Congratulations on the decision to further your education and start increasing your earning power and career potential. Deciding to return to school is a huge decision and for non traditional students there are often a lot of unanswered questions. If you have decided that an online university is the best option for your education, then there are some things you will need to know when choosing an online school. Here are the ten questions to ask yourself when choosing an online university.

1. Can you afford it. Most online universities now offer generous financial aid packages to qualified students. These packages can contain loans, grants and even scholarships. The good news is that grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid. Loans will, but after graduation.

2. Do you have the time? If you simply cannot fit one more thing into your schedule, then attending an online university is a good option for you. Online courses mean that if the only time you have to work on course material is in the middle of the night, it really doesn’t matter as long as you have time somewhere in your day.

3. What do you want to do when you’re finished? If you are interested in changing careers and are considering an online education to make that happen, then you already know the answer. If you intend to stay in the same career field, then perhaps you are seeking an advancement or a new job entirely. It is always a good idea to know what you want from the future.

4. Is the school accredited? A degree from an online university is worth more if the school is accredited. Be certain to find out before you select an online university.

5. Who are the instructors? If you want to attend an online university, find out where the faculty come from. Are they full time instructors? Or, are they all adjunct professors who work full time in their area of specialty? There is not necessarily a right answer to this question, but it is good information to have.

6. Who are the other students? Find out who attends the online university you are considering and if possible, request contact information from the admission office so that you can make contact with some current students and alumni.

7. How many classes can you handle? If you intend to take one course at a time, make sure this is allowable at your online college. If you want to finish quickly, ask about rolling course starts and whether you can accelerate the program by working faster.

8. Which university offers the course you need? There are many different online universities serving the needs of students like you. You should investigate their offerings to find the one that is the best match for you.

9. Will the university help you find a new or better job? The reason you are attending an online university is to improve your life, so it is important to find the one that will help you achieve the most from your life and career.

10. Is the university well known and reputable? As you research different online universities, be certain to check out what people are saying about the school. You are going to make a large investment into your future and it is best to make an educated decision.

My Colleges and Careers is giving away a free iPod Touch, called the “greatest iPod to date” by IGN’s Scott Lowe. To enter click here. Then all you need to do is like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. Don’t pass up this opportunity to win one of the most amazing mobile media platforms ever designed. It will be a perfect thing to take with you when you go back to college.

Obama signs the Education Reconciliation Act March 30, 2010. Photo c/o CBS

There are some big things happening in Washington, D.C. that could benefit college students in the long run. As part of President Obama’s health care bill, there are several provisions that will make higher education more accessible and affordable for students.

“By cutting out the middleman, we’ll save American taxpayers $68 billion in the coming years,” said President Obama today at a Alexandria, Virginia community college campus. “That’s real money, real savings that we’ll reinvest to help improve the quality of higher education and make it more affordable.” With these new changes, student loans will now be accessible directly to students, ending the government subsidies to banks, and effectively freeing up $68 billion dollars. In other words, the government will become the originator of the loan, instead of private banks.

From these savings, billions of dollars will be funneled into Pell Grants to assist low-income college students in funding their education. Currently 8.5 million students are benefiting from Pell Grants, which do not need to be repaid. When the bill comes into effect in 2014, student loan borrowers will only need to pay back 10% of their income, rather than the 15% in effect today.

“For a long time, our student loan system has worked for banks and financial institutions,” Obama told college students at the Alexandria, VA campus. “Today, we’re finally making our student loan system work for students and all of our families.”

We’re curious what college students have to say about this new bill. Will these changes have a positive impact on America’s future?

With a less-than-stellar economy on our hands, the need for college education is increasing while most pocketbooks are shrinking. Scholarships are the perfect tool to help motivated people reconcile the gap between wanting to go to college and having the funds to do so.

Scholarships are not just for child prodigies or those annoying SAT-crazed kids from high school. There is one just for you, the trick is finding it.

The argument that you can’t get something for nothing will fade away as you read our list of the easiest to obtain and most ridiculous scholarships out there.

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I decided to write a quick post about some reasons that people decide not to continue their education by earning a degree. I wanted to list some of those reasons and approach each reason with a resolution to remove any excuse not to go to college. I know excuse is a hard word and often times the excuses are legitimate excuses and noble reasons for not going, but many people with these excuses have a desire to earn college degrees. I’ve broken it into two sections; “Why they don’t…” and “Why they should…”.

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Companies that offer tuition reimbursement programs

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A recent study by the Institute for Higher Eduation explains that financial aid problems are the number one reason why people don’t enroll in college classes.

“More than 80 percent of non-college goers reported that the availability of financial aid was either extremely or very important in their decision not to enroll.”

This study highlights one of the biggests frustrations of higher education: I want to go to college so I can make more money to provide for myself, but it takes money to do that. This problem is exasperated by the economic downturn that has resulted in banks loaning less money to people.

This prevalent predicament is frustrating but there are some solutions out there. Scholarships, grants, and financial aid are available to those who qualify and take the time to request it. President Obama is also making some changes to try and help people get into college programs. Obama has proposed a new piece of legislation called, “The American Opportunity Tax Credit.”

So how does this tax credit work? If you owe $5000 dollars in taxes this year but you also went to college this year and you qualify for the American Opportunity tax credit, you would only pay $1000 in taxes. If you don’t owe any taxes that year, which is the case for most college students, the government will actually give you that $4000 dollars. To receive this tax credit, the beneficiary must complete 100 hours of community service.

This opportunity is a beacon of hope to those who have the desire to attend college but lack the resources.

For more information on community colleges in your area please visit: www.mycollegesandcareers.com