In general, public universities tend to offer a wider range of courses, degree programs and activities than private colleges, and they generally are less expensive to attend as well. However, a college education can still be very expensive even at a public university. We’ve put together this list of the 10 lowest cost public universities in the United States based on the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education. Note that the cost figures quoted are based on in-state tuition and fees. Costs may be considerably higher for out-of-state students.

10. University of Hawaii, West Oahu – Pearl City, Hawaii

The University of Hawaii – West Oahu is one of the 10 campuses in the University of Hawaii system. It has nearly 1,300 students on a campus next to a local community college though it will soon be replaced by a 500-acre campus currently under construction a few miles away which will be able to accommodate over 7,000 students. The new campus is expected to open in the fall of 2012.

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If you’re getting ready to attend college, or have already started and need to declare a major, you’re probably wondering the best major to choose to get a good-paying job after you graduate. After all, unless you’re lucky enough to go to one of the 10 Best Colleges with Free Tuition, those tuition loans won’t pay for themselves. You can plan ahead now by choosing a major that will increase your chances of earning a solid income after graduation.

Engineering

When it comes to the highest-paying jobs, it should be no surprise that highly technical fields make up the majority at the top of the heap. Engineering jobs in a variety of industries pave the way for new and better products and processes in almost every area – think of the things you use every day like your cell phone, refrigerator or car and how technology advances each year to make them better and more efficient. Engineers are the technical gurus behind these and other items to improve them year after year.

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The prospect of attending to college can be both exciting and daunting, particularly given the cost of tuition these days. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree can easily cost much more than $100,000, putting higher education out of reach for many. However, there are some colleges and universities that offer free tuition and we’ve put together a list of the top ten institutions of higher education that will be easy on your checkbook. Admission to these schools can be very competitive with most accepting a small number of students each year.

10. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, New York City, New York

Macaulay Honors College is unique in that its students enroll at one of eight colleges within the City University of New York network and receive guidance through the college’s advising program to develop a comprehensive, individualized academic program. Macaulay’s own campus is located a few blocks from verdant Central Park on the upper west side of Manhattan.
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(Athens during the annual Halloween party / riot at Ohio University)

Click here to see rankings of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses

The Princeton Review has released their annual list of best party schools for 2012, and for the second year in a row an Athens based college has won, but this time it’s Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, displacing the University of Georgia in Athens, GA which took the top spot in 2011. Not too many surprises on this year’s list, although I had no idea the University of Vermont was a hopping location, and as I mentioned last year I’m never surprised to see Ohio University ranked highly on these lists as it’s pretty well known in Ohio that’s where to go if you want to drink and party your way through undergrad. The Princeton Review puts together its list by polling over 122,000 students. This year, the Princeton Review also had lists for “Stone Cold Sober” schools, which no surprise was topped by BYU and highly ranked several military academies.
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A career in criminal justice allows people to engage in meaningful work that helps keep their communities safe and secure. There are numerous career opportunities within the field to choose from, including corrections officers, criminologist, FBI agent, DEA agent, police officer, crime scene investigator, private investigator and US marshal. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects in criminal justice related fields range from favorable to excellent.

Value of a Masters in Criminal Justice (MCJ) Degree

Graduates from top accredited online master of criminal justice (MCJ) programs will be in an excellent position to take advantage of the growing demand for qualified leaders and administrators in the criminal justice system. A master’s degree in criminal justice will broaden and deepen your knowledge of all aspects of criminal justice and make you a more attractive candidate for promotions and raises through the expansion of your professional competencies. A master’s degree is also a prerequisite for anyone interested in teaching criminal justice at the college level or pursuing a doctoral degree. Continued…

Most people choose to pursue a career in criminal justice out of a desire to help keep their communities safe. And with the continued growth of nearly every aspect of the criminal justice system, employment opportunities continue to grow as well. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects in criminal justice related fields range from favorable to excellent.

Value of a Bachelors of Criminal Justice Degree

Graduates from top accredited online bachelor of criminal justice programs will be in an excellent position to take advantage of the growing demand for trained officers. A bachelor’s degree is increasingly a prerequisite for entrance into policing, investigations, corrections, law, social work and other criminal justice related fields. Anyone interested in doing graduate level work in any of these areas will need a bachelor’s degree as well. Continued…

As the population ages, technology advances and more nurses retire from the ranks, nurses with degrees from top online nursing schools will continue to be in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that nursing employment opportunities will continue to grow at a much faster than average rate in the United States.

Value of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree

Nurses with Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees from the top accredited online nursing degree programs will be in the best position to take advantage of the ever growing demand for skilled leaders in nursing. More than ever an MSN is a prerequisite for registered nurses to climb the professional ladder into management or administrative positions. Nurses looking to do research, consulting or teaching at a nursing school will need an MSN from a recognized and accredited nursing degree program to do so. Continued…

We recently published an infographic entitled The Law School Bubble which served to make students aware of the hidden risks of going to law school. We got a great deal of feedback on the infographic and wanted to make some clarifications with this blog post.

The bottom line question for most students is this: is law school worth it? In other words, is the potential reward worth the risk. To bring clarity to this question, you should be asking “is law school right for me?” For many people, law school is still a good idea and is certainly worth it. But for many others, it is a bad risk that shouldn’t be taken.

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Nursing is among the fastest growing employment sectors in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of registered nurses (RNs) will grow much faster than average over the next several years due to technological advances that allow for the treatment of more diseases, an aging population, expected retirements, and fewer people going into the nursing profession.

The Value of a Bachelor of Nursing Degree

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a top online college or nursing school opens up many opportunities for employment in the nursing profession and has become increasingly necessary for advancement in the field. RNs looking to move into an administrative position, do research, consult, or teach are frequently required to have a BSN or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited nursing degree program.

Advantages of Online Nursing Degrees

Online nursing programs are among the most popular online degree programs and RNs looking to earn a BSN have a number of accredited online RN to BSN degree programs to choose from. Continued…

In a tough business climate it’s more important than ever to maximize your personal skills and assets in order to stand out to executives and recruiters or successfully launch out on your own. A business degree from a recognized, accredited, top-ranked college or university can help you do that.

Advantages of Online Business Degrees

Because of the greater flexibility and generally lower costs, many people are going online to earn their business degrees, allowing them to continue working and spend time with their families while earning their degree. In fact, business administration degrees continually rank among the most popular online degrees.

How We Rank Online Business Degrees

As with businesses, colleges, universities and online degree programs vary widely in terms of quality, name recognition, and value. To assist those looking for an online bachelor’s degree in business or business administration, we’ve put together this ranking of the best accredited online bachelor degree programs in business and business administration for 2011-2012. Our rankings are based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including reputation, accreditation, student satisfaction, and cost. You can read more about our rankings philosophy and find a list of our other rankings on our rankings page.

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