Paying For College

Tuition costs are high all over the country, but Pennsylvania has some of the most expensive higher education costs in the nation, ranking at number six. This means that most students are likely to graduate with student loan debt.

Nevertheless, Pennsylvania's enrollment statistics are fourth highest in the country, and the state does its best to contain the cost of higher education by maintaining one of the largest need-based grant programs in the nation.

Due to the higher cost of education and the likelihood of graduating with substantial student loan debt, Pennsylvania degree-seekers should consider online education. Costs can be substantially lower than those paid by students attending classes on campus, not only because tuition itself is lower, but also because online students do not have to pay for parking, fuel costs to drive to and from school, or dormitory and other associated costs. Plus, online courses sometimes do not require the purchase of textbooks or other course materials since the information is available online as part of the course.

A recent report revealed that Pennsylvania's economic future is dependent upon higher education, stating that 75 percent of future jobs will require a college degree. Credit requirements for private student loans have tightened up, raising interest rates and limiting the number and amount of student loans a degree-seeker can obtain.

Above all, you should never use credit cards to pay for college tuition. The interest rate alone will put you in tremendous amounts of debt. Talk to an advisor about grants, scholarships, and student loans as well as any other methods of financial aid that may be available to you.

In addition to online education, Pennsylvania has introduced the concept of a "no frills" university at which students would give up a number of amenities and attend a "satellite" campus. While this idea is being discussed, other education reforms are being recommended, including changing the focus of universities to teaching rather than research; holding schools and students accountable for taxpayer support received; providing grants to students rather than subsidies to schools; considering reorganization of state higher education; and severing taxpayer support to state educational facilities, as well as other suggested reforms.

So while college tuition rates continue to climb all over the country, and while those in authority discuss different proposals for making higher education more affordable, the option that seems most cost-effective for students in Pennsylvania is online education.