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Forward Collin Hartman to return to Indiana for final season

By The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Collin Hartman made up his mind on Thursday: He’s playing one more season at Indiana.

In a statement issued by the athletic department, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward and last link to the Hoosiers’ highly touted 2013 recruiting class announced he would return to school and the court after missing all of last season with an injured left knee.

“This is something that I had been leaning toward since before the season had ended and I needed to make sure that I could fully dedicate myself both mentally and physically to the process,” he said. “It is important that I am able to come back and perform at the level I was at before the injury occurred.”

Hartman’s career averages, 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds, may not look impressive.

But the Indianapolis native has seen and done so much in his first four years that he has become a respected leader and a stabilizing force for his teammates.

Hartman tore the ACL in his right knee after his freshman season but recovered in time to play in 32 games as a sophomore.

As a junior, Hartman started 24 games on Indiana’s Big Ten championship team.

In May, he earned his bachelor’s degree and decided to pursue a graduate degree.

Four months later, Hartman injured his left knee during a preseason non-contact drill. He had surgery Sept. 28. As other players went down with injuries throughout the season, all Hartman could do was watch from the bench as Indiana stumbled to an 18-16 record and missed the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in nine seasons. The result: Coach Tom Crean was fired.

Even when Hartman did have a chance to drop hints about his future, he stayed quiet.

During a Senior Night speech in which he proposed to his girlfriend, Hartman said nothing about returning to school.

All along, though, Hartman apparently wanted to keep playing — and his mother, Melissa Compton, wanted him to play, too.

“I’m so happy that Collin has made his decision to return to IU basketball to finish the last chapter of his basketball journey,” she said.

Compton wasn’t the only one cheering Hartman’s announcement.

“We are thrilled that Collin has decided to come back and play next season,” new coach Archie Miller said. “Having an individual who has won a Big Ten championship and had success in the NCAA Tournament gives our program a big lift. He brings leadership and intangibles that can do nothing but help us achieve our goals.”

Miller also could be waiting on decisions from guard James Blackmon Jr., forward OG Anunoby and center Thomas Bryant.

All three returned to school last season after debating whether to enter last year’s NBA draft.

___

More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 .

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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