There are more than 1,055,314 active military personnel in the U.S. today and over 1,074,324 reserve and National Guard members throughout the country.  Civilian personnel also make up a sizable number of America’s military system with more than 634,185 active employees distributed throughout the four branches of military service—the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.  In addition, there are more than 24,128,000 veterans currently living in the U.S. today.

Many members of the military will continue their careers within any of the four branches of service well beyond the enlistment period, while others will pursue interests outside of the military, such as obtaining a college degree in any given field.

One of the biggest benefits of serving in the U.S. military is the opportunity to have most, if not all of your college tuition covered.  For veterans and current members of the military, the U.S. government has set aside more than $4 billion in education benefits and more than $3 billion in grants.  Veterans and current members of the military are almost guaranteed a substantial amount of “free” funding for college, regardless of income, in the form of benefits, grants, and scholarships.

Depending on the program, students may receive benefits that cover anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of undergraduate or graduate school expenses.  In addition, low-cost student loans are also available to all members and former members of the military.

Programs for Veterans and Current Members of the Military

The United States military is made up of a diverse group of millions of American citizens. More importantly, the  military is a complex system in itself. Because of this, there are literally hundreds of college financial aid programs to consider – too many to list here. The following is a list of some of the largest financial aid programs offered through the U.S. military. It is important to keep in mind that each of the four branches of the U.S. military offers its own distinctive financial aid program.

The Montgomery GI Bill provides benefits to veterans, service members, and certain dependents of disabled or deceased veterans interested in pursuing a degree or vocational training. The GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to service members.  For post-9/11 veterans, the benefit will cover the full cost of tuition at any public school in the country and a sizable number of private schools.  Tuition payments will be paid directly to the school and each student will receive a $1,000 book/supply stipend per year as well as a monthly living stipend. Tuition payments are capped at the cost of the most expensive public school in each state.

For individuals interested in earning a college degree and serving as an officer in the Army, Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard, the Army ROTC program is for you.  The program is offered at more that 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and it is the largest single source of Army officers.  Army ROTC scholarships pay up to $20,000 a year for college tuition and education fees or room and board.  The student may choose what area he or she would like to use the scholarship award for.  In addition to a maximum $20,000 per year, ROTC students will also receive a tax-free subsistence allowance for up to 10 months each year the scholarship award is in effect.  The amount of the subsistence allowance increases as student’s progress through the program.  Army ROTC scholarships are based on merit and grades, not on need.  So a student may fall into any income bracket and still qualify for a scholarship award.

Many forms of financial aid for veterans and military personnel may be combined with the Federal Pell Grant to help cover the costs of college. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Pell Grant Program is the largest grant program offered by the federal government.  U.S. Congress sets the maximum award amount based upon a student’s need analysis and status (full or part-time).  For the 2009-2010 academic year, the maximum award is expected to fall somewhere between $4,241-$4,310.

Learn more about financial aid today.

Much like those free credit card offers that show up in your mailbox on the first day of college, student loans are readily available and all too enticing for new students as well.  Sure, student loans can help pay the costs associated with college such as tuition, housing, meals, and even day-to-day living, but like the money you spend on a credit card, you will have to pay back the loan eventually—with interest.  Fortunately there are ways to keep your student loan debt to a minimum and still pay your way college.  There are a number of tips that can help you manage your student loan debt after college as well.

When applying for student loans there are several things to keep in mind.  According to the professional advisers of Boston-based ACCESS, a non-profit organization that helps public high school students apply for financial aid for college, new and seasoned students alike should:

• Understand the type of aid offered.  This means, you should know the difference between loans and grants (free money).  If at all possible, steer clear of loan packages with more than 50% loans. Keep in mind that work study does not go directly towards the tuition bill.
• Know your total debt.  You can expect to pay an additional $2,000 to $3,000 for each loan you take out. Multiply this by the four or five years you will be in school.
• Always accept all federal loans offered before resorting to private loans.  Private loans have much higher interest rates, shorter grace periods, and even shorter repayment periods.
• Remember that not all loans are created equal.  Student loans have additional fees and different interest rates.
• If at all possible, choose a college that has the lowest unmet need and that allows you to incur the least debt.

If you are well-informed about student loans before you sign on the dotted line, this can help you avoid a mountain of unnecessary debt after college.  Once you’ve graduated from college, there are a number of tips to keep in mind that will help manage your debt and keep your credit record clean. You should:

• Pick a plan
• Know what you owe
• Consider deferring payment
• Consider consolidating
• Avoid default

Pick a plan with the shortest loan term as possible. The standard repayment plan for federal loans is 10 years. Extended plans will give you more time to pay and lower monthly payments, but you will end up paying more in the long run and you could be paying your student loan back well into middle age or beyond.

