has about 150 open spots for its incoming freshman class, says Buckley. There’s still room for transfer students there as well, per the NACAC list.

Some universities in almost every state are still accepting applications. Additionally, about two dozen schools located outside the U.S. — in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom — still have open spots.

[Consider when applying late to college makes sense.]

Students and parents can explore the list to see which schools still have housing and financial aid resources available. As of early May 4, only 24 schools indicated they are out of housing space, while around a dozen indicated that they are no longer offering financial aid.

Another higher education option late applicants can consider is community college, says Buckley. After earning some credits at a community college, students can then transfer to a four-year school.

Prospective college students who want to enroll in the fall should get started on their applications sooner rather than later. This will give them time to have transcripts and test scores sent to the admissions office, Buckley says, and will decrease their chances of missing a school’s application window.

“The longer you wait,” he says, “the less options you’ll have, for sure.”

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

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Prospective College Students Still Have Options for Fall 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

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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