ATTENTION SINGLE MOMS

Thinking about going back to college? You’re not alone. Many Americans, especially single parents, are reeling from the current financial crisis – home foreclosures – a 10% unemployment rate – what a mess! Many of us are dipping into our savings fund every month to cover daily expenses, and we’ve given up entirely on saving for long-term expenses like vacations and retirement funds. Is school the answer to life’s challenges? It’s certainly a step in the right direction!

Today there are several wonderful college student loans that you can apply for, particularly if you are a working mother interested in attending online courses. A college degree (or even a second degree) can be a golden ticket to taking charge of your situation in today’s economy. It can give you the skills to improve your job situation, and the confidence needed to compete against the high volume of other job seekers.

Student Loans are easy to get! www.onlinestudentfinancialaid.com, www.ed.gov/finaid, and www.financialaidservices are just a few of many helpful online resources that pair students with financial assistance. Or, you can go to the university of college of your choice, and their financial aid department can give you information on the student loans that are available to you. Working adults are rarely denied student loans, in most cases you can get full tuition coverage, because the chances of you earning more salary with your degree are high, so the investment in you is a safe one.

Statistics project that nearly 75 percent of future positions are expected to require at least some type of certification or licensure. Professions that require a bachelor’s degree are projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the national average. The median income for individuals with a high school diploma is only about $28,000 – but individuals with a bachelors degree earn an average of about $51,000. Go for a masters degree and your annual average shoots to about $74,600! Over a lifetime, the earning potential gap between the high school graduate and person with the bachelor’s degree exceeds 1 million!

Average earnings in the United States for someone with a college degree is roughly $14,000 more than someone without one. And with more than 1,500 degrees available online these days, you can easily obtain your degree in a few short years while attending “classes” in your pajamas, from the comfort of your home, without much conflict to your work or family schedule.

Moms – what would you do with an extra $14,000 a year? Of course, assuming, you’d have to spend the first year or two paying back those student loans. But after that? Would you put more money towards your retirement? Save for your children’s education? How about an annual vacation to Europe? Choose a field of study that interests you, sign up for a student loan at the click of the button, set aside 2 nights a week to study and some weekends, and within a few years you will making the choice on how to spend (or save) your extra income!