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2016 Best Colleges Rankings Coming Sept. 9

By U.S. News & World Report

Prospective students and parents looking for the school that best fits their needs can check out the 2016 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings starting Wednesday, Sept. 9. New rankings for National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges will be available on usnews.com.

In addition to the main rankings, U.S. News for the first time will publish rankings of the Most Innovative Schools in terms of technology, facilities, academics and curriculum.

Along with the rankings, the U.S. News site offers extensive statistical profiles for each school, a comprehensive college search and detailed explanations of the ranking methodologies. Users looking for additional data, enhanced search abilities and other exclusive interactive tools can sign up for the U.S. News College Compass.

U.S. News’ exclusive rankings will also be published in our ” Best Colleges 2016” guidebook, which will start shipping in mid-September and go on sale on newsstands on Sept. 29.

The rankings available on usnews.com on Sept. 9 will include which schools are rated most highly by high school counselors from across the U.S. and which schools have the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching. We also will have our annual ranking of historically black colleges and universities, as well as rankings of undergraduate business programs and undergraduate engineering programs.

In addition, we have lists, tables and articles to help you navigate the college application process. Some of these include:

— A-plus Schools for B Students, a list of options for students who want to go to a good college but who don’t have straight-A grades.

— Paying for College guide, which provides vital information on financial aid and managing college costs.

— Best Value Schools, a ranking that shows the colleges that offer the best value for students getting need-based financial aid.

You’ll also be able to see lists of:

— Top public schools

— Schools whose students graduate with the most or least debt (College Compass subscription required)

— Campus economic diversity

— Campus ethnic diversity

— Academic programs to look for, such as study abroad, service learning and senior capstone

— Schools that award the most merit aid

— Schools whose freshmen are most (and least) likely to return

— Highest four-year graduation rates

— Highest proportion of classes with fewer than 20 students (College Compass subscription required)

— Most international students

School officials can access more Best Colleges rankings and data — including historical information about their own school and peer institutions — via U.S. News Academic Insights. If you’re a college or graduate school representative, you can learn more about the Academic Insights tool online or request a demo.

More from U.S. News

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2016 Best Colleges Rankings Coming Sept. 9 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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