Very few people can afford to pay for college without some financial help. For most, that help includes taking out one or more student loans. The trick is to keep that borrowing at a level you’ll be able to deal with after you graduate. &ldq

(Note: This is a follow up to this story on the financial model of for-profit schools.) For-profit schools operate by attracting students willing to take on a lot of debt, much of it from the federal government in the form of grants and loans. Con

The federal government gives five main types of grants for undergraduates:   * Pell Grant: This is the most common federal grant for undergraduate students. * ACG: The Academic Competitiveness Grant is for college freshmen and sophomores

One of the first pieces of advice given to those thinking about going back to school is make sure the school is accredited. (See our FAQs for why.)  It turns out there’s some advice that is even more basic: Make sure the school exists.

Maryland has taken another step toward becoming the state with the strictest control over for-profit and career schools. The state legislature has passed Senate Bill 695, and Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to sign it into law.   Th

Many students end up needing to borrow some money to help pay for school – but how much money, and from where? Talk to the staff in the financial aid office at the school you want to attend, and they’ll be happy to help you figure out

Pennsylvania residents: the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) not only has information on state-specific grant programs, they also cover general information on financial aid and college planning. Those with loans administered

You’ve probably heard about Congress's investigation of for-profit colleges. You may not realize that the issues affect you as a taxpayer — not just people who are (or aren't) getting educated at these schools, and who are (or aren&

Many for-profit schools charge high tuition for their courses. Students who need to take out third-party loans to supplement federal financial aid can end up with crippling amounts of debt. If you’re considering a for-profit school, "Ch

Name: Kim Gavin Occupation: Student 1.    Where do you live?  In the rough and tumble Kensington section of Philadelphia. 2.    What school are you attending?  Moore College of Art & Design

WASHINGTON, DC - June 07: Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa., Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., talk before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on for-profit colleges. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/

Name: Paul Haupt III Occupation: Graphic Designer 1.    Where do you live?  Wyndmoor, PA 2.    What school are you attending?  University of the Arts, Philadelphia 3.    H

  Dr. Stephen D. Immerman, president of Montserrat College of Art, previously spent 30 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has learned that, similar to an engineering education, training in the arts prepares students fo

  Dr. Stephen D. Immerman, president of Montserrat College of Art, previously spent 30 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has learned that, similar to an engineering education, training in the arts prepares students fo

'Tis a proud, proud day for Bobcats as Ohio University in Athens, Ohio is ranked the nation's top party school in the annual Princeton Review. It's a title that OU students feel is undoubtedly justified, given the campus' raucous Halloween party each y

The Department of Education is asking for the help of universities in conjunction with President Obama's 2011 National Drug Control Strategy. According to data published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in

Today's college students own an average of six digital devices and one of them is most likely a smartphone. According to a recent survey, smart phone ownership among the college crowd jumped to 42 percent, just in the last year. That makes campuses a ho

James McCarthy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York, has been selected as the next president of Suffolk University, effective Feb. 1, 2012. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved Mc

Young Americans under the age of 30 have been some of the hardest hit by unemployment. The latest numbers indicate that half of the people ages 16 to 29 do not have jobs. Those who are lucky enough to land work are often settling for entry level workforce

The man at the center of controversy for admitting to the shooting death of an unarmed Florida teen, has been expelled from the university where he was enrolled in classes. 28-year-old George Zimmerman will no longer attend Seminole State College. He

While the job outlook for recent grads has slightly improved in the last year, it's still tough out there. Art and design students often have it even rougher as jobs in those fields are few and far between and often competitive. Sometimes, though, all i