Deciding how to finance a college education and knowing where to go for help can be difficult. College Financial Resources offers direct links to Web sites designed to simplify the process.

FinAid^® - The SmartStudent™ Guide to Financial Aid, the Student Gateway to the U.S. Government, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill Web Site and the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) Programs provide comprehensive information about:

Saving for college
Applying for federal student aid programs
Finding and applying for scholarships, fellowships and grants
Understanding military scholarships and student aid
Determining eligibility requirements
Repaying student loans
Additional related topics

About The Sources

FinAid - The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid

This award-winning Web site provides comprehensive, high-level information on every aspect of student financial aid. Visitors can find college savings calculators, scholarship search tools, information on college scholarship scams, tips on maximizing your chances of receiving a scholarship or financial aid and more.

Student Gateway to the U.S. Government

The Student Gateway provides links to U.S. government and some non-government Web sites recommended by students, parents, teachers, school administrators and others familiar with planning and paying for college. This useful site helps you find answers to your college-related questions without having to search the entire Web.

Military Scholarships And Student Aid

The armed services offer various education assistance programs for service members, veterans and their dependents. Students interested in a military career and veterans and their dependents can visit the following Web sites to find information about military scholarships and education benefit programs:

FinAid - The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid

Student Gateway to the U.S. Government

For details of the following programs, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill Web Site.

The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty
The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve
Veterans Educational Assistance Program
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

Additional Considerations

Online Calculators: The abundance of information on planning and paying for a college education may seem like too much of a good thing — especially if you do not know how that information applies to your unique situation. You may wonder:

"What can I afford to pay for a college education?”
“How much will it cost when I am ready to enroll?”
“Am I saving enough now to pay for college later?”
“Should I borrow and if so, how much?”

Although a financial planning professional can best assess your college savings needs, online calculators can be a good place to start. Most calculators base their answers on data you submit. To use them, you may need to provide information about your income, savings and budget, and college of choice.

Application Deadlines: Deadlines are important and must be met to obtain financial assistance. Keep track of deadlines and application requirements. Be sure to submit all requested information, allowing sufficient time for completed applications to reach their destination.

For additional information, contact the organizations listed in the For More Information section of Financing College.

Straight From The Source

The USAA Educational Foundation’s objective is to help you become a more informed consumer so that you can make good decisions about financing a college education — and other important issues. That is why the Foundation takes you straight to sources of timely information and practical tools that can help you achieve your goals.

Updated Thursday, October 09, 2008