| STUDENTS SEEK AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES IN WAKE OF EDUCATION BUDGET CUTS |  |  |  |
| As a result of the current recession, over 39 states have cut or are proposing to cut their education budgets or face massive deficits. Unlike the federal government, most states are required to balance their general fund budgets. Since education is the largest component of state budgets, averaging around 46%, it is typically the first area legislators look to cut during a budget crisis. Cuts have been especially deep in the higher education sector. To address the budget shortfall, states have been forced to lay off teachers, reduce course offerings and further increase skyrocketing tuition. For instance, the University of California will increase tuition by 32% in 2010. Nationwide, college tuition and fees have increased 439% from 1982-2007 according to the National Center for Public Policy. Families who were already struggling to pay college bills will now have to find a way to pay even more in a climate where many have lost their jobs and seen their investments decline in value. "Unfortunately, our income could not keep up with our daughter's rising tuition costs, so we had to bring her home," stated a distraught parent. This stressful situation is causing parents and students to seek out more affordable online education alternatives to costly four-year schools. Online Education to the Rescue The good news is there are ways to obtain a college education without spending a lot of money. Online education schools such as Ashworth College offer accredited degrees for less than 50% of the cost of traditional campus based institutions. The curriculum is of comparable quality and is often developed in partnership with leading professional associations, which ensures that graduates have the job skills that matter to employers. "At $80 per credit hour, including textbooks, tuition at Ashworth College is considerably less than four-year public or private institutions. We are an incredible value, and more and more students are recognizing this," said Gary Keisling, Ashworth President and CEO. "For added peace of mind, we guarantee students that the tuition price that is in place on the day they enroll is the same price they will pay all the way through graduation." Not only is tuition at online colleges less than traditional institutions, but the |