Byte Into a Smorgasbord of Financial Aid Opportunities
By Jessica Youngs
ComputerSchools.com Contributing Writer
Updated January 09, 2007
Intelligent, award winning high school students may be able to get accepted into a computer program at a university or computer school, but when it comes to covering costs with scholarships, Rudyard Kipling said it right: "It's a jungle out there."
But students should not rule out their dreams of becoming a computer specialist for Microsoft or a Web site designer for IBM just yet.
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Because computer schools can come in a variety of forms, from the traditional university to the multi-program trade school, to the specialized technical school, financial aid comes in a variety of forms as well.
As with many programs, the hefty financial aid usually comes from the federal government, says Walter Acevedo, a financial aid officer for The Art Institutes. Acevedo says the majority of financial aid that he sees computer students receive (for financing a program at one of the academy's 31 campuses or through its online program) comes from regular federal programs such as Pell Grants, Federal Student Loans, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and a variety of other grants.
"Nation-wide each state has different types of financial aid depending on where you're located and if the (school) agrees to participate in federal programs," says Katrina Houser, co-director Vatterott College's Quincy, Ill. campus (one of 18 nationally), whose trade school programs are largely computer program oriented.
After the student has his or her bases covered in terms of the normal federal-based financial aid, a free and quick Internet search on national scholarship listing websites can help the student make that next step on the financial aid-seeking journey. Sites such as Sallie Mae College Answer and Scholarships.com can provide a computer student with scholarships tailored specifically to his or her GPA, ACT scores, interests and hobbies, region, and career goals. And while most substantial funding for university, trade or technical school financial aid comes from federal sources, a few determined and intelligent students also stand the chance to obtain some financial aid from their respective schools and programs.
"Financial aid really depends on what the nature of the students is and federal programs, grants and loans just like any other university," says Mary Heidrick, financial aid director for Colorado Technical University. "We get the same grants, loans and fees."
Many schools and universities offer merit-based awards that usually are easily obtainable by intelligent and driven computer schools students. The Art Institutes offer merit awards based on previous schooling and consider GPA (3.75 or higher) and financial need, Acevedo says. "Usually 75 percent of our students qualify," she notes.
At Colorado Technical University, tuition just went up for this school year, Heidrick said. A hefty tuition bill from any of the possible computer schools can carry high costs and like CTU, the trend appears to be on the rise. Costs now range from a minimum of around a few thousand dollars to the $30,000 and $40,000 range depending on which technical program a student chooses to pursue and where. "Tuition bills range between $373 to $180 per credit hour at The Art Institutes," says Acevedo.
The experts agree students pursuing computer school should make sure to figure in 'extras' such as computers, books and supplies and extra fees in addition to tuition costs. "Every class has its own demands in terms of hardware (and) software. Every class is different," Acevedo says.
Amid the cloud of these high-tuition costs and additional fees there is a breath of air, if only small. Many scholarships, federal and school-orientated funds are based on an applicant's financial need.
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