Whether you are preparing for college, are in process of receiving a higher education, or have long since earned your degree, the following websites are just some of the many online resources that provide excellent information to support you in financing and managing your educational expenses.
Manage your Money
tipjar.com
This Google application provides tips and tricks relating to every area of one’s daily life–including a helpful finance section! Ranging from the common sense to the ingenious, TipJar.com invites the public to share their personal know-how in regards to saving money, energy, and time.
mint.com
Avoid purchasing expensive money management software by using Mint.com’s free personal finance program. With bank-level data security, and connections to over 8,000 banks, you can submit a complete picture of your financial situation to Mint.com, and receive a money management analysis to assist you with budgeting.
simplifi.net
With the help of “Sophie”, SimpliFi’s Virtual Financial Advisor, you’re led through a simple step-by-step process that involves mapping out your economic goals, connecting these goals to your current spending, and creating a plan to ensure financial success.
Scholarships and Grants
thecollegetrap.info
The College Trap seeks to debunk common myths about applying for scholarships, receiving grants, and the “real cost” of student loans. In addition, information about saving for college, general money management, and alternative funding options is presented.
fastweb.com
Valuable not only for its “scholarship matching” feature, this site includes relevant articles, discussion boards, and links to help college students get the most out of their educational experience. The “financial aid” page lists resources for creative ways to survive college with minimal debt. There is a job/internship search feature that allows students to create a profile and get connected with employment opportunities in their areas of interest.
college-scholarships.com
This site, from the American Educational Guidance Center, provides free college scholarship and financial aid searches, SAT and ACT test preparation tips, and more. Visit this site for an extensive database of colleges, universities, and online education programs, as well as a “College Savings Calculator,” and the “101 Top College, University, and Scholarship Websites” link.
studentaid.ed.gov
Run by the U.S. Department of Education, this is the official site for those looking to apply for Federal aid in order to fund their higher education. Federal Student Aid ensures that all eligible individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, benefit from federal financial assistance—grants, loans and work-study programs—for education beyond high school. Perhaps the most significant of the FSA’s services is the development, distribution, and processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM), which is the fundamental qualifying form used for all federal and government-guaranteed commercial lenders’ programs—as well as for many state, regional and private student aid programs. In addition to detailed guidance on the FAFSA submission process, the site offers advice on how to begin repaying your loans along with assistance in finding and choosing your ideal career.
collegiatefundingsolutions.com
Fisher Financial Strategies is provides college financial planning solutions to parents of college-bound children. You can receive a customized college funding plan based on your current financial situation. The plan will take into account variables such as the years until college, your expected family contributions (EFC), the schools you would like to consider, and the specific financial aid policies of those schools. If you happen to not meet the requirements for financial assistance from your school of choice, your plan will be altered to include alternative funding options such as loan strategies for expected financial shortfalls.
Current trends on how much students are borrowing
projectonstudentdebt.org
The Project on Student Debt is an initiative of the Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit independent research and policy organization dedicated to making college more available and affordable to people of all backgrounds.
collegeboard.com: College Pricing Trends
Provides up-to-date, and shocking, statistics on the rise of college pricing—a resource for students and parents planning for future educational expenses.
collegeboard.com: Student Aid Trends
Current trends on how much students are borrowing, and where they are borrowing from, are explained in detail.
Student Loan Repayment
ehow.com
While it takes only about four years to spend a student loan, it seems to take forever to repay it. Learn about student loan repayments with this quick guide.
Empowerment through Education
www.latinosincollege.com
Make an impact: get involved in this innovative campaign to help increase the number of Latino students who graduate from college
