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5 things to know about spending on state races

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON (AP) — Politicians seeking state-level offices and their allies have spent more on television ads than their peers fighting for control of the U.S. Senate, a remarkable fact highlighted in a Center for Public Integrity report released Wednesday. Five things to know about spending on state races:

CANDIDATES STILL THE BIG SPENDERS

Despite the prominence of super PACs and labor groups, candidates themselves still are spending the most money on television ads. Of the almost $283 million spent so far, about $205 million of it came from bank accounts under the candidates’ control.

PENNSYLVANIA TOPS TOTAL SPENDING

Pennsylvania’s race for governor accounted for almost all of the $38 million spent on the 56,000 TV ads in that state. Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is among the most unpopular and endangered incumbents in the country and he has already spent $9.5 million in a bid to keep his job. His Democratic opponent, cabinet executive Tom Wolf, has spent $11.4 million, including money spent during his primary.

FLORIDA HAS THE MOST ADS

More than 68,300 ads have run in Florida, bringing television stations almost $34 million. The race for governor accounts for all but about $2 million of that price tag. Yet Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, has only spent about $176,000 on ads. The conservative group Let’s Get to Work and the Republican Party of Florida are taking the lead on advertising, picking up almost $21 million on TV.

RHODE ISLAND VOTERS MOST COURTED

Tiny Rhode Island has seen the highest level of spending per voter. While spending is a relatively low $5.8 million, the small voting population has driven the cost-per-voter to almost $8. Voters there have seen 15,800 ads since January 2013. (The next highest state is Pennsylvania, where spending is about $4 per voter. Spending in 27 states is less than $1 per voter.)

SPENDING NOT CONSISTENT

While the high-cost races in Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida have eye-popping numbers of ads, they are hardly the rule. Utah, New Jersey, Louisiana, Mississippi, Delaware and Wyoming have not seen any state-office TV ads on broadcast stations or national cable yet this year, according to the center’s report. Voters in Montana have seen just 21 ads; North Dakota voters have seen 34 ads and Kentucky voters have been shown 35 ads, according to the report.

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
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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