Additional Financial Aid Resources

By Tripp, Senior Ticket Counselor

As discussed in our June 6, 2011 entry on Financial Aid for Individuals with Disabilities, there are numerous programs available to assist in obtaining financial aid to pay for your education.  At ERS we are here to assist our Ticket Holders who are looking to further their education by helping you locate schools that cater to your needs and interests, in addition to researching financial aid options.

Below is a listing of some additional resources that we have found that may assist you with funding for your education.  This list is NOT all inclusive.  Some of these services will require you to create a personal profile in order to be matched up with potential aid opportunities. 

For additional information on subsidize and unsubsidized loans, please visit the archives for our June 6, 2011 article.  As always, if our counselors can be of assistance to you with this process, please give us a call at 1.888.322.9570.  We are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST for assistance.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Federal Student Aid

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

*Free application that is required to qualify for federal and some state aid programs including grants and loans.

FastWeb.com – Scholarship Database

http://www.fastweb.com/

*Registration required.  Free online database that allows you to locate financial aid opportunities that match your characteristics. 

Department of Education – General Scholarship Browser

https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/v3browse.asp

*Allows you to search by categories such as music, law enforcement, biology, etc.

Department of Education – Scholarship Wizard

https://studentaid2.ed.gov/logon.asp?nextpage=%2Fgetmoney%2Fscholarship%2Fv3search.asp%3F%26

*Registration required.  Provides assistance in planning of your financial aid package.  Determine deadlines for applications, conduct scholarship searches, estimate costs you may incur with your education, etc.

SallieMae – Scholarship Search

https://www1.salliemae.com/before_college/students_plan/free_money/scholarship-search.htm

*Registration required.  Service allows you to locate financial aid opportunities that match your characteristics.

College Prowler – Find Scholarships

http://collegeprowler.com/scholarships/

*Allows you to search by categories such as music, law enforcement, biology, etc.

College Prowler – Scholarship Matching Service

https://collegeprowler.com/register/?reason=ScholarshipMatch

*Registration required.  Service allows you to locate financial aid opportunities that match your characteristics. 

MyCollegeOptions – Scholarship Search

https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/scholarship-advanced-search.aspx?HighlightMatchPattern=scholarship-search|scholarship-advanced|scholarshipsearch

*Allows you to conduct searches based on location, major, ethnicity, religion.

MyCollegeOptions – Advanced Scholarship Search

https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/scholarship-advanced-search.aspx

*Registration required.  Allows you to conduct more detailed financial aid searches based on factors such as disability, SAT/SCT scores, GPA, etc.

Schools That Offer Laptops to Students

By Tripp, Senior Ticket Counselor

Getting an education can be an expensive yet important step in accomplishing your career goals.  There are many expenses associated with schooling from tuition to room and board (if you live on campus), textbooks, even computers.  Some individuals are able to cover the cost of their own education, while others rely on financial aid programs such as scholarships, loans, and grants to keep them in the classroom.  (See our entry on Financial Aid for Individuals with Disabilities.) 

Technology is playing a major role in everyday life, especially in education.  There is a move to increase the accessibility of technology to students on all levels.  Most campus-based schools will have computer labs available for students to use, but you may be limited to using them only during specified hours.  If you want to have access to a computer outside of your school or if you want to attend an online program, having a personal computer becomes important. 

As a solution, some schools are now offering “free” computers or other devices such as the iPad to students.  Other schools include the cost of this technology in the fees that a student will pay during the completion of their degree.  In this case, the student will actually pay for a computer but with it being included in the cost of tuition it may be covered by financial aid or other financial assistance programs.  Some schools will even provide you with an initial laptop or other device and as you progress through your degree program, they will provide you with additional upgrades. 

We’ve included a short list of schools that may be able to assist you with your technology needs.  This list is not all-inclusive. 

You may find it helpful when researching schools to speak with an admission’s counselor about any technology assistance programs that may be available through the school or through financial aid and other programs.  It may also prove helpful to do some online research.

Villanova University

800 E Lancaster Ave

Villanova, PA 19085

Ph. 610.519.6000

http://www1.villanova.edu/

*New laptops for all students (included in tuition).  Some online programs available in addition to traditional classroom based programs.

Wake Forest University

PO Box 7373

Reynolda Station

Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Ph. 336.758.5000

http://www.wfu.edu/

Full Sail University

3300 University Blvd

Winter Park, FL 32792

Ph. 800.226.7625

Ph. 888.9937338

http://www.fullsail.edu/

*All enrolled students are provided with an Apple computer with software for their course program preinstalled.  Computer cost is NOT included in tuition, but is provided at a discount. 

Stevens-Henager College

1890 S 1350 W

Ogden, UT 84401

Ph. 800.622.2640

http://www.stevenshenager.edu/

*All enrolled students are provided with a laptop.  Students may keep computer upon graduation, however if they drop out, they are required to return the computer to the school in working condition. 

Henley-Putnam University

25 Metro Dr

Ste 500

San Jose, CA 95110

Ph. 888.852.8746

http://www.henley-putnam.edu/

*Accepted students receive a new laptop in tuition and IT support.

Bethel University

325 Cherry Ave

McKenzie, TN 38201

Ph. 731.352.4000

http://www.bethelu.edu/

*Online students are provided with an iPad loaded with applicable programs in addition to a wireless keyboard.

Southeast Technical Institute

2320 N Career Ave

Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Ph. 1.800.247.0789

Ph. 605.367.6040

http://www.southeasttech.edu/

*Laptop issued to all new students (price included in tuition).  School remains owner of the laptop until the student completes their degree program and graduates.  The student then is able to keep the laptop.

Berklee College of Music

1140 Boylston St

Boston, MA 02215

Ph. 617.266.1400

Ph. 800.237.5533

http://www.berklee.edu/

*Laptop is included in tuition for entering students (including first-year transfers).

Bentley University

175 Forest St

Waltham, MA 02452

Ph. 781.891.2000

http://www.bentley.edu/

Seton Hall University

400 S Orange Ave

South Orange, NJ 07079

Ph. 973.761.9000

http://www.shu.edu/

University of the Pacific

3601 Pacific Ave

Stockton, CA 95211

Ph. 209.946.2285

http://www.pacific.edu/

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

200 E Cameron Ave

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Ph. 919.962.2211

http://www.unc.edu/

*Grant program is available to help cover cost of laptop.  Available to undergraduate students who are enrolling for the first-time and who do not have a previous degree.  Grants are based on financial need and may only be used through campus stores to purchase a program approved laptop package.