July 13, 2005
Going to college will now be easier on many people's pocket books.
The Piedmont Virginia Community College is now offering federal loans. Currently, PVCC accepts pell grants, which are not available to people wanting to further their education past a bachelor's degree, or for middle income people with families.
According to PVCC's Financial Aid Director, Carol Larson, with federal loans, more people can afford a higher education.
"We wanted to give students more options to reach their goals and this is another way of helping them pay for the tuition to pay for their education," she said. Larson described a nursing student with a family who does not have time to work because of clinicals as a federal loan candidate.
PVCC discontinued participating in the federal loans program about 10 years ago to avoid students from defaulting on their loans. But with the price tags of college tuitions on a steady incline, Larson says helping many further their education outweighs this risks.
