Student loan limits--they're important to understand, but unfortunately, many students don't even know they exist.

To understand loan limits, let's start with something people are more familiar with --credit card limits. When you reach your credit card limit (often known as maxing out your card), you are required to pay down your principle before you can use the card again. It's similar with students loans; once you've borrowed a certain amount, you can't borrow more until you pay some back. If you're relying too heavily on federal loans, this could leave you unable to afford your education and stuck with unmanageable amounts of debt.

Read on to learn about loan limits and how to avoid this situation by practicing responsible borrowing.

Annual and Total Loan Limits

The federal government limits the total amount of subsidized and unsubsidized loans a student can borrow at one time – this is known as a total or aggregate loan limit. If you previously attended college and took out federal loans that you have not yet repaid, those loans will count toward your total loan limit. To check your prior federal student aid history and previous loans, visit the National Student Loan Data System at www.nslds.ed.gov.

There is also an annual loan limit on the amount of loans you can borrow in one academic year. Total and annual loan limits depend on your year in school and whether you are dependent or independent student. You can see the annual and total loan limits that apply to you at http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized#how-much-can-i-borrow. If you're a current student, you can also contact your Student Finance Counselor to learn more.

How to Avoid Reaching These Limits

When you discuss your financial aid package with your Student Finance Counselor, make sure you understand your loan limits and try not to rely solely on federal loans.

Here are just a few tips that can help you avoid reaching these limits.

• Find alternative ways to finance your education, such as scholarships and grants. There are many scholarships and grants out there, so don’t be afraid to apply. They can make a big difference in your financial plan!

• Ask your employer if they are willing to help sponsor your education. This is usually only an option if your desired degree will allow you to gain skills relevant to your work.

• Make regular cash payments. Even if these payments are as small as $20 per month, you can reduce the amount you need to borrow and the interest you’ll pay in the future.

• Only accept the aid that you truly need. You do not have to take the full amount of federal aid for which you are eligible, and you should not use these loans for expenses outside of your education.

• Stay committed to completing your education in a timely manner. Having to re-take a class will end up costing you extra.

When you create a plan for paying for your degree, think about your long-term financial future. Remember, having to make large monthly payments on your student loan debt will limit what you can spend in the future on large purchases, such as your house or your car, and even daily expenses. Making the right choices today will help you tomorrow.

Attention students: Three new digital resources have been added to the Online Library!

Post by Guest Blogger, Taylor Duncan
Assistant Director of Student Affairs: Libraries & Tutoring

These exciting additions provide access to streaming video collections and film scripts. These resources may now be accessed from the Online Library under Find Images & Videos. Read more about these resources below.

American Film Scripts Online

Contains 1,000 full-text scripts as well as a bibliographic and biographical database of directors and writers, presenting the medium’s reflection on American attitudes and life. Search by character, scene, race, nationality, age, subject, year of writing and other elements. Useful for studying popular culture, diversity and gender issues, language and linguistics, writing, American history, anthropology, sociology, psychology and more.

Sample titles include: The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, Ben Hur, Casablanca, Raging Bull, The Maltese Falcon, Hotel Rwanda, Some Like It Hot, The Last Temptation of Christ, Sunset Boulevard, Witness, Taxi Driver, The African Queen, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, JFK, Platoon, The Searchers, Twelve Monkeys, Rebel Without a Cause, The Hustler, My Own Private Idaho, and The Sting.

Filmakers Library Online

Provides access to streaming video of more than 1,000 documentaries and independent films from around the world. Coverage includes race and gender studies, human rights, globalization and global studies, multiculturalism, international relations, criminal justice, the environment, bioethics, health, political science and current events, psychology, arts, literature and more. Synchronized, searchable transcripts run alongside each video.

Sample films include: Fire Eyes, First Contact, Guardians of the Flutes, My American Girls, Original Intent, A Panther in Africa, Paradise Bent, Prison Lullabies, Race to Execution, The Split Horn, T-Shirt Travels, Today's Man, Walking the Line, All Power to the People, The Danish Solution, Guestworker and Lynchburg Story.

Silent Film Online

Contains over 250 streaming online titles representing the foundation of modern cinematic technique and film theory. Covers silent feature films, serials, and shorts from the 1890s to the 1930s. Highlights works of filmmakers including Georges Méliès, Buster Keaton, Fritz Lang, Charles Chaplin, F.W. Murnau, Luis Buñuel, Ernst Lubitsch, Victor Sjostrom, Erich von Stroheim, Carl T. Dreyer, Edwin S. Porter and many others.

Sample titles include Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Battleship Potemkin, Intolerance, Nosferatu, Faust, Die Nibelungen, The Great Train Robbery, The General, Foolish Wives, Way Down East, L’Age D’Or, Metropolis and Ann Boleyn.

Contact the Online Library

For more information about the Online Library, please contact us at 888-318-3440 or aionlinelibrary@aii.edu.

Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, which this year is May 18, 2013. Created in 1949 and first observed in 1950, this holiday was established to recognize and honor all five military branches: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, we recognize the service and commitment of our military students every day by helping them to get started on the next phase of their career. We have staff members dedicated to working with military and veterans students, and we are proud to be listed as a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs (http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/), an honor reserved to only 15% of schools nationwide. 

Below are three of the ways we recognize our military and veteran students.

1. Offering Transfer of Credit for Your Military Experience

We want to recognize your extensive military training and experience, whether you are a veteran or a current member of the military. Once you submit the paperwork, we’ll review your experience and training to determine your eligibility for credit toward your academic program. This transfer of credit could help you to cut expenses and graduate in less time.

For information on how to submit your military experience and training for university credit, please visit http://www.aionline.edu/military/.

2. Providing Military Aid & Benefits

Complete information on our military aid and benefit programs can be found on our Miltary Aid page, and you can speak with a Military Admissions Representative by calling 1-877-300-3656. Before you do, here’s a quick overview.

For Military Personnel & Spouses: We are pleased to offer a special military scholarship of 10% to eligible Active Duty, Active Guard and Reserve, as well as Spouses of Active Duty and Active Reserve military personnel.

For Veterans: Our military scholarship of 10% is extended to eligible veterans, and we participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. Furthermore, veterans using the educational benefits provided under the Montgomery GI Bill will find that a significant portion of their tuition expenses will be covered or reimbursed.

3. Waiving Fees

The Online Lab Fee, Enrollment Fee and the Application Fee are waived for Active Duty and Active Guard and Reserve, as well as for Spouses of active duty military personnel. The application fee is waived for all veterans and spouses who qualify for the Veteran Scholarship.

Read more at http://www.aionline.edu/tuition/military-aid/. Or, get information on the following programs:

• Ch 30 Montgomery GI Bill 
• Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill 
• Yellow Ribbon Program 

In the United States, May is National Photography Month, and we’re celebrating by sharing some impressive photography from our students.

Photo By: William Wotring, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: William Wotring, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Traci Peterson, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Rob Heber, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Penny Anthony, Associate of Science in Photography

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division offers several online photography programs, including the following: Bachelor of Science in Photography, Associate of Science in Photography, Digital Workflow Certificate, Portrait Photography Certificate and Studio Photography Certificate. Learn more here.

We know that everyone's financial situation is unique, which is why each of our students works with a dedicated Student Finance Counselor to determine a financial plan that works for them. As part of financial planning, our Student Finance Counselors stress responsible borrowing. But, what exactly does that mean?

Responsible borrowing entails detailed planning and analysis of your finances and your financing options to decide what is right for you. If you choose to take out loans, responsible borrowing means only doing so after looking at alternative options and only borrowing what is necessary. While students sometimes limit their search to federal sources, federal financial aid often means loans and doesn't necessarily cover all of your expenses.

Below are some of the alternative options that we recommend you consider before you turn solely to federal loans.

1. Make Cash Payments

Establishing a monthly tuition payment plan can greatly reduce the cost of your education. Your contribution doesn’t need to be large, but every bit you pay now is something you won’t have to pay later or pay interest on down the road.

2. Get Military Financial Aid if You Qualify

If you or a family member has served in the military, you may be eligible for military financial aid, including our school’s military scholarship. We also participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program. Don’t miss out! Visit http://www.aionline.edu/tuition/military-aid/, or call 1-877-300-3656 to speak with a Military Admissions Representative for more information on these programs.

3. Ask about Employer Partnerships

We partner with a number of companies to offer employees incentives for continuing their education—from corporate rates to the waiving of select fees. See our list of partners here. If your employer isn’t listed, you may still qualify for financial assistance through your company.

There are two common types of employer assistance programs. Employer reimbursement programs require you to pay tuition up front. You then provide documentation to your employer stating how much you paid and showing that your coursework is relevant to your career. Your employer pays you back for your tuition and expenses. Employer sponsorship programs, conversely, involve your employer paying the school directly for approved coursework. If you aren't sure what educational benefits your employer offers, ask your manager or your human resource representative.

4. Search for Scholarships and Grants

Many organizations (including local, national, private and non-profit groups) offer scholarship opportunities or grants to students who meet specific criteria. Many people think scholarships are reserved only for students with superior grades or athletic ability. However, this is not necessarily the case.

For example, many scholarships exist for students pursuing specific careers. Plus scholarship criteria can sometimes be quite idiosyncratic. For example, scholarships exist for left-handed students or students whose last names start with Z! So make a list of everything unique about you and start searching.

Learn More about Financial Planning

If you want to go to school (or you’re already here), don't limit yourself to relying only on federal loans when there are other ways to make school affordable and reduce your future debt.

Request more information today, or talk with your Student Finance Counselor to discuss your financial plan.