raditional college students get scholarships and financial aid, not to mention help from mom and dad. So where does that leave you, the adult, nontraditional learner, especially if you plan to take the very nontraditional route of online education? Take a look at how to pay your way through school...

Tuition Reimbursement Is Not A Myth!

It’s time to dig out that ol’ employee handbook and uncover the hidden treasure of tuition reimbursement like Zachary Randles, a Web manager for a financial services company in New York City, did. He decided to take a multimedia design and production class at New York University (New York) to enhance his skills, but it didn’t come cheap. Luckily, because he earned an A in the course, his company paid 100 percent of the tuition.

Ultimately, says Randles, businesses hope to receive a return on investment for their educational monetary input. “They want people to go out and better themselves,” he explains. “And, eventually, it will help their departments.”

The concept is catching on more and more at large corporations and even small businesses that encourage their employees to keep their training up-to-date and add to their knowledge base. Online classes, in particular, are work-friendly in that learning will be done on your own time (you won’t have to leave early to get to class). Other factors your company may consider include job relevancy -- they probably will not pay for your pottery class! As in Randles’ case, your academic performance may affect the amount of reimbursement -- if you fail, you may be beat. And, finally, you may have to agree to stay with the company for a period of time following your education completion, otherwise expenses may become your responsibility.

Financial Aid Is Not Just For Teens.

You may qualify for Federal financial aid for many online programs, especially those affiliated with accredited brick-and-mortar institutions… read more