Knowing what you owe is the first step in understanding how student loans work. As soon as you take out the loan, interest begins. So, in addition to your loan amount, you will have four-five years of interest when you graduate. With the exception of subsidized federal loans, the interest continues to add up during the grace period on all other loans.

Consider deferring your payment if you are in the military, unemployed, or experiencing economic hardship. You also can defer your loans if you attend graduate school at least half-time.  If your income is under $16,000, you will qualify for a economic-hardship deferment.  You can also qualify if you get public assistance or work in public service.  To qualify for an unemployment deferment, you have to prove that you are looking for work. Economic hardship and unemployment deferments are limited to three years.

Consider consolidating if you would like to get a fixed interest rate for the life of the new loan or if you have a federal loan with a higher variable interest rate.  This may extend the life of the loan, but with consolidation, you will also get new deferment rights.  This is beneficial if you are having financial problems.  There are no upfront costs or fees to consolidate.

Avoid default at all costs.  If you default on your student loans, it will go on your credit report.  You will not be able to get a credit card, home loan or car loan with a student loan default on your credit report.  As well if you default, you will still have to pay back the loan along with collection costs, court fees, and attorney fees. Another thing you should know is that student loans are federal so the government can also garnish your wages in an attempt to collect the debt.

Tax season may be over, but the need for qualified accountants continues to increase.  Accounting programs offer a comprehensive curriculum to help students achieve their accounting degrees and prepare for state accounting certification such as CPA examinations.  At an accredited accounting school, you can be sure that you will receive top-notch instruction to help you succeed in your accounting career after graduation.  Whether you are just starting out or wishing to advance in your career, online colleges and universities offer specialized accounting courses for the undergraduate student, as well as for students looking to earn an accounting MBA.

Learn more about universities and colleges that offer accouting programs and certifications in your area.

With over two million jobs lost, it seems miraculous that job growth is happening at all. The numbers don’t lie, though. What can you do to hop on the growth train? Focus on education and career training, and keep an eye on these fields.

Health Care: The Right Medicine

The health care field employs more than just doctors and nurses. The dramatic increase in technology  has led to jobs in  information technology.   There are now many options in career training that allow you to be part of the job growth.

• Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: This is one of the fastest growing areas of the health care industry with job growth expected to exceed nearly all other jobs in the health care industry. An associate’s degree and a willingness to work are all you’re going to need to get into this field, which pays about $30,000 annually.
• Personal and Home Health Aides: Even the most current numbers show job growth in the personal and home health aide sector of the health care industry. These service careers are expected to add  50 percent more jobs by 2016.   With necessary training and pay varying depending on location, opportunities abound with everything from vocational certificates to bachelor’s degrees.

Making the jump today–learn more about healthcare education programs today.

If you are looking to change careers or begin your career after college it is important to know which degrees yield the best salaries, especially during these uncertain economic times.

Overall, the average starting salary for graduates with Bachelor’s Degrees for 2009 is around $49,353. This figure is only slightly higher than the average for 2008 ($49,300).  When it comes to the highest paid Bachelor’s Degrees for 2009, starting salaries range from $46,655 (nursing) up to $65,466 (chemical engineering).

The top bachelor’s degrees in 2009 are:

• Pharmacist: $111,782
• Software Design & Development: $66,290
• Chemical Engineering: $65,466
• Mechanical Engineering: $58,648
• Computer Science: $58,419
• Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering: $57,404
• Construction Science/Management: $52,837
• Civil Engineering: $50,785
• Accounting (Public): $50,403
• Finance: $49,794
• Logistics/Materials Management: $49,398
• Nursing: $46,655

Learn more about bachelor’s degrees and other educational programs today.

Deciding to seek one or more graduate degrees is a major commitment of time and money; a decision not to take lightly. You will face several years of intense work and research — a much more demanding course load than in your undergraduate program.  Online universities and college offer a flexible and cost effective option for achieving your master’s degree.

There are major debates on when is the best time to get your master’s degree. The reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelor’s degree:

• you are accustomed to being a student — and have momentum;
• your study skills are sharp;
• you have few obligations;
• some occupations require an advanced degree even for “entry-level” positions.

The reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school:

• you can better know your career goals by working in the field for a few years
• some graduate programs require work experience
• you bring a broader world view to your studies
• you have a more mature outlook on school and work
• many employers will pay some or all of your graduate school expenses
• you can gain solid financial footing
• you can improve your chances for acceptance to graduate

Online colleges and Universities offer student flexibility and affordability at every level of educations including master’s degree.

Check out the master’s degree programs at accredited online colleges and universities.