Latest news with #KevinLadd
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
20 College Majors With the Highest Mid-Career Salaries
One of the biggest decisions you'll make as you head into adulthood is your college major. Should you go for something you love? Or is it better to prioritize earning potential? Is there a way to combine both of these into the 'perfect' degree? 'Align your major with both your interests and emerging job market trends,' said Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-owner of Spark Admissions. 'Our survey found that while students are increasingly aware of income potential, long-term satisfaction and success are more likely when students pursue fields that genuinely interest them and match their strengths.' Learn More: Find Out: Figuring out your interest is one thing, but which degree will also get you the salary you need? While the average starting salary (considering all majors) is $64,291, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)'s Summer 2024 Salary Survey report, mid-career salaries can be substantially higher. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, these are the 20 highest-paying college majors at mid-career. Median mid-career salary: $125,000 Median mid-career salary: $122,000 For You: Median mid-career salary: $120,000 Median mid-career salary: $120,000 Median mid-career salary: $115,000 Median mid-career salary: $115,000 Median mid-career salary: $110,000 Median mid-career salary: $110,000 Median mid-career salary: $108,000 Median mid-career salary: $100,000 Median mid-career salary: $100,000 Median mid-career salary: $100,000 Median mid-career salary: $100,000 Median mid-career salary: $100,000 Median mid-career salary: $90,000 Median mid-career salary: $90,000 Median mid-career salary: $90,000 Median mid-career salary: $89,000 Median mid-career salary: $84,000 Median mid-career salary: $80,000 Income is an important factor in deciding upon a major, but not the only one. Something you might want to consider is the cost of getting the degree you need, how much financial aid you qualify for and your financial situation. 'If you are a middle-class student who won't qualify for (much) financial aid and are looking at paying [$25,000 to $30,000] or more per year for college, think it through. Majoring in something that you have a good chance of pursuing after college such as Nursing, is very practical, as it is a field in which there is always demand,' said Kevin Ladd, COO and co-creator of 'Majoring in Philosophy and taking out over [$100,000] in student loans could be quite risky. Either way, though, you certainly want to major in something that aligns with a career in which you feel you will be happy.' If finances aren't a major concern, you may have more options available to you. Just be sure to consider any potential loan payments alongside income potential. It's also worth comparing several colleges for tuition and other costs, as well as financial aid like scholarships or private grants. 'Naturally, I would recommend also casting a wide net with regard to colleges, so no matter which major you choose to pursue, you can compare financial aid letters and hopefully get a lot of institutional scholarships and grants,' said Ladd. 'Last, but far from least, search for outside scholarships to supplement and take out as few student loans as possible!' Be aware that your choice of major won't be the only factor in determining employability. Some companies only want you to have a degree. They don't necessarily care what it's in as long as you have the skills needed for the position. More specialized fields, like medicine or engineering, will require specific education and training. Weigh your options, think about what you enjoy and what you can see bringing you long-term satisfaction and go from there. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 7 Luxury SUVs That Will Become Affordable in 2025 5 Little-Known Ways to Make Summer Travel More Affordable 12 SUVs With the Most Reliable Engines Sources Spark Admissions, 'Dr. Rachel Rubin | Co-Founder of Spark Admissions.' Spark Admissions, 'The New Rules of College Graduate Hiring: What C-Suite Executives Really Want in 2025.' National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 'Summer 2024 Salary Survey.' Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 'The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates.' 'Kevin Ladd.' This article originally appeared on 20 College Majors With the Highest Mid-Career Salaries
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should I Still Fill Out the FAFSA if the Department of Education Is Shut Down?
The Trump administration slashed staff at the Department of Education this week, and hundreds of users reported that the site was down for hours yesterday. It could all leave you wondering if you should still submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA is designed to help students shoulder the cost of college by determining their family's eligibility for financial aid, including Pell Grants, scholarships, work-study programs and student loans. Most experts agree there's very little reason not to fill out the FAFSA, even with the Department of Education in flux. "If the Department of Education is shuttered, there certainly is a possibility there could be changes to the FAFSA. What those changes might be, however, is really anybody's guess and not a reason to refrain from filling out the form," said Kevin Ladd, COO and co-creator of Here's what you need to know if you're filling out the FAFSA. The 2025-26 FAFSA became available to all applicants in late November as the Department of Education worked through issues based on early testing and feedback. The form is similar to the 2024-25 FAFSA, which drastically cut the number of questions and applied a new formula to determine a family's contributions. Delays and glitches caused widespread chaos during the 2024-25 rollout. Although the 2025-26 rollout was smoother, the transition to a new administration has created questions about the FAFSA amid President Trump's call to abolish the Department of Education. If the department's duties are reassigned and another government agency takes over FAFSA processing, experts say any changes to this year's application process would likely be minor. "There might be changes to things like where to find the FAFSA online," said Elaine Rubin, director of corporate communications for Edvisors. "If it is shifted, we'll have plenty of time to determine how it's going to be managed and processed." Check out the PDF of the 2025-26 FAFSA before you start the online application so you know what to expect. Although you can submit a paper application, using the online version is typically faster and easier. Based on the answers you provide to questions on the FAFSA, the financial aid office calculates your Student Aid Index. The SAI factors in the incomes and assets of the student and their "contributors" -- parents or spouse -- to