Category Archives: NEWS on College & College Funding

Go here for great news on American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Or here for guidelines on the credit from the IRS.

Read the above article.  Talk to the individual who helps you with your taxes – make sure to take advantage of this credit.

Lord knows there is a lot of bad news when it comes to paying for college.  The American Opportunity Tax Credit, formerly the Hope Scholarship, provides a glimmer of good news for 2013.  President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus package) began these reforms, and the avoidance a tumble over the fiscal cliff kept them in tact for another year.  And now it is tax time – make sure that you take advantage of the advantages that this tax credit provides you and your family.  And if you have kids going to college next Fall make sure to file early and take care of the FAFSA as soon as possible.

1. The tax credit has grown from $1800 to $2500 per year.
2. While it used to be you could claim it for only two years…now you can take it for four.
3. The tax credit is up to 40% refundable.  After you subtract it from your tax obligation – you can receive an actual refund.
4. Used to be for tuition and fees only.  Now it includes course materials and computers.
5. You qualify if your adjusted gross income is below $80,000 single or $160,000 married.
6. There are ways to allow your child (college student) to take the tax credit.  Do some research on that.

OK…so you’re going to college next Fall and you got a financial aid package back from your school and its not so good.  No Pell.  No T.I.P.  No Grants or Scholarships.  Just loans.  Don’t jump yet.   Try applying  for a job at WESCO.  They have a great tuition reimbursement program.

Here’s how it works.  You must average at least 25 hours a week during the time that you are enrolled in college to qualify.   At the end of the semester if you have worked the minimum of 25 hours you receive the following reimbursement for your grades in the form of a bonus.

• For A’s – 100% tuition reimbursement
• For B’s – 75% tuition reimbursement
• For C’s – 50% tuition reimbursement
• Maximum reimbursement semester $1500 – full school year $3000.

The reimbursement only counts for money that YOU spent.  So if your tuition is being paid for by a grant or a scholarship or financial aid, that portion won’t come back to you.  However, if you are taking out loans to go to school, or paying out of pocket you qualify.

Since you may not work 25 hours a week at WESCO if you are under 18 years of age,  you must be 18 to qualify for this reimbursement program.  However, if you’d like to get the jump on the program and you are 17 you can apply to WESCO as a shelf stocker and qualify for tuition reimbursement when you turn 18.  If you are junior think ahead and apply NOW!

Go online for immediate available WESCO job openings or you can apply at the individual stores in your area.  If you’re interested in a particular stor and their are no immediate openings – go anyhow…you never know when jobs will become available.  There are quite a few Oakridge graduates managing WESCO stores and working at WESCO in the Muskegon area.  Give it a shot if you’re looking for ways to pay for college…it’s a nice option.