USC-Boston College Preview Capsule

By WTOP Staff
September 11, 2014 | 7:40 PM

The Associated Press

No. 9 SOUTHERN CAL (2-0) at BOSTON COLLEGE (1-1), 8 P.M. ESPN

Line: Southern Cal by 17

Series Record: Southern Cal leads 4-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Coming off an emotional victory at Stanford, USC is hoping to stay unbeaten on the year and remain in the running for the national playoff. Boston College lost its Atlantic Coast Conference opener to Pittsburgh, and a victory over the Trojans would be a season-defining win for Steve Addazio in his second year with the Eagles.

KEY MATCHUP

Southern Cal defensive line, including Bednarik Award semifinalist Leonard Williams, against the BC run. A year after Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams ran for 2,177 yards for Boston College, the Eagles are hoping to again ride their running game. Whether Myles Willis or Tyler Rouse gets the bulk of the carries, quarterback Tyler Murphy has been BC’s leading rusher, with 210 yards and two touchdowns in two games. But when BC struggled to establish the running game in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh, the offense sputtered.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southern Cal: WR Nelson Agholor is coming off a career-best outing with nine receptions, for 91 yards. RB Javorius Allen has two consecutive 100-yard games, and is the No. 2 rusher in the Pac-12. Last week he surpassed 1000 yards in his career.

Boston College: Murphy is 27-of-52 passing for 307 yards and he also averages 7.2 yards per carry rushing. But he missed on several throws against Pittsburgh, and those mistakes could be even more damaging against the Trojans.

FACTS & FIGURES

The first meeting between the teams was in 1988, USC’s only other trip to Boston, and its first-ever appearance on ESPN. They have met three times in the past six years, including USC’s 24-13 victory in the 2009 Emerald Bowl. … USC last traveled East to play Syracuse in East Rutherford, N.J. … Boston College plays four of its first five games at home, and the other was in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against UMass. … The Trojans are off next week.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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