Order Code RS20832
Updated March 27, 2002
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Financial Aid for Students:
Print and Web Guides
Lisa Mages
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Division
Summary
This list of books and Web addresses is intended to help students locate financial
aid. Students themselves are in the best position to determine which aid programs they
may be qualified for and which best meet their needs. This list includes both general and
comprehensive works, as well as ones targeted toward specific types of aid and
circumstances, e.g., non-need-based scholarships, female and minority students, or
students studying abroad. The works cited should be considered as samples of the types
of guides available through libraries, high school guidance offices, college financial aid
offices, and the World Wide Web (WWW). Many libraries provide access to the Internet
and the World Wide Web for public use.
Process of Applying for Student Aid
Coalition of America’s Colleges and Universities. College Is Possible.
[http://www.collegeispossible.org/]
One-step resource guide for parents, students, and education professionals
regarding preparing for, selecting, and paying for college.
College Board.
[http://www.collegeboard.com/]
Complete guide to the college application process, including finding the right
colleges and financial aid, preparing for the SAT and other tests, and exploring career
options. Includes search function for undergraduate scholarships, loans, internships,
and other financial aid programs from non-college sources.
College Cost and Financial Aid Handbook. New York, College Entrance Examination
Board, 2001. 732 p.
Compares costs and financial aid available at more than 2,700 four- and two-
year colleges.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
Davis, Kristin. Financing College. Washington, Kiplinger Books, 2001. 310 p.
Provides guidance on investment and prepaid tuition plans. Explains the
highlights of the new 2001 tax law, including “529" plans (college savings plans
sponsored by the states), student loan interest deductions, and new tax deductions
for college expenses.
Johnson, Ronald W., and Marc Robinson. Financial Aid for College: Understand and
Plan Your Funding Options. New York, Dorling Kindersley, 2000. 72 p.
Step-by-step guide to the financial aid system, featuring brief, practical
explanations, charts, and flow diagrams.
Leider, Anna, and Robert Leider. Don’t Miss Out: The Ambitious Student’s Guide to
Financial Aid. Alexandria, VA, Octameron Associates, 2001. 156 p.
LB2337.4.D65
Covers the fundamentals of financial aid, common misconceptions, short- and
long-term planning, and special opportunities for various categories of students, e.g.,
athletes, women and minorities, those pursuing health careers, and non traditional
students.
Mapping Your Future.
[http://www.mapping-your-future.org/]
Sponsored by a group of guaranty agencies who participate in the Federal
Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), this site covers selecting a school and
planning a career and includes a step-by-step guide to paying for school.
Paying for College without Going Broke. New York, Princeton Review Publishing, 2001.
312 p.
Features instructions for the most commonly used need analysis forms, long-
term strategies for paying for college, and short-term strategies for receiving more
financial aid.
Rye, David. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Aid for College. Indianapolis, Alpha
Books, 2001. 403 p.
Nuts and bolts information on the different types of financial aid. Tips on
applying for federal aid and explanation of the federal formula used for determining
eligibility. Lists state financial aid programs.
General and Comprehensive Works
Cassidy, Daniel J. The Scholarship Book 2002. Paramus, NJ, Prentice Hall, 2001. 540 p.
Guide to private-sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans for the
undergraduate, indexed by eligibility qualifications and field of study.
College Blue Book: Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans. New York,
Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. 878 p.
L901.C64
Primarily private financial aid programs, organized by broad subject areas.
Awards are indexed by level of education (vocational/occupational through advanced
professional) and by more specific subject areas.

