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Scoop What first time college students need to know
FULL-TIME VS HALF-TIME? What’s the difference? Full-time enrollment is twelve (12) or more hours. Most scholarships may require that you keep this enrollment as a requirement to renew scholarships in future semesters. Full-time enrollment would also ensure that you are completing your degree in a timely pace to finish within four years. If you are a participant in UH in 4, fifteen (15) hours would be the full-time requirement for this program.
Value of College (Introduction): Going to college is an investment. Research shows that acquiring a college degree can have many advantages. Over the course of a lifetime, college graduates typically earn more $1.4M more than non-college graduates. College graduates are less likely to be laid off from their job and experience shorter periods of unemployment than their nongraduate counterparts. Beyond wage earnings, college graduates also receive increased employer-provided fringe benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans that result in better health and longer life expectancy.
Half-time enrollment is between 6-8 hours. While there are some scholarships that can be offered at halftime, most do not. You may still receive federal financial aid at half-time enrollment however there may be adjustments to the amount you could receive. Also, remaining at half-time enrollment would prolong the time you’d be attending school. Instead of completing within the four years, it may take 1-2 years more to complete.
Costs for college have steadily increased by an average of 6.4% per year since 2010 while available financial aid has steadily decreased. Tuition and fees can range from $10K (public, four-year institution) to more than $48K (private, non-profit institution with room and board). It is important that students and their parents research the cost of college and strategies for payment before the student enrolls to avoid the risk of not completing the degree or amassing unnecessary debt Affordability One of the primary decisions students and their families will need to decide is if college is affordable. In other words, can the family pay for college expenses while also meeting other financial commitments? Nonprofit or for profit, public or private, two-year or four-year— colleges, come in all shapes and sizes. Tuition and fees cover only a fraction of what an education actually costs. College tuition is the most obvious expense facing college students, but it is far from the only budget item that must be consider when planning for college. Students must also consider books, housing, meals, transportation, insurance, and a variety of personal expenses.