More Personalized Student Financial Aid Information Added to DegreesofWisdom.com

April 5, 2007 — DegreesofWisdom.com, a site that offers personalized financial aid information, has recently added a module for full-time college students living on campus and pursing a bachelor's degree. Site visitors can enter their educational objectives and student status and immediately receive student financial information specific to their circumstances (http://degreesofwisdom.com).

The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that the number of bachelor's degrees earned will grow to 1,582,000 by 2013-14, an increase of 17 percent from 2002-03. "With the cost of getting education steadily on the rise, we help students figure out the essentials in financial aid," said James Tolles, DegreesofWisdom.com site manager. "Knowing what student financial aid is available, how to apply for it, and how to keep it are crucial components to being able to afford college for four years."

Of the top 50 high-wage, high-growth occupations, 66 percent require a bachelor's degree with job growth for bachelor's degree holders expected to exceed 21.9 percent by 2008. The Information Technology Association of America and Virginia Polytechnic and State University, surveyed employers and found that 83 percent of the respondents require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree for most programming jobs. Data supplied by Enrico Moretti, economics professor at UC Berkeley, also shows that a percentage point increase in the supply of college graduates actually raises the wages of all levels of workers.

An Arizona State University study on the value of higher education calculates that the rate of return on a four-year education exceeds the long-run average annual rate of return for investments in the stock market by 5 percent. The study concludes that non-monetary societal benefits also accrue with lower crime rates and greater and more informed civic participation.

In addition to personalized financial aid information, students can also find information on DegreesofWisdom.com (http://degreesofwisdom.com) about building and maintaining good credit as well as educational loan repayment and deferment, forgiveness/cancellation and consolidation options.

DegreesofWisdom.com has collected extensive financial aid information for all students seeking higher education. Students and parents can find information by degree level, education format, and other specifications. Information and resources are also available for students seeking to repay their loans.

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