Ways to Pay for College provides tips for college financing

Maryland Public Television (MPT) continues its tradition of providing viewers insights into successfully navigating the college financial aid process with Ways to Pay for College, a one-hour live special airing Thursday, September 20 at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD. A live stream of the program will also be available at mpt.org/college.

This year Ways to Pay for College originates from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). Yolanda Vazquez is host for the live portion of the broadcast from the AACC campus, while co-host Mario Armstrong contributes recorded segments guiding viewers through the twists and turns of finding money for college.

During this fast-paced program viewers across the state will learn important information about government initiatives such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Maryland’s Student Load Debt Relief Tax Act. The program also features success stories from Maryland students who conducted financial aid research and made smart choices in selecting their colleges and career paths.

Inside the studio, MPT’s phone bank will be staffed by college financial aid experts who will field questions and help prospective college students and their families navigate the complex world of financial aid. To date, the program’s financial aid experts have received thousands of calls and answered countless questions about government aid and paperwork, public and private grants, scholarships, and loans.

MPT-HD will air a half-hour recorded version of Ways to Pay for College on Saturday, September 29 at 11 a.m. The hour-long version of the program will be available to view at mpt.org/college.

Mario Armstrong previously earned an Emmy® award from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his role as co-host of this annual special.

Ways to Pay for College began at MPT in 1981 under its original name, You Can Afford College. It is a co-production of MPT and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional support comes from the Eastern Shore Higher Education Center. The program is part of the American Graduate public media initiative.