NC Assist Helps Workers Chart a New Course for Their Careers

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The Great Resignation has employers scrambling and weary workers quitting in droves. People are leaving the workforce and heading to graduate school to chart a new course for their careers, in hopes of a big pay off and career change.

Financial experts at NC Assist Loan, an alternative college loan offered by College Foundation Inc., understand the value (and the expense) of getting a graduate degree. They launched the Charting a New Course for Your Career Checklist campaign to help students decide how to afford college the second time around.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November of 2021. Meanwhile, enrollment of students in postsecondary institutions is expected to increase 12% by 2026, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“Today’s workers are reevaluating their careers, and they are reinvigorated to pursue their passions,” says Laura Morgan, Vice President of Communications, Savings, and Legal Affairs at College Foundation, Inc. (CFI). “Getting a graduate degree may be expensive, but the payoff can be priceless if it lands someone in a career they love. NC Assist makes it possible for students to return to school and focus entirely on their studies.”

Companies are offering new recruits with advanced degrees high salaries. While the average cost for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is $66,300 (Education Data), the average salary for graduates is $91,000 (Payscale).

To support workers who want to return to the classroom, NC Assist is encouraging future students to use the ‘Charting a New Course for Your Career’ Grad School Checklist:

1. Determine your end goal. Do you want to advance your career or start a new one? Once you decide your endgame, you’ll learn how to start (and what degree you need).
2. Take the standardized tests required for admissions. Check the tests required for the graduate program you want.
3. Apply to the graduate schools you have chosen. Pay close attention to deadlines and submit all required material.
4. Apply for financial aid. Yes, as a graduate student, you can (and should) complete the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA).
5. Apply for scholarships. There is no reason not to try to get free money for school!
6. Review your acceptances and compare financial aid offers. Graduate schools will send you financial aid offers based on information from the FAFSA.
7. Choose your new mascot! Select the best graduate school for you.
8. Make informed decisions about student loans. With no fees and competitive fixed rates, the NC Assist Student Loan can help you bridge the gap between savings, scholarships, and the cost to attend graduate school.

The NC Student Assist Loan has competitive fixed interest rates and zero fees compared to federal direct PLUS Loans. The NC Assist Loan program is administered by CFI, on behalf of the State Education Assistance Authority. CFI is a state-based nonprofit organization committed to helping North Carolina students and families succeed in their academic pursuits.

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About College Foundation, Inc.

College Foundation, Inc. (CFI), a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a large portfolio of education loans, several major grant and scholarship programs for students attending N.C. colleges and universities, and the tax-advantaged "529" college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority. CFI also delivers information to North Carolina students and families about paying for college, assists colleges and universities with state residency determination and financial aid services, and provides technology support and outreach for CFNC.org.

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