Grand Canyon University Announces Plans to Make Higher Education More Affordable

Phoenix, AZ February 12, 2010 -- Grand Canyon University (http://www.gcu.edu) (GCU) has announced significant cuts to its housing and meal plan costs, the elimination of campus parking and facilities fees and a

tuition freeze for its current and incoming students attending classes on campus.

"The tuition rate for our online students has consistently been in the lowest 25 percent of all private universities offering online programs," said Grand Canyon University CEO Brian Mueller. "With these decreases, our campus students will now receive a private Christian education at rates commensurate with a state university education and well below rates at most private universities in the country."

Grand Canyon University will take the following steps to help make their education more affordable for students: They will reduce room and board by an average of 20 percent, freeze tuition for on-campus students through the 2011-2012 school year, dedicate additional funds in scholarships to transferring students, eliminate parking and other facility fees and provide students with free admission to athletic events.

GCU recognizes that families and students are struggling with the economic prospects of higher education. They have announced these cost reductions to try to provide an affordable, high quality private education.

Grand Canyon University is Arizona's private university. Based in Phoenix, the regionally accredited, private, non-denominational Christian university offers online and campus-based bachelor's and master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts.

Overture Technologies and the Oregon Independent Colleges Association (OICA) Announce the Launch of the Oregon Private Loan Marketplace

Bethesda, MD and Portland, OR March 18, 2010 -- The Oregon Independent Colleges Association (OICA) and Overture Technologies today announced

the launch of the Oregon Private Loan Marketplace (http://oregon.privateloanmarketplace.com), an online loan comparison and shopping service that will be available to over 125,000 students attending 30 Oregon private and public institutions of higher education. Prager, Sealy, & Co., LLC, a leading higher education financial services firm, serves as the program manager for OICA.

In the current lending and regulatory environment, schools are finding it to be more efficient and effective to direct students to an objective loan comparison tool instead of a traditional preferred lender list or an overwhelming list of all active lenders. The Marketplace is the only online service that presents students with upfront, accurate comparisons of rates and terms - not “as low as” advertisements – giving them the information needed to effectively evaluate their available private loan funding options.

Oregon institutions participating in the Marketplace on its opening day are Corban College & Graduate School, Lewis & Clark College, Linfield College, Marylhurst University, Pacific University, Reed College and University of Portland. Other Oregon institutions will be activating their link to the Marketplace in the upcoming weeks.

“OICA and its member institutions are pleased to work with Overture and Prager to bring the Oregon Private Loan Marketplace to our students,” said Gary Andeen, President and CEO of OICA. “We believe that by presenting accurate rates and terms side-by-side, the Marketplace will give students the information they need to determine how to affordably finance their educations.”