SavvySugar

Guess Which College Costs More in 2009-2010

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:30:04 -0800

College prices are continually on the rise, and this year's numbers have a lot of families nervous about the big tuition checks to come. Can you guess which college costs more during this new school year? Note: Cost includes tuition, room and board.

Question 1 of 6

Which college is pricier?

Would You Take a Stanford Class on iTunes?

SavvySugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:10 -0800

Maybe you're wondering if it's even possible to take a class on iTunes. It is now - and not just from Stanford, but from Yale, Wharton, Berkeley, and more. In a relatively new move, prestigious colleges and universities are making lectures, classes, and even written materials available online.

The experience isn't exactly like taking an actual course. For one, you won't be awarded any credits, but considering it's all online and free, it seems a fair trade. You may not have access to everything from the class, but that's not really the point - as Money Magazine's Pat Regnier might tell you. He downloaded Berkeley's American economic history course on iTunes last year and a Yale professor's lecture series on the Civil War.

He wasn't seeking a secondary degree, but the lectures satisfied the urge to sharpen his intellect, without shelling out cash for grad school or a costly MBA. Just check out iTunes, Academic Earth, or OER Commons to find out what's available. So, what do you think? Would you take the time to give your intellect a boost with a little free online education?

I'm Asking: How Much Was Your College Tuition?

SavvySugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:30:15 -0700

Many of the Gossip Girl cast will begin the next chapter of their lives as freshmen at NYU next week, and I can't wait to see what happens when the drama goes to college. If they were really attending the university, it would cost $52,000 a year in tuition and room and board. Approximately how much was (or is) your college tuition?

Photo courtesy of the CW

Life Experience Degrees Still Fooling People

SavvySugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:31:30 -0700

Jefferson High School, Belford High School, and Belford University sound as real as any learning institution - except diplomas from these online "schools" aren't recognized by anyone. The Better Business Bureau is familiar with the names after receiving complaints about the programs, which offer diplomas after paying for and taking a single online test, but these diplomas are far from genuine.

People seeking to improve their lives stumble upon scammy online schools while searching for alternative ways to earn high school diplomas and even medical degrees. Diane Cerulli received a diploma from Belford University after taking an online multiple choice test based on "life experience" and sending in a check for $1,400. She received a letter from the school after completing the test that stated: "You are now a doctor. Diplomas and paperwork will be mailed to you after you pay $1,400 for the degree."

Now, Cerulli understands she was scammed and said, "Today, my rational thinking is in full bloom, and I could get into a lot of trouble if I put a shingle up and called myself a doctor." Common sense should tell us that if something is too good to be true, it probably is, but sometimes hope gets the best of people. Before you shell out a dime, check the Better Business Bureau and the US Department of Education to see if a school is accredited.

Guess How Much: Average College Grad's Student Loan Debt

SavvySugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:30:57 -0700

Recent grads have been having a rough go of the recession-ridden real world. They're competing in a reduced job market and facing increased expenses as student loan repayment rears its head, plus interest. Can you guess how much the average college graduate has to pay back in student loans?

Take the quiz

I'm Asking: Do You See the Value in Your College Education?

SavvySugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:30:45 -0700

Some jobless, graduate degree holding job seekers are having a hard time hiding their bitterness these days. They're stuck with a heavy load of student loans and no income to pay the bills - some grads are having trouble seeing the value in their higher education, and one unemployed woman has gone so far as to sue her alma mater with the claim that her alma mater has failed to deliver on its promises.

Do you see the value in your college education?

8 Tips to Get Back-to-Graduate School Ready

SavvySugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:30:04 -0700

Back to school time isn't just for the kids. Nearly half of you are headed to graduate school for your first year or to continue your program this Fall. If you're not destined for the classroom, chances are you know someone who is. Get back-to-grad-school ready with my eight tips, or pass them along to a friend who's gearing up for the semester.

View Slideshow ›

How Money Are You: Match the Exam to the Graduate Degree

SavvySugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:33:39 -0700

Forty-four percent of you are headed to graduate school in the Fall, so many of you know that there's more to the applications than simply filling them out. Certain standardized tests are required in order to complete grad school applications, and they're different depending on what type of degree you hope to earn. Do you know which exams go with what degrees?

Take the quiz

Full-Timers Applying to Beauty School For Back-Up

SavvySugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:39:28 -0700

Frenchie may have been on to something when she gave beauty school a shot, but these days many students considering cosmetology aren't dropping out of high school like the Grease redhead. An increasing number of full-time workers are enrolling in cosmetology programs to serve as a back-up plan in the uncertain economy or to gain skills for a second career to bring in additional income.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for growth in the field during the next several years, it seems like a smart option for some people - between 2006 and 2016, the personal appearance field will grow an estimated 14 percent. Cosmetology does have its costs, though: the average tuition is $6,000 to $10,000, with some schools charging up to $20,000, and starting out as a stylist is hardly a simple endeavor.

As with any profession, there are pros and cons when it comes to getting a degree in the personal appearance field. Is it something you've ever considered?

Unemployed Woman Sues College - Does She Have a Case?

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:04:06 -0700

It might be a first. Twenty-seven-year-old Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit against Monroe College for $70,000, the total of her tuition, with the claim that her alma mater has failed to deliver on its promises.

She graduated in April with a bachelor's degree in IT and hasn't yet found employment, a fact that she blames on the lack of leads and career advice from Monroe. A spokesman for the school insists the lawsuit is without merit. Do you think Trina has a case?