<p>How come there's never a discussion concerning issues facing our non traditional students. According to some survey, they are becoming the norm in some of the biggest university campuses in the nation. I'm starting to believe that non traditional students are facing the same issues that of kids coming out of high school. My dilemma is, wanted to get my degree but i also dont want to bury myself with debt. I filed chapter 7 in 2002 and i'm debt free. I also just turned 40 with three small kids. With the economy on a tailspin, i am very sensitive when it comes to acquiring debt. The three schools that i got accepted only offered me stafford loan. The financial aid office explained to me that for financial aid purposes, non traditional students never gets any other aid except loans. They instead asked me if the company i work with has tuition reinbursement. I decided to defer for several terms now. As you know, adult degree completion programs are quite expensive. I like them because they are flexible. The three of them classified me as a senior but i'm still looking at $18,000 plus school and personal expenses. Living in Los Angeles is not cheap. By the way, i forgot to tell you guys i'm not exactly debt free. I own a house and i'm paying the mortgage. My house is in San Bernardino County(Inland Empire) but i rent an aprtment in Los Angeles. Foreclosures in San Bernardino is one of the highest in the nation so you can forget about the equity. Suburban living as you know it is over. Talk about commuting for two hours. So friends help me decide. Can i afford it or not? is it a go?</p>
<p>Most non-trads rely on huge savings, a spouse's income or live like hermits to pursue a degree.</p>
<p>With three small children, your EFC should be low unless you make quite a bit. Home equity isn't factored in for FAFSA EFC calculations, but non-retirement assets are.</p>
<p>So -- FAFSA will calculate a number that is your Expected Family Contribution. Based on that number, you may qualify for state, federal and institutional grants. You will need to either borrow or come up with the rest of it.</p>
<p>The "degree completion programs" that offer you the flexibility you like are for-profit schools. They want your money and are very, very expensive. If you are cost conscious, you need to look at your local state schools. Not only are they less-expensive, but you may get better financial aid from them (I certainly did).</p>
<p>Start with filling out the FAFSA (if you haven't already done that -- it is free) and see what your EFC is.</p>
<p>As a non traditional student are you eligible for any need-based aid that a school might offer? Though I guess if you have a full time income and a house under your assets then you will possibly not be considered as "needing" the aid, but still.. just wondering.</p>
<p>You may want to look into smaller private, Christian schools in your area and see if they offer adult degree programs. I know there used to be one in the LA area years ago that was affiliated with the program offered at my institution (they're no longer affiliated with our program.) Many of the private, Christian LAC's have partnered with for-profit agencies and offer affordable degree programs for working adults. The one my institution offers costs about $8,000 for 24 credits (about 1 year's worth of courses.) Some offer institutional aid, others rely strictly on federal funding such as Pell, SEOG and loans. While some of these adult programs are run strictly by for-profit schools and are expensive, others offer degree programs that are typically half the cost of attending as a traditional student.</p>
<p>also check out any local state schools for classes that are flexible -- I know my state school offers friday only classes, night classes, saturday only classes, short-term classes that last only a week, short term classes that meet for three weekends and online classes. They offer as much flexiblity as those for-profit schools at a fraction of the cost. </p>
<p>Depending on your EFC, non-traditional students are just as eligible as any other student for Pell Grants, Perkins and Stafford loans and other federal and state funding. Institutional funding depends on the school -- but I have been awarded institutional grants every year from my school and I just have a decent GPA, nothing off the charts.</p>
<p>Yep, one just has to do their homework and find a program that meets their needs while remaining within their budget. Also, look outside the institution for comunity based grants and scholarships. Many of my students have come in with scholarship awards from AVON, their church, local banks, etc.</p>
<p>I've tried getting into Cal State Los Angeles and Fullerton but they won't accept my transfer undergraduate credit. Although i believe they don't really have an adult completion program in strict definition. They want me to go redo all the general education requirements at the local community college. I have a foreign academic credentials. Meaning i will have to start all over again. My foreign credentials was evaluated by the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute Inc. based in Beverly Hills CA.
This is their United States Educational equivalency recommendation:
The studies completed represent a level of learning equivalent to one hundred fifty one(151.0) semester units of undergraduate credit at regionally accredited institutions of higher learning in the United States.
If i go the Cal State University route, i'll have to do things all over again and it's gonna take me years. I like Cal State because its inexpensive but i'm not sure if its a good option for me.
The following Schools though accepted me as a senior:
Azusa Pacific University
Chapman University
Biola University
California Lutheran University
Mount St. Mary's College
All the schools above are regionally accredited by WACS.</p>
<p>My EFC is $4,657 and got the maximum from Stafford as a senior.</p>
<p>It all depends on what your current employment is and what your future prospects are if you get your degree. Two examples:</p>
<p>In the computer programming field, it would add no value for a developer with 15-20 years of experience to go to college to complete their undergraduate degree. Their experience, body of work and recommendations carry a lot more weight than a piece of paper from some school.</p>
<p>On the other hand, a health care professional could only get bottom-of-the-heap jobs in their field, if at all, without the necessary paperwork. With 20 years of experience and a new diploma, a world of opportunities would open up.</p>
<p>Think of the $18K+ as an investment. it is OK to acquire debt to invest it as long as the investment is sound and the expected return is greater than the initial investment plus interest.</p>
<p>In other words, you need to figure out how much getting your degree is worth to you over the next 20-25 years. If it is significantly more than the $18K+, it's a good investment.</p>
<p>If you decide to go back to school, do it soon. The longer you wait the less years of higher earnings you will get for your investment.</p>