Alternative uses of your education award
Have something other than traditional college in mind?
This section covers options for people who have an education award and don't necessarily want to enroll in a college or university degree program. Options could include:
- Non-degree programs
- Alternative types of schools
- Schools overseas
1. Non-degree programs
You can use your education award to take a class here and there at a community college or public university. You can take classes like guitar, swimming, or photography. If you take one or two classes per quarter at a community college, you can make your Education Award last for years and gain a great deal of enrichment.
2. Alternative types of schools
Generally, you can use the education award to go to any school that offers federal student aid (such as Stafford Loans). These schools are known as Title IV. If you would like to go to massage school, culinary school, or a trade school, you can use the education award if the school is listed as Title IV and offers federal student aid. Sometimes, there will be two massage schools in a town, but only one is a Title IV school.
It might take some research to find the school that will accept your education award. Even some non-Title IV schools will allow you to use your award. For example, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming isn't listed as Title IV, but accepts the education award.
3. Attending school overseas
Dozens of schools across the globe are listed as Title IV. American students in attendance can receive U.S. financial aid, and you can use your education award to pay for tuition. To find out whether an institution is Title IV, check here or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.
If an overseas school tells you it will not accept the education award, you might be able to apply for a Stafford Loan or other federal student loan, and then repay the loan with your education award.
If an overseas school is NOT listed as Title IV but you would still like to attend using your education award, you might be able to enroll in a school stateside and participate in an exchange program. That way, you are paying your tuition to a school inside the U.S. while attending a school overseas. To make this option work, it will take a bit of research on your part.
