Order Code RS20832
Updated October 15, 2003
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 Web. Many libraries provide access to the Internet and the Web for
public use. This report will be updated annually.
Planning for College
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. Includes overview of student aid
programs, FAQs, and a glossary of terms.
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, 2003.
Compares costs and financial aid available at more than 3,000 four- and two-year
colleges.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

CRS-2
Hurley, Joseph F. The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans.
Pittsford, NY: BonaCom Publications, 2002.
Comprehensive guide to 529 plans (Qualified Tuition Programs), including state-by-
state comparisons and comparisons to alternative savings plans.
Kristoff, Kathy. Taming the Tuition Tiger: Getting the Money to Graduate. Princeton,
NJ: Bloomberg Press, 2003.
Tools and strategies for saving, investing, and managing taxes to cover all levels of
education costs, including 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, UGMAs
(Uniform Gifts to Minors