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Washington College Road Trip: Gonzaga University

By U.S. News & World Report

Gonzaga University attracts students who want to make a difference in the world — and enjoy a hefty dose of the Bulldogs’ March Madness basketball .

The mindset at this school overlooking the Spokane River in eastern Washington is centered around the Jesuit philosophy of educating the mind, body and spirit. Although students from all religions attend, about half of Gonzaga‘s 5,100 undergrads are Catholic.

Zags are “social justice-centered” and want to get out into the world and solve problems, says Dean of Admission Julie McCulloh. The vast array of service opportunities available through the Center for Community and Service Learning run the gamut from spring break service trips to pairing off with senior citizens in the community. The school is routinely recognized as a top feeder for Teach for America and the Peace Corps.

[Explore all the colleges in Washington.]

Spirituality pervades the liberal arts core curriculum, which requires all students to take classes in writing, global studies, philosophy and religion. First-year seminars teach new students about Gonzaga’s Jesuit mission and prep them to meet the school’s academic standards; choices have included an English class on Freaks, Geeks and Outsiders and a religion seminar titled Psalms and the Human Condition.

The school’s 16 Jesuit priests teach classes and act as spiritual mentors, and some also live in residence halls. “They know a little bit about everything,” says Analuz Torres, a junior from El Paso, Texas, who took a Latin class with a Jesuit professor.

Students say it’s a bucket-list item to befriend at least one Jesuit before graduation. Popular academic paths include accounting, science programs focused on undergraduate research, and degrees in business, special education, psychology, nursing and engineering.

With a 12-1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 22, professors take time to get to know their students, students say. “They really care about our success,” says Alexis Brown, a junior nursing major from Rocklin, California.

Gonzaga competes in Division I athletics and boasts an intramural program with one of the highest participation rates in the U.S. Teams in Ultimate Frisbee, soccer and badminton, among other sports, hold regular practices while on the quest for a coveted championship T-shirt.

“Everybody wants a shirt,” says sophomore Julian Moreno, a broadcast journalism major from San Francisco who participated in the Freshman Games intramural competition last year in soccer, flag football, volleyball and inner tube basketball.

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But sports enthusiasm reaches its peak during basketball season, also known as “tenting season.” To secure one of the 1,200 student seats in the McCarthey Athletic Center for a Bulldogs game, students routinely camp out overnight.

Torres, who grew up watching the team’s March Madness games on TV, says tenting is a “must-do,” even in freezing weather. Gonzaga’s student section is often listed as one of the most enthusiastic in the country for men’s basketball, rivaling those of universities three times its size.

Freshmen and sophomores live on campus in housing ranging from four- and six-person suites and traditional doubles to apartments. About 60 percent of juniors and most seniors live off campus.

A new student center houses dining options ; a technology bar with the latest gadgets from Microsoft, Apple, Google and Amazon ; and a rooftop greenhouse. The 152-acre campus also boasts the Jundt Art Museum, which holds glass pieces by Dale Chihuly, along with other rotating exhibits. A new performing arts center should be completed next winter.

Some 50 study abroad programs are available, and Gonzaga has a campus in Florence , Italy, where students can study for a year, a semester or during the summer.

Closer to home, there’s easy access to hiking, biking, fishing, skiing and rock climbing, and students need only walk down the scenic Centennial Trail to get to theaters, museums, restaurants and shopping in downtown Spokane.

Washington College Road Trip:

— Whitman College

— University of Puget Sound

— University of Washington

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News “Best Colleges 2018” guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.

More from U.S. News

Washington College Road Trip: University of Washington

Washington College Road Trip: Whitman College

Washington College Road Trip: University of Puget Sound

Washington College Road Trip: Gonzaga University 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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