by Joy Cressler

Created on: August 04, 2008

Most Americans ascribe to the belief that higher education parlays into more income. But a college education can be elusive for lower-income students and their families as they navigate the murky waters of financial aid.
It should be noted that 83 percent of all students whose family income falls below $20,000 receive some type of financial aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

With federal financial aid sources being mostly need-based, lower family income increases the likelihood of receiving more aid. Conversely, the more expensive the college, the more financial aid a student can often qualify for.
For example, at least 70 percent of all students who attend Texas Woman's University receive financial aid, TWU Director of Financial Aid Governor Jackson said.
Of those students, he said 75 percent of the awards include a combination of grants, student loans and some type of part- or full-time work.
"Some students choose to apply for scholarships only," Jackson said. "But most apply for anything they're eligible for."
Jackson also said the college's financial aid staff had seen as much as a 40 percent reduction in companies willing to set aside money for college education.
"Many companies are scaling back on all types of employee benefits, not just education, from what we saw 10 or 15 years ago," Jackson said.
He said there are exceptions in fields where there is still growth, such as nursing and teaching.
"Some hospitals are willing to pay for nurses to attend graduate school," Jackson said. "Likewise, some school districts are encouraging teachers to take more courses in their particular discipline, achieve certification or earn master's degrees."
Another area of remarkable growth is the field of engineering. According to Gary Markestad, the past chairman of the Fort Worth Society of Petroleum Engineers, the influx of the Barnett Shale natural gas play has yielded an increased membership as engineers flocked to the area.
As a result, the society has been offering more scholarships to incoming freshmen interested in petroleum engineering.
Coy Veach, the vice president of the Fort Worth Division of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, said the society doesn't use set-aside grants, but offers scholarships with fewer restrictions so the awards are all distributed each year.
"There is a lot of opportunity out there if you're willing to get out there and look for it," Veach said. "But students need to start looking while they're still in high school."
TWU's

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