Prospective online degree candidates in Philadelphia may qualify for financial assistance

Prospective online degree candidates in Philadelphia may qualify for financial assistance

High school seniors in Philadelphia may be eligible to receive financial assistance that can help them pay for tuition at campus-based or online colleges, such as Drexel University.

The school has announced the launch of its Drexel Liberty Scholars program, which will benefit 250 incoming college freshmen over the next five years.

A total of $28 million in financial aid has been made available to Philadelphia-based students who wish to attend Drexel.

The program was created in response Mayor Michael A. Nutter's call for area colleges to add 1,000 new scholarships that are specifically intended for students who live in the metropolitan area.

Although details about the program's application process are still being determined, university officials said that candidates will be required to write an essay detailing what they would do to improve the city 20 years from now if they became mayor.

Students who are enrolled in public, private, parochial, charter and preparatory schools within the city's limits will be eligible to receive the funding.

College students who require financial assistance may want to consider taking online courses, which could allow them to schedule their education around a part-time job.