3. Many people realize that
pursuing higher education can
enhance their personal and
professional lives in important
ways. A college education can:
• Develop thinking skills
• Increase specific knowledge in a field
• Increase related professional skills
• Increase employability and earnings
Let's examine these benefits one at a time…

4. Develop Thinking Skills
The function of the
university is not simply to
teach bread-winning, or to
furnish teachers for the
public schools or to be a
centre of polite society; it
is, above all, to be the
organ of that fine
adjustment between real
life and the growing
knowledge of life, an
adjustment which forms
the secret of civilization.
– W.E.B. DuBois
The Souls of Black Folk

5. Increase Specific
Knowledge in a Field
One thing is for certain,
the more profoundly
baffled you have been
in your life, the more
open your mind
becomes to new ideas.
– Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Death by Black Hole

6. Increase Related
Professional Skills
If a man empties his
purse into his head, no
one can take it from
him. An investment in
knowledge always pays
the highest return.
– Benjamin Franklin

7. Communication Skills
(both writing and speaking)
There are no great
limits to growth
because there are no
limits of human
intelligence,
imagination, and
wonder.
– Ronald Reagan

8. Education: Earnings and Employability
Education costs
money, but then so
does ignorance.
– Sir Claus Moser

11. Consumer Protection: Education about
Higher Education
 Accreditation
 Regional
 National
 Specialized
 Employment

12. Accreditation
Regional Accreditation is the Gold Standard in Education….
Why?
• Rigorous Review
• Transferability
• Institutional Standards
Regional Accrediting Bodies (6)
1. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - The Higher Learning
Commission (NCA-HCL)
2. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges
3. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Middle States Commission
on Higher Education (MSCHE)
4. Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for
Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)
5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Accrediting Commission for
Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU)
6. New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Commission on Institutions
of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)

13. Accreditation
National Accreditation is a Viable Vocational option….
Why?
• Rigorous Review
• Vocational Certification (Little or No Transferability)
• Industry Focus
National Accrediting Bodies (52)
1. Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
2. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
4. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
5. Council on Occupational Education (COE)

14. Accreditation
Specialized Accreditation is an Adjunct to Institutional
Accreditation….
Why?
• Examines Single Program
• Rigorous Process
• Professional Focus
Specialized Accrediting Bodies
American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation—for schools of dentistry
American Bar Association -- whose accreditation is a prerequisite to sitting for the bar exam in
most states, a notable exception being California
National Architectural Accrediting Board -- whose accreditation is a prerequisite to sitting for the
architectural licensing exams in most states
Association of American Medical Colleges -- for medical schools
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business -- for business schools
American Veterinary Medical Association -- for schools of veterinary medicine
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology -- for applied science, computing, engineering,
and technology programs
National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation -- for automotive repair programs

15. Finding Money for College

16. Funding Sources
• Federal student aid
• State student aid
• Student aid from colleges
• Scholarships from other sources
16

17. Key Questions
• What is financial aid?
• Who can get it?
• How much can I get?
• How do I apply?
• What happens next?
• Where can I get more info?
17

18. What is financial aid?
• Money to pay for college or career
school
– Grants
– Loans
– Work-study
– Scholarships
18

19. Who can get federal student aid?
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• High school graduate/GED holder
• Eligible degree/certificate program
• Valid Social Security number
• Males registered for Selective Service
• Satisfactory academic progress
19

20. Who can get other kinds of financial aid?
• States, colleges, and private
scholarships have their own eligibility
criteria.
• Be sure you know what you need to do
to qualify.
20

21. How much federal student aid can I get?
In general, depends on your
financial need.
• Financial need determined by
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
and cost of attendance (COA)
• EFC comes from what you report on
FAFSA
• COA is tuition, fees, room and board,
transportation, etc.
COA – EFC = financial need
21

22. How much federal student aid can I get?
Example: first-year student in 2012-13
Maximum amounts allowed:
• Federal Pell Grant: TBD [$5,550 in 2012-13]
• Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans: $5,500 total
• Federal Perkins Loan: $5,500
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: $4,000
• Federal Work-Study: depends on funds available at school
• Direct PLUS Loan (for parents): COA minus other aid received
22

23. How much federal student aid can I get?
For early estimate, use FAFSA4caster:
• Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
• Enter some financial information
• Get an estimate
23

24. How much state, school, and scholarship
money can I get?
• Depends on the program: do your
research!
– Our state aid: Depends on the State
– Ask college financial aid offices for
info about aid available at their
schools
– Free scholarship search:
www.studentaid.ed.gov/scholarship
24

25. How do I apply for aid?
• Federal student aid: fill out Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov
• State aid: contact your state department
of education
• School aid: contact financial aid office at
schools you are considering
• Scholarships: visit scholarship website or
call contact number for information
25

26. How do I apply for federal student aid?
1. Get a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov
• Your parent might need a PIN too
• Choose your own PIN or let the site
choose one for you
• Don’t tell anyone your PIN!
26

27. How do I apply for federal student aid?
2. (Optional) Use FAFSA on the
Web Worksheet to get ready.
• Get worksheet at
www.studentaid.ed.gov/worksheet
• Find a checklist of documents you
need at
www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs (“What
Information Do I Need When I Fill Out
the FAFSA?”).
• Fill out worksheet to prepare your
answers.
27

28. How do I apply for federal student aid?
3. Fill out your FAFSA online at
www.fafsa.gov
• Apply on or after Jan.1 but as early as
possible to meet all deadlines.
• Need help? Use “Live Help” icon or call
1-800-4-FED-AID.
• Don’t forget to save or print
confirmation page.
28

29. How do I apply for federal student aid?
4. Watch for response by e-mail, from
FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemail.ed.gov,
or by mail
• Double-check your information online at
www.fafsa.gov (use your PIN to log on)
or on the paper Student Aid Report mailed
to you
• Correct any mistakes and update any
information as necessary
29

30. How do I apply for federal student aid?
5. Watch for e-mails or letters from
the schools you are considering
• Give the schools any additional
paperwork they ask for
• Meet all deadlines or you could miss
out on aid!
30

31. What happens next?
• Each school will tell you how much aid
you can get at that school.
• Once you decide which school to attend,
keep in touch with the financial aid
office to find out when and how you will
get your aid.
31

32. Where can I get more info?
• www.studentaid.ed.gov
– Information about aid programs
– Free scholarship search
– Free college search
• 1-800-4-FED-AID
– Information about aid programs
– Help with the FAFSA
32

33. Education: Game Changer
Education is...the
quickest way I know,
or the best way I
know, to do what we
talk a lot about in
politics -- and that’s
"level the playing
field."
– J. C. Watts

34. Lifelong Learning…
Okinawan
Shisa Dogs
How do I deflect the obstacles that impede lifelong
learning?
• Remain Positive
• Have Faith That All Learning Has Value
• Inspire Others To Learn; Battle Dissonance
• Ask The Question; If Not Learning, Then What?
• Understand That Self-Investment Benefits All