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Demystify the Variety of Degrees Awarded at U.S. Colleges

By U.S. News & World Report

Back in college, I had a classmate from the Philippines. She already had one degree from a school there, and was on her way to a second one in the U.S. We shared a dorm room and bonded over our shared non-U.S. ancestry — even though, unlike her, my first taste of college life was in this country.

One night, while she was wrapping up a research paper and I was about to fall asleep, she suddenly blurted out: “You know, before I came to the U.S., I had never even heard of the term ‘associate degree.’ I guess some international schools back home offered it, but most of our high school graduates went straight for a bachelor’s.”

I was surprised. Then it occurred to me: Maybe she’s not the only international student who’s bothered by those kinds of thoughts. If, like her, you’re an international student confused by the myriad degrees U.S. colleges offer, here’s a general overview.

[Discover five key facts about U.S. academic culture.]

— Associate degree: An associate degree can be completed in two years or less. It can be, for example, an Associate of Science, an A.S.; an Associate of Arts, or A.A;, or an Associate of Applied Science, or A.A.S. Students can pursue one of these in a community college, a technical college, a vocational school or even at a typical U.S. college, though not all offer an associate degree. With an associate degree, you can either head straight for the workforce, or use the credits you earned toward a bachelor’s degree.

— Bachelor’s degree: Sometimes referred to as a “baccalaureate degree,” a bachelor’s degree can usually be completed within three to five years, and is usually either be a Bachelor of Science, often referred to as a B.S., or a Bachelor of Arts, known as a B.A. — though there are other types as well. Many professional jobs in the U.S. require you to have this, at a minimum. Some types of bachelor’s degrees are more specialized, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Some schools allow students to complete this degree on a part-time basis.

— Postbaccalaureate certificate: Some people who have a bachelor’s degree may not need a master’s. Instead, a student can typically earn a postbaccalaureate certificate by completing credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. You’ll often hear people refer to these classes as “refresher courses.”

[Watch out for four academic surprises for new international college students.]

— Master’s degree: After finishing your bachelor’s, you may want to advance to a master’s degree. Typically these are either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science, known as an M.A. or M.S., but they can also be a special type of master’s degree, such as a Master of Business Administration. Assuming students attend on a full-time basis, a master’s degree is generally completed within one to two years. If you’re already in the workforce, you can complete a master’s to prepare for a special kind of career, or as a steppingstone to a doctoral degree.

— Postmaster’s certificate: Similar to the postbaccalaureate certificate, this can be earned by taking graduate-level credit hours after a master’s degree that, for one reason or another, aren’t for a doctoral degree.

[Find out how to save money and time with a graduate certificate.]

— Doctoral degree: A doctoral degree, or doctorate, is the highest level of graduate study in many fields. These degrees typically emphasize advancement of knowledge through original research, so expect lots of course work in this program. You can pursue a Ph.D., a Doctor of Philosophy, in an academic field, or another kind of specialized doctorate. If you’d like to teach in a university, a doctorate can only boost your career.

–Professional degree: Whereas typically doctoral degrees focus on academic research, professional degrees focus on practical applications. This includes Doctor of Medicine, or M.D.; Juris Doctor, or J.D.; Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or D.V.M.; and Doctor of Dental Medicine, or D.D.M., among others. For some of these, you’re often required to have a specific bachelor’s degree.

— Other certifications: Although “Certified (blank)” and “Chartered (blank)” designations aren’t degrees in the strictest sense of the word, they can still advance you professionally. For example, if you’re a financial analyst, having a Chartered Financial Analyst, or CFA, as part of your title can help you stand out among your peers.

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Demystify the Variety of Degrees Awarded at U.S. Colleges originally appeared on usnews.com

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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