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CRS-3
College Money Handbook. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s, 2001. 889 p.
LB2337.4.C66
Profiles of the financial aid programs of more than 1,600 four-year colleges in
the United States as they relate to undergraduates in general and to freshmen in
particular. Includes indexes for non-need scholarships, athletic grants, ROTC
programs, tuition waivers, and alternative tuition payment plans, along with listings
of state scholarship and grant programs.
Grants Register 2001. New York, St. Martin’s Press, 2000. 1018 p.
LB2338.G7
Comprehensive survey of non-refundable awards for postgraduate, professional,
and advanced vocational training throughout the world. Awards are indexed by
subject and by eligibility by nationality.
Kantrowitz, Mark. FinAid! The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid.
[http://www.finaid.org]
Comprehensive Web site listing federal, state, and private loans, scholarships,
military aid, student profile-based aid, and aid for graduate and professional school.
The site includes financial aid forms and calculators, FAQs about financial aid, and
an e-mail link for personalized help.
Peterson’s Grants for Graduate and Postdoctoral Study. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s, 1998.
566 p.
LB2337.2.P46
Comprehensive list of fellowships, grants, and other programs that provide
financial support to graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and beginning
researchers. Programs are general in nature, i.e., not specific to study at a particular
school.
Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association).
[http://www.salliemae.com/]
The nation’s largest provider of education loans, primarily through the federally
guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Sallie Mae provides
loans for undergraduate, graduate and professional, and continuing education
students, corporate employees in work-related education and training, and K-12
students in private schools.
Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s, 2001. 575 p.
List of more than 1.5 million awards available from private sources, including
foundations, corporations, and religious and civic organizations. Awards are listed
by academic/career area; indexing includes by talent, applicant affiliations, and
national or ethnic background.
Turlington, Shannon R. How to Find a Scholarship Online. New York, McGraw-Hill,
2000. 491 p.
Features more than 3,500 Web addresses for private, federal, and state
scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students, and includes numerous
indexes by major and student characteristics.
U.S. Department of Education. Student Financial Assistance.
[http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/]
General information on the major federal student aid programs, including grants,
loans, work-study assistance, and tax credits. Describes loan deferment, cancellation,

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CRS-4
and consolidation, and dealing with loans that are in default. The site includes an
electronic application form.
Vuturo, Chris. Princeton Review Scholarship Advisor. New York, Random House, 2001.
935 p.
In addition to indexing more than 500,000 scholarships, this source walks the
reader through the application process and includes guidance on writing letters,
essays, and personal statements and on interviewing.
Non-Need-Based Aid
Blum, Laurie. Free Money for Graduate School: A Guide to More Than 1000 Grants and
Scholarships for Graduate Study. New York, Checkmark Books, 2000. 298 p.
Indexed by area of study and by student characteristics, e.g., women, members
of particular ethnic groups, and foreign nationals.
Complete Scholarship Book. Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks, 2000. 546 p.
More than 3000 scholarship and grant resources (both general and school
specific), including many that are non-need-based. Targeted toward students from
middle and upper-middle income backgrounds.
FastWeb, Inc. FastWeb Scholarship Search.
[http://www.fastweb.com/]
Matches students with eligibility requirements for more than 600,000
scholarships from around the country based on profile data entered by the student.
FreSch! Information Services, LLC. FreSch! Free Scholarship Search.
[http://www.freschinfo.com/index.phtml]
Database of more than 2,000 organizations that offer scholarships. Users may
create a personalized scholarship home page to identify awards for which they may
be eligible or browse scholarships one criteria at a time, e.g., state of residency, area
of study, ancestry, and grade level.
Schlachter, Gail, and R. David Weber. Scholarships 2002. New York, Simon & Schuster,
2001. 632 p.
LB2338.S347
Covers only portable undergraduate scholarships worth at least $1,000.
Scholarship Almanac. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s, 2001. 539 p.
Details on the 500 largest scholarship programs in the United States and profiles
of state-sponsored scholarship programs.
U.S. News & World Report Inc. Find a Scholarship.
[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/dollars/dshome.htm]
Scholarship database of 8,000 funding sources that features personalized
searches based on data entered by student.
International
Council on International Educational Exchange.
[http://www.ciee.org/study/scholarships/add.htm]

