Morning Notes

By WTOP Staff
March 12, 2014 | 9:15 AM

Severe Weather Possible Later Wednesday — Gusty showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible for later today, with most of the stormy weather happening from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. [National Weather Service]

Nebel Street Bike Lanes — The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has plans for a traffic calming project on Nebel Street in North Bethesda that would also add bike lanes. Nebel Street stretches from Nicholson Lane north to Randolph Road, with key intersections at Marinelli Road and Old Georgetown Road. The plans are conceptual and there is no set start date for the project, though it could happen as early as this year. [Friends of White Flint]

For Gansler, Winning Home County Is Vital — Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler grew up in Chevy Chase and lives in Bethesda. He has consistently pressed his Montgomery County upbringing in local campaign events and has said Annapolis needs to stop treating the county as “the state’s ATM.” But with the June 24 primary approaching, Gansler has only a 10-point lead on main rival Anthony Brown, according to a Washington Post poll conducted last month. [Washington Post]

Local Swimmers Make All-County List — A number of local high schoolers, including Olympic gold medalist and world champion Katie Ledecky, made The Gazette’s list of best Montgomery County swimmers. Ledecky, who goes to Stone Ridge, became the first woman to break the 4:30 mark in the 500-yard freestyle she swam at a local championship meet. Georgetown Prep’s Carsten Vissering was named athlete of the year on the boys’ side. He won every contested event and led Georgetown Prep to its first Metros title in four years. [The Gazette]

Microbrewery Bill Looks To Have Clear Sailing — A pair of bills at the State House that would make it easier to open and operate a microbrewery in Montgomery County passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday by votes of 135-1 and 135-0. The bills will go on to the state Senate. [WAMU]

Flickr photo by IamJomo

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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