determine the expected family contribution toward college costs, which can range from -1500 up to 99999. A lower number means there's a higher likelihood you'll receive need-based financial assistance. Schools use the SAI to calculate the amount of financial aid they offer you. Unless you are prepared to pay for college without any assistance, it's in your best interest to fill out the FAFSA, regardless of your financial status. The federal student aid site notes that multiple factors, including the size of your family and your year in school, are considered in addition to your family's income. "Not filing just screams, 'I can pay full price,'" said Danilo Umali, founder of Game Theory College Planners. Even if you believe your family's income is too high to qualify for need-based aid, filling out the form may still be worth your time. "Some schools require FAFSA to qualify for merit aid through their school," Rubin said. You must fill out the FAFSA each year to apply for financial aid, even if none of your information changed. While a student must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen to complete the FAFSA, your parents or spouse may not be. Although the site says your contributor's citizenship or immigration status won't affect your eligibility, there is concern that information submitted on the FAFSA might be shared with other government agencies. Goodman said this is a valid fear for college students with undocumented parents. "Under the previous administration, sharing info between government departments was not allowed unless specified and approved," she said. "Under this administration, it continues to be unclear where information sharing is possible and with whom." If your family has concerns about citizenship and wishes to forego the FAFSA, consider contacting colleges where you're applying to find other options to secure aid. Some may offer alternative applications or other financing options. Also consider private, merit-based scholarships, which may not require information about your parents or spouse. "Citizenship and legal permanent residency is a very complicated topic," Rubin said. "It's going to be a very personal decision on how to proceed." Before you can fill out the FAFSA, you and your contributors must each create your own FSA ID. You'll need the following: Your legal name Date of birth An email address Social Security number -- contributors who do not have a Social Security number will need to be able to answer questions about themselves to verify their identity If you have a mobile phone number, you can also add it to your account for two-step verification. Note that verifying your Social Security number for your FSA ID may take one to three days. If you plan to submit your FAFSA application by a particular deadline, make sure everyone gets their FSA IDs at least a few days before. Make sure you'll be able to access the email and phone number you provide. If you ever forget your username or password, your email or phone number will be used for account recovery. Preparation is key when filling out the FAFSA. You'll want to gather relevant financial and legal documents before you start -- this will save you time during the application process. There are five sections in the 2025-26 FAFSA form: Student Student's spouse Parent Parent's spouse or partner Preparer (if someone other than the student, student spouse, parent, or parent spouse or partner completed this form on the applicant's behalf) The Federal Student Aid office recommends that students login to to fill out their portion of the FAFSA first, then invite your contributors. You can pause the application at any time and return to complete it. You'll each need the following information to complete your sections of the form: Personal information like your name, contact info, Social Security number and birth date Bank statements (for checking and savings account balances) Investment records Income statements, including W-2s Tax returns Records of any child support received You'll also be asked which schools you want your FAFSA information shared with, so keep your college list handy. You must list at least one college, but you can add more colleges later. If you and/or your contributors filed a US tax return, you may be eligible to transfer your tax info directly from the IRS into your online FAFSA application. Select "Proceed to the IRS" to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Double-check your work throughout. All of your information for the student and contributors must match their account exactly. Don't use nicknames or suffixes (such as Jr.). Most of the information you'll need to provide about income, investments, tax credits, and account balances will come from your tax returns or bank statements. You and your contributors must each sign and submit your portion of the form when you're finished. You can monitor the status of a FAFSA application with your account (using your FSA ID) under the My Activity page. You'll also be notified when contributors sign and complete sections. After successfully submitting the FAFSA, you'll receive a confirmation page that includes your estimated Pell Grant eligibility and estimated SAI. The schools you listed on the FAFSA will use the SAI to determine your financial aid package and send you an offer after you've been accepted. The opening date for the upcoming FAFSA and the deadline for the previous school year's FAFSA overlap, which can make keeping track of all the dates difficult. In general, the FAFSA application period opens on Oct. 1 before the following school year. So for high school students, you can submit FAFSA for your freshman year of college on Oct. 1 of your senior year. However, the 2024-25 and 2025-26 openings were delayed due to glitches with the new form. The federal deadline for FAFSA applications is June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Central time for that academic year. Here's a chart for FAFSA deadlines to help: Many states and schools have their own deadlines for accepting the FAFSA, often earlier than the federal deadline. You can find your state's deadline on the federal student loan site. Check your college's admissions site for their deadline. If a parent is responsible for at least 50% of a child's financial support, the parent's information must be included on the FAFSA form. Otherwise, the application will not be considered complete and won't be accepted. If you're an independent student, you don't have to supply your parents' information. You can correct mistakes on the FAFSA by logging into your account at using your FSA ID. Information imported from the IRS cannot be changed. Filing the FAFSA unlocks access to free Pell Grants, need-based scholarships, work-study programs, and low-interest student loans. But it's not the only way to obtain financial aid. Some colleges use the CSS Profile Form to determine financial aid awards. You can also apply for private scholarships, which may not use the FAFSA.