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CRS-5
Information on scholarships offered directly by the Council as well as on financial
aid offered through other sources, including the International Student Loan Program,
Rotary International, and the National Security Education Program.
Institute for International Education.
[http://www.iie.org]
International exchange and training programs around the world administered by
the Institute for International Education, including the Fulbright Program.
Kantrowitz, Mark. eduPASS! The SmartStudent Guide to Studying in the USA.
[http://www.edupass.org/]
Resources for international students who wish to study in the United States,
including a free scholarship search service and information on financing college,
passports and visas, English as a second language, and the college admission process.
Peterson’s Scholarships for Study in the USA and Canada. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s,
1999. 368 p.
Programs for undergraduate and graduate aid for international students from
corporations, government agencies, labor unions, veterans’ groups, trusts, and other
organizations.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad
2001-2003. El Dorado Hill, CA, Reference Service Press, 2001. 398 p.
Financial aid programs for U.S. citizens for study and training abroad at all
levels: high school, undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and professional.
Disabled Students
HEATH Resource Center. Creating Options: Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities.
[http://www.heath.gwu.edu/Publicationspage.htm]
Comprehensive guide to financial aid in the form of grants, loans, work-study,
and scholarships, published annually.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their
Families, 2002-2004. El Dorado Hills, CA, Reference Service Press, 2002. 495 p.
LB2337.2.F58
List of scholarships, fellowships/grants, loans, grants-in-aid, awards, and
internships designed primarily or exclusively for persons with disabilities and members
of their families. Includes information on state financial aid, loans, and vocational
rehabilitation services.
Women and Minority Students
Hispanic Scholarship Directory. Carlsbad, CA, WPR Publishing, 2000. 259 p.
Sponsored by the National Association of Hispanic Publishers, this book profiles
Hispanic scholarships by state and includes summary tables to aid in choosing which
scholarships to apply for.
Minority and Women’s Complete Scholarship Book. Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks, Inc.,
1998. 176 p.

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CRS-6
Contains more than 1,200 sources of both need- and merit-based scholarships,
fellowships, grants, and low-interest loans for ethnic and racial minorities, women,
and people with disabilities.
Minority On-Line Information Service (MOLIS).
[http://content.sciencewise.com/molis/index.htm?]
Locate minority scholarships by specific course of study or by state, or through
a customized search.
Schlachter, Gail Ann. Directory of Financial Aids for Women, 2001-2003. El Dorado
Hills, CA, Reference Service Press, 2001. 552 p.
LB2338.5342
List of scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards, and internships designed
primarily or exclusively for women. Includes information on state financial aid and
guaranteed loan programs.
Other Specialized Aid
AFL-CIO. Help with College Costs.
[http://aflcio.org/scholarships/index.htm]
Describes scholarships available from national and international unions, state
labor federations, central labor councils, and local unions.
Clark, Andy, and Amy Clark. Athletic Scholarships. New York, Facts on File, Inc., 2000.
338 p.
Explains the process often used in awarding athletic scholarships.
Comprehensive directory of four- and two-year colleges, listed by state and indexed
by sport.

Need A Lift? To Educational Opportunities, Careers, Loans, Scholarships, and
Employment. Indianapolis, The American Legion, 2001. 150 p.
Focuses on federal, state, and private aid for veterans and their dependents.
Re, Joseph M. Earn and Learn: An Introduction to Cooperative Education. Alexandria,
VA, Octameron Associates, 1997. 46 p.
LB1029.C6F43
Covers the federal government’s Student Educational Employment Program as
well as federal internships, fellowships, and summer jobs.
Scholarships and Loans for Adult Students. Princeton, NJ, Peterson’s, 2000. 398 p.
Loans, government aid, and scholarships aimed at students over age 25.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[http://www.gibill.va.gov/education]
Education benefits available to veterans and active or reserved duty members of
the armed forces, including educational assistance for survivors and dependents.
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Student Assistance.
[http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/]
Loan, scholarship, and faculty loan repayment programs for students in the health
professions.

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