Tools to Help Pay for College

There are many, many options when it comes to finding resources to help you figure out the best way to pay for college. There are blogs, websites, coaches, and more. Unfortunately, a lot of the advice out there can miss the mark and leave you paying more for college than you need to.

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Here are 5 free resources that we trust to help you find the best way to pay for college.

1. StudentAid.gov 

StudentAid.gov is the main site for students created by the Department of Education. This should be the first stop in the process for families that will be borrowing money to pay for school. This site provides information about loan types, what you may qualify for, and different repayment plans available after graduation. They also provide tools to help
understand the repayment process.

2. FinAid.org

FinAid.org is the premiere source for navigating the complex world of financial aid. FinAid.org covers everything from student loan debt to scholarships and grants. They also provide detailed information on how to lower your EFC and increase your financial aid. Financial Aid Directors also use it as a resource to make their final decisions on how rule on an appeal for additional financial aid.

3. Fastweb

Fastweb focuses on scholarships, internships, and career advice. It’s considered to be one of the best sites on the web for finding college scholarships. They also have a great internship search tool. Internships are another great way to boost your skills (and income) while in school. They also recently launched a service to help students search for private student loan options.

4. Edvisors 

Edvisors focus on financial planning. They cover financial aid advice, student loans, scholarships, and more. They also maintain accurate resources on borrowing money for college and repaying your student loans.

5. Consumer Finance Protection Bureau

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) has put together an excellent resource on paying for college. They have created guides that help you understand your financial aid offer, compare financing offers, and understanding student debt. They also have tools to help students with things like banking.