One of the biggest challenges facing college students is the desire to quit school before obtaining their degree. Money, time, and a whole host of other issues can conspire to encourage students to drop out of college, perhaps never to return.

Yorktown University, which describes itself as an accredited internet university based in Denver, Colorado, is trying to help financially challenged students to stay in college. To that end, the school has created a blog, Don’t Quit U., whose “… purpose is to exchange notes and our thoughts about the high cost of college tuition and to seek ways by which to deal with this crisis.”

The blog features news stories, essays and links to podcasts and videos including a growing listing of podcasts of college courses that are offered to the public free of charge. These courses are taught at a number of different colleges and can be one way for students to reduce the cost of their education. At the very least, when credit isn’t given, free online courses can help keep students stimulated as they consider different ways to finance their education.

Don’t Quit U. is seeking reader participation in the form of sharing personal stories on how people are managing during the current financial aid crisis. Visitors are encouraged to sign up on for the blog, log-in, and to leave their personal experiences which will then be featured in the “Your Stories” section of the blog once approved.

One of the most recent webcasts was held just yesterday, an event that discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving. That discussion featured Dr. William Allen and Dr. Carey Roberts, who are specialists in the colonial and early national period of American government. It was disseminated by BlogTalkRadio where listeners were able to log on for live chat.

For more information about Don’t Quit U. and to follow the programs being offered, check out the blog directly to explore the latest news and happenings.

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Adv. — Is your family experiencing a financial shortfall this academic year? Scholarships, grants, 529 money, and part time work may not be enough. Learn about private student loans by visiting SayStudent.com, your portal for college financial assistance. We have free tools for your download and updated information about current college financing requirements.

Tags: advice, college, financial aid, money, quit college, Scholarships, student aid, university

The Bush Administration is warning that the economic battering consumers are taking today will likely increase the need for the federal government to expand the funding of its popular Pell Grant program to keep pace with anticipated demand.

Last week, The New York Times published excerpts of a memorandum from Thomas P. Skelly, the Department of Education’s Director of Budget Service, who warned that the country’s current economic climate is stoking demand for Pell Grants which is currently funded to the tune of $14.2 billion annually. Skelly noted that as of July 31, 2008, 800,000 more students had applied for grants than last year, from a program that currently assists six million low-income college students.

Director Skelly has said that funding should be increased to $20.1 billion for the 2009 fiscal year, which would represent an increase of 40% over the previous year. Grants are disbursed to eligible students in amounts ranging from $431 to $4731 with increase in the maximum granted likely.

Applying For A Federal Pell Grant

Before students can apply for a Federal Pell Grant, families must fill out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid form which the federal government will use to determine grant eligibility. The deadline for applying for the upcoming academic year (which begins with the Fall semester) is June 30th. The FAFSA determines what is known as an EFC – Expected Family Contribution – the amount of money that each family must come up with to pay for their student’s schooling.

There are several factors brought into consideration when applying for a Pell grant including: tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and related expenses. Moreover, class load – which is the number of credits carried – is another factor which helps determine eligibility.

Part time students are eligible to receive Pell Grant money, but the amount of money they’ll receive is lower. Each factor is weighed against the family’s EFC to determine whether a grant will be awarded and for how much.

Tags: college grant, Department of Education, Pell grant, student aid