Incentive to Start WGU in 2015

With the new year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your education for the coming year. Instead of making a resolution that doesn't stick, why not make one you can start working on right now? 2015 is a particularly good year to enroll in WGU Indiana simply because they just released $400,000 in scholarships, many of them for new students only.

So, why start working on your goal now?

• If you haven't already filled out a FAFSA for the 2014-2015 school year, you need to do it now so it can be processed.
• Paperwork that is processed by the 15th of the preceding month leads to enrollment in the following month. So, If you start processing your enrollment in December and you get it done by the 15th, you can start in January. In some cases, you may need more time to get everything together, so starting December could mean you can start classes in February.
• Everyone needs some light at the end of the tunnel. A degree in your chosen field can be that light and there is no better time to start than at the beginning of the new year.

Let's just add a little more incentive to the pot. Let's talk numbers.

WGU Indiana charges from $2,890 to $4,250 per term, with only one degree being charge the higher amount. That tuition hasn't changed since 2008! Now, what's a "term"?

WGU Indiana is a knowledge based program, so you can test out of areas you are familiar with and move on at your own pace. The "term" last 6 months and in that 6 months you can complete as many classes as you would like...without paying a penny more. Complete 4 classes or complete 20 classes, it's all the same, financially speaking.

Now, why do I care?

I run this blog because I love my school and it saddens me to see people pay so much to get the exact same degrees I have, when they don't have to. I don't get paid by WGU or anyone else to do it. But, I am a member of the Chancellor's Club and that means from time to time I do get some great deals to hand out.

Today I happen to have 3 grants to hand out. These are on top of any other grants and/or scholarships that you may qualify for and qualifying for these particular grants couldn't be easier. Essentially, if you are enrolled in a degree program by Feb. 1, 2015, you qualify because your enrollment indicates that you've met all the other qualifications.

Each grant is worth $200. Combine them with your PELL grants, scholarships, or loans to help you get through your first session at WGU Indiana.

I'll even go one step further. If you enroll and use the grant, I'll be your on-call study buddy. I finish up my degree very shortly, but I won't ever forget how certain people helped me, even if it was just by listening to me vent because I'm a single mother and business owner who got overwhelmed by life now and then. If you are interested in the grant, leave a comment here or contact me at kfoust1 at wgu dot edu.

Earn Christmas Money and Discounts as a WGU Student

You're a struggling student, cringing at the thought of the invisible people at Taskstream taking the holidays off this close to the end of the month. You haven't even started your Christmas shopping because you're busy hitting "refresh" and waiting for a revision or that email that cause you to mentally hear the angels singing...you know the one, the one that says you passed the task? Well, as long as you are worrying about your school work, you don't have time to worry about Christmas money. In lieu of that, here are a few tips to help you save money, and maybe even earn cash back for yourself and/or local schools.

Do Shop Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is coming up and it looks like a good day to put the school work on hold and get all the discounts you would get if you dared to venture into the stores on Black Friday. Create an email account that's just for ads. Sign up for newsletters and set alerts for the terms "Cyber Monday" so you can get all the best deals. Then sign up for discount sites like Groupon where you can get coupons that will help you realize even more savings.

Use WGU Discounts

You get some discounts just because you are a student at WGU.

AT&T: AT&T offers 8% off data plans for their phones, but they frequently offer free phones as well. They also happen to be the only cell phone company that reports to the credit bureau. If you planned to sign yourself or one of your children up for a new plan, why not offer a new phone as a Christmas present?

Dell: Dell offers up to 10% more savings to WGU students than they do the general public. Combine those savings with any Cyber Monday deals to get a new computer for school, the family, or just to upgrade.

Combine Charity and Shopping

Have you been too busy to get to any local school fundraisers? If so, no worries because you can earn cash for yourself and your local schools just by shopping. Just go to For the Schools and create an account. When you use For the Schools to shop at one of their many partner stores, you'll get cash back if you want to, and so will the school of your choice. It's a way for you to kind of have your own mini fundraiser without having to leave the house.

Keep an eye out for other discounts as well. For example, if you're doing demonstration teaching, enjoy the 20% discount offered by Barnes and Noble to educators, or even the discount offered by Apple for educators.