Beyond StudentAid.com: Paying for College Resources

Once you have read everything StudentAid.com has to say about how to plan and pay for college, visit the following online resources for more information. We researched many college-funding websites in order to tell you the ones that we feel are the best in class.

General Student Aid Resources

www.finaid.org – Find general information that ranges from savings plans to loans to calculating college costs.

www.studentaid.ed.gov – This is the government site about student aid.

www.fafsa.ed.gov – Get information on how to complete the federal student aid application (FAFSA) and more.

Private Scholarship Resources

www.studentaid.com/scholarshipworksheet – Use StudentAid.com's scholarship tracker to keep track of the scholarships that you want to apply for. You can also manage your login and password information for scholarship websites.

foundationcenter.org – The nonprofit Foundation Center is where you can research grants and scholarships.

www.fastweb.com – Not only does this website have an impressive scholarship database, but it also offers great tips on scholarship applications, interviews, and recommendation letters.

www.scholarships.com – Create a profile and receive personalized information for all types of scholarships, ranging from athletics to academics to talents you thought would never come in handy!

www.findtuition.com – Access a database of over 1.7 million scholarships and grants. You can search by major or college and even find scholarships to match your unique strengths – the possibilities are endless.

www.scholarshiproadmap.com – This site doesn't have a scholarship search engine, but it does provide valuable information on how to ace scholarship applications, resumes, interviews, and much more.

Student Loan Resources

www.studentaid.com/loanworksheet – Use StudentAid.com's loan comparison chart to evaluate your options and help choose the best loan for you.

www.collegetoolkit.com – Get the tools you need to understand student loans, loan guides, and repayment calculators, and even gain insight on how to avoid deceptive loan offers.

www.simpletuition.com – This site provides loan comparison tools and tips for both students and parents.

www.estudentloan.com – Get a detailed picture on all types of student loan programs.

projectonstudentdebt.org – Stay informed on the newest loan initiatives, publications, and loan forgiveness and repayment options.

Financial Aid Letter Comparison

www.financialaidletter.com – Understanding your award letter is made easier here, with a glossary of terms, sample award letters and expert decoders to help you understand what you are actually being offered.

www.mycollegecalendar.com – This site allows you to enter your award letter information into a spreadsheet to help you compare which offer is the best.

Credit and Financial Literacy

www.youngmoney.com – Not sure what happens if you charge too many pizzas to your credit card? Visit this site to learn about your credit history and how to develop good spending habits.

www.aie.org – Use interactive tools to evaluate your spending and savings habits. Be sure to read the articles on understanding your credit report and how to read a credit card statement.

www.ncf-wep.org – The Nehemiah Community Foundation helps prospective students and their families learn money management skills to help you save for college, buy a car, and prepare for other important milestones. Test your skills by playing Financial Football or the Smart Money Quiz Show.

Saving for College

www.studentaid.com/savingsworksheet – Use StudentAid.com's saving comparison chart to evaluate your options and help choose the best savings method for you. Remember, it's never too late to start saving for college!

www.savingforcollege.com – Visit this site to learn about the different ways to save for college. Check out the extensive frequently-asked-questions section and 529 Plan comparisons.