NBA Standings

By WTOP Staff
February 4, 2013 | 2:36 AM

All Times EST
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W L Pct GB
New York 30 15 .667 _
Brooklyn 28 18 .609 2 1/2
Boston 24 22 .522 6 1/2
Philadelphia 20 25 .444 10
Toronto 17 31 .354 14 1/2
Southeast Division
W L Pct GB
Miami 29 14 .674 _
Atlanta 26 20 .565 4 1/2
Orlando 14 33 .298 17
Charlotte 11 35 .239 19 1/2
Washington 11 35 .239 19 1/2
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Chicago 28 18 .609 _
Indiana 28 18 .609 _
Milwaukee 24 21 .533 3 1/2
Detroit 18 29 .383 10 1/2
Cleveland 14 33 .298 14 1/2
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
W L Pct GB
San Antonio 37 11 .771 _
Memphis 30 15 .667 5 1/2
Houston 25 23 .521 12
Dallas 19 27 .413 17
New Orleans 15 32 .319 21 1/2
Northwest Division
W L Pct GB
Oklahoma City 34 12 .739 _
Denver 30 18 .625 5
Utah 26 21 .553 8 1/2
Portland 23 23 .500 11
Minnesota 18 26 .409 15
Pacific Division
W L Pct GB
L.A. Clippers 33 15 .688 _
Golden State 29 17 .630 3
L.A. Lakers 22 26 .458 11
Sacramento 17 31 .354 16
Phoenix 16 32 .333 17
___
Saturday’s Games
Chicago 93, Atlanta 76
New York 120, Sacramento 81
Cleveland 115, Oklahoma City 110
Houston 109, Charlotte 95
Minnesota 115, New Orleans 86
San Antonio 96, Washington 86
Milwaukee 107, Orlando 98
Portland 105, Utah 99
Golden State 113, Phoenix 93
Sunday’s Games
Boston 106, L.A. Clippers 104
L.A. Lakers 98, Detroit 97
Miami 100, Toronto 85
Monday’s Games
Orlando at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Washington, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Detroit at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday’s Games
Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Memphis, 8 p.m.
Golden State at Houston, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m.

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

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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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