Best Websites for Financial Aid Information
Sources to Explain Funding for College
The financial aid process can be both confusing and frustrating especially for families going through the process for the first time. Many websites have been created to assist students and families to understand the entire process.
FinAid.com
FinAid is a one stop for all things related to financial aid. Users can access information including the types of aid available, applications support, checklists, and more. A bonus feature is the Expected Family Contribution Calculator estimator. The calculator allows users to choose either a quick estimator calculator of a full length indicator. The calculator permits students and families to obtain an estimate EFC figure to plan financially for college.
Student Aid on the Web
Created by the United States Department of Education, the Student Aid on the Web site is a library of articles on financial aid. The site breaks down complex financial aid information to understandable context. A key element to the site is that it allows users to locate information based on their role: elementary student, middle school student, high school student, college student, or parent.
Each section, student or parent, is a comprehensive list of questions and answers and helpful government resources on financial aid. For example, under the middle school section, the site provides a free booklet teaching students about how to pay for college. Fun activities, graphics, and checklists fill the book. Another great feature is an analysis on how to read and understand a college financial aid report.
FastWeb.com
Thanks to the expansion of the internet, FastWeb has become the most popular online scholarship search engine. When the site first started, it listed several thousand scholarship opportunities. Today the site boasts over one billion dollars worth of scholarships.
The free service allows students to obtain an account, fill out a survey, and obtain a listing of eligible scholarships. Students can even use the search box on the site to locate a specific scholarship and eligibility for the award.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
For students and families who just want a quick idea of financial aid and the process, the NASFAA site is a great resource. The NASFAA site has a specific section for Students and Families at the bottom of their site. The PDF file on "Cash for Colleges" outlines the essential aspects of student financial aid, including definitions and explanations.
Another informative topic included on the site is scholarship scams. Advice is given on how to spot businesses that scam students out of money for scholarship money. A newer scholarship scam provides a seminar for students and parents and offers guaranteed scholarship money. The only requirement is a fee to attend the session.
The internet provides great information, including student financial aid. The websites outlined in this article are some of the most popular ones on the topic. Several more sites are great resources; however, students and parents need to be cautious about sites that solicit money for providing student financial aid services. Many resources are available for free if people know where to find them online.
Student Financial Aid
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