“My degree helped me succeed and increase my skills in human services, criminal law and management. Every course meant something to me and led me to successfully complete my Bachelor of Science degree.”

-Wade Viar, BSCJ, ‘21

As a father, husband and full-time employee, Wade was eager to find a program with flexible options to make balancing his responsibilities more convenient. He chose ���Ĵ�ý Online based on their ability to offer programs that allow you to study anytime and anywhere.

Wade started his journey at ���Ĵ�ý in 2018 and graduated in Spring 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice. He is currently a program manager for enCircle in Lynchburg, VA, where he manages the operations for group homes and provides support to those with mental and physical disabilities. Wade’s degree has helped him expand his knowledge in many areas, including human services and management and he hopes to develop more skills in the future through his employment with the company.

There are many things Wade loves about ���Ĵ�ý Online, but his favorite are the online accessibility, the effective communication from ���Ĵ�ý team members and the one-on-one support from professors. Wade found that ���Ĵ�ý offered courses that were consistent with “everyday life” and he could relate to in terms of material and interactions. Overall, Wade’s time at ���Ĵ�ý was more than just an education, it led to a brighter future filled with beneficial life skills that led to success in his career.

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s Criminal Justice and Sociology programs!

The post Cougar Spotlight: Meet Wade Viar appeared first on ���Ĵ�ý Online.

You have decided to make the commitment to pursue your graduate degree and it’s time to find the right program for you. As you start researching different schools, you start to wonder, “Can I afford this?” The answer is YES!

Only 40% of graduate students in the U.S. received grants during the 2014-2015 academic year (Powell and Kerr, 2019). This is the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics in 2019 (Powell and Kerr, 2019). This low percentage isn’t because grants are unavailable to graduate students, but rather the majority of students are unaware of the grants and scholarships that exist at this level (Powell and Kerr, 2019).

Unlike loans, grants and scholarships don’t have to be repaid. The lack of awareness for the availability of this type of assistance intimidates many prospective students into thinking graduate school is simply unaffordable. Below is a list of scholarship search engines that make finding grants and scholarships accessible (Powell and Kerr, 2019)!

Along with general grants and scholarships, there is also aid available through professional organizations. For example, the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation awards $5,000 annually to a number of dental students (Powell and Kerr, 2019).

The best advice when researching graduate schools is to ask someone! Admissions Counselors and/or Financial Aid Counselors will give you detailed information regarding grants and scholarships. At ���Ĵ�ý Online, we are committed to helping students obtain their degree with as little debt as possible.

• Click here to discover the many graduate programs ���Ĵ�ý has to offer: /.
• For a list of ���Ĵ�ý Scholarships, please use this link to find which one may be right for you: /tuition-and-financial-aid/scholarships-and-grants/.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for more questions, we are always happy to help!

Reference:

Powell, F., & Kerr, E. (2019, December 30). How to Find Free Money for Graduate School. In U.S. News & World Report.

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