Paying for College

FINANCIAL AID

• FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you must complete to apply for federal financial aid. Many schools also use FAFSA to determine your needs for assistance

• FAFSA on the Web Worksheet: Provides step-by-step instructions to help you complete your FAFSA

• Form Your Future: The Form Your Future Campaign helps you apply for financial aid

• Federal Student Aid: The Department of Education’s guide to funding for higher education

• FinAid: A student guide to financial aid

• Financial Aid Finder: Search for scholarships, grants and student loans

• Nerd Wallet: Provides useful guides and resources to help you fill out FAFSA forms and qualify for federal aid 

• Sallie Mae: A publicly traded company, Sallie Mae is the largest provider of educational loans in the US

SCHOLARSHIPS

• CSS/Profile, short for the College Scholarship Service Profile, is an online application created and maintained by the United States-based College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid

• BigFuture: College Board’s college grant and scholarship search tool

• Fastweb: A comprehensive database of scholarships. Perform a detailed search to find one that’s right for you. You can sign up to receive email updates from the site when new scholarships become available

• Financial Aid Finder: Search for scholarships, grants and student loans

• Hispanic Fund: Provides Hispanic high school and college students with funding resources

• Cappex: Offers a comprehensive list of scholarships available across the US

• Scholarships.com: Search for scholarships and grants

• U.S. Department of Education: Use the funding menu to find money for college

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR COLLEGE

• Expected Family Contribution: A measure of your family’s ability to pay for the cost of college based on the information provided on your FAFSA.

• Net Price Calculator: The US Department of Education’s online tool, available on every school’s website, will help you understand the real price of attending that particular college.

• savingforcollege.com: A resource to help families plan and save for college