Financial Aid Websites

• Federal Student Aid - Dept. of Education
  Information on federal grants, loans and work-study programs, from the application process to the repayment plan. Check out the related Financial Aid Toolkit, also from the Education Department.


• FAFSA website
  Go here to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The three-step process includes information on applying for a PIN, application deadlines and FAQs.


• CSS Profile
  Fully Web-based financial aid application service of the College Board. The CSS Profile, which is more detailed than the FAFSA and charges a fee, is used by hundreds of colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs to determine eligibility for nonfederal student aid funds.


• FastWeb
  A great resource for finding scholarships. The site also has lots of information on the FAFSA, grants and loans. One unique feature is its financial aid videos.


• U.S. News and World Report Info Center
  This thorough collection offers the latest news on financial aid, as well as practical info on applying for scholarships, grants and loans. Be sure to check out its annual ranking of the best value colleges in the U.S.


• Peterson's
  Peterson's breaks it down simply, with separate sections on state financial aid, ROTC colleges and military financial aid, college scholarships and savings plans, and the various types of loans. The site also gives a great overview of the FAFSA and the application process.


• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
  In addition to articles on applying for federal student aid and scholarships, this site covers tax benefits for higher education, and special aid for veterans and students with disabilities.


• FinancialAidOfficer.com
  Part of the Student Loan Network, this site covers federal Stafford, PLUS and alternative student loans. We like its breakdown of private loans, as well as this pdf on How to Read Award Letters.


• SimpleTuition.com
  Find private students loans, and compare loans from featured lenders.



• Reference Service Press
  This site provides a contact list for state-based financial aid. The directory gives the name, address, fax and telephone numbers, e-mail, and website of the agency in each state that administers educational grants and loans. Find out about scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants and other funding offered by your state.

Help

• Filling out the FAFSA


• Glossary


• Repayment


• Application Deadlines


• Financial Aid Shopping Sheet (pdf)
  Voluntary, standardized form for comparing financial aid. See if the schools you're applying to offer it.

FAQs and Tips

• FAQS from Dept. of Education


• FAQs from U.S. News and World Report


• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Completing the FAFSA


• The 5-Minute FAFSA Video

Financial Aid Calculators

• College costs
• FinAid
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Budgeting Calculator
• Financial Aid Need Estimator

Publications

• The Guide to Federal Student Aid


• Completing the FAFSA
Introductory publication for students that provides instructions on how to complete the online or paper version of the FAFSA


• FAFSA Guide eBook
Line-by-line FAFSA help

Important Contacts

• 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) For questions on FAFSA and help filling it out


• 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) E-mail: oig.hotline@ed.gov To report student aid fraud (including identity theft), waste or abuse of U.S. Department of Education funds

News

• FinancialAidNews.com
• U.S. News and World Report

For Parents

• CollegeBoard


• U.S. News & World Report Info Center


• SavingforCollege.com


• Dept. of Education


• ACT Parent Newsletter
  Survival guide to college and career planning


• FastWeb


• Debt.org How to pay for your children's education


• What Every Parent Should Know About Paying for College (pdf)


• Parent Debt and Loan Repayment Calculators

Also see...

Scholarships | Fellowships | Grants | Loans