Resources available for Continuing Students

College enrollment trends are strikingly different today than they were thirty years ago. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates students are increasingly choosing alternatives other than a traditional four-year college degree. This is due to a combination of factors including educational and economic outlooks but has also been impacted by rising post-secondary education costs. With costs quickly rising and earning potentials remaining somewhat stagnant there is a need for more opportunities for students who are seeking to further their education.

Fortunately, the Sheridan community has many resources available to help students take advantage of educational opportunities. There are numerous local scholarships available to students as well as a few local foundations that offer interest-free student loans including the Perkins, Bryan, and Whitney Benefits Foundations. Whitney Benefits offers interest free loans to students pursing 2-year, 4-year, and graduate degrees as well as those who are enrolled in vocational programs. Students are eligible to borrow up to $24,000 for undergraduate or vocational studies and up to $40,000 for graduate studies. Following Mr. Whitney’s original design, students must graduate from a Sheridan or Johnson County High school or provide proof or residence in Sheridan or Johnson Counties for the past 4 years. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA from high school to apply and are required to maintain a 2.25 GPA each semester throughout the duration of their loan.

An interest- free student loan can be beneficial to students by making vocational or academic training more accessible. Students are able to focus on learning without worrying about ever-increasing interest on monies borrowed. Without interest continually adding to the original balance, students can graduate with a lower amount of total debt. This lower level of total debt can allow students to make career choices that are a best fit and gives graduates more financial flexibility to spend their earnings on other areas of their lifestyle rather than spending such a large percentage on debt repayment.

In addition to taking advantage of local funding opportunities, students should take time to evaluate what future path is right for them. A partnership between Whitney Benefits, Sheridan College, Sheridan and Johnson County School Districts, and local industry representatives has enabled all area high school students to have access to the YouScience platform as early as Fall 2025. High school students go through exercises and questionnaires within the platform to determine their natural aptitudes as well as their educational and career interests. This allows students to discover career paths they may have never considered before and also helps them determine what kind of future education is necessary. Some students will succeed at a university while others may find success in an apprenticeship or credentialing program. Finding the right fit ahead of time will help students be more successful down the road.

If you are considering pursuing higher education or vocational training be sure to consider all the options available, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of the many resources available in our community.

To learn more about a Whitney Benefits loan or apply, visit our Student Loan Page at www.whitneybenefits.org. The current application period for Fall 2025 funding closes October 1, 2025.

Sarah Sommers Assistant, Whitney Benefits