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Texas Tech-Kansas State Preview Capsule

By WTOP Staff

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — No. 23 KANSAS STATE (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) hosts Texas Tech (2-2, 0-1), 7 p.m. ET. (ESPNU)

Line: Kansas State by 12.

Series Record: Texas Tech leads 8-6.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Kansas State will be trying to stay atop the Big 12 while Texas Tech will be trying to even its conference record. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings in the series.

KEY MATCHUP

Red Raiders QB Davis Webb is eighth nationally with 339 yards passing per game. He’ll be going against a Kansas State defense that is nails against the run but has been susceptible to over-the-top passing. The big question is whether he’ll be 100 percent. He left last week’s game against Oklahoma State with a shoulder injury but practiced this week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas Tech: WR Bradley Marquez has hauled in six touchdown passes to rank second nationally and tops in the Big 12. When things break down in the pocket, he’s the guy that Webb will try to find.

Kansas State: QB Jake Waters and WR Tyler Lockett. Since the start of last season, they have hooked up for 90 completions, 1,469 yards and 11 touchdowns. That includes 13 pass plays of at least 20 yards, and seven of 40 or more.

FACTS & FIGURES

The game is expected to be the 17th consecutive sellout at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. … Kansas State has scored in 220 consecutive games, tops in the Big 12. Texas Tech is second at 211 games. … Webb has thrown at least one TD pass in the first 14 games of his career, a Texas Tech record. … Red Raiders WR Jakeem Grant had a career-high 12 catches for 100 yards against Oklahoma State. He’s first in the Big 12 in all-purpose yards at 178 per game. … Texas Tech is among the worst teams in the nation in turnover margin, coughing the ball up nine times. … Kansas State has only started 2-0 in the Big 12 twice since the 2000 season. … The Wildcats are 31-8 at home since their stadium was named in honor of Snyder. … Kansas State has won 41 straight games when leading at halftime, third-best nationally. … The Wildcats are first in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in fewest penalties at 36.8 yards per game. … Lockett needs 58 catches, 564 yards and eight TDs to break his father Kevin Lockett’s school records in each category.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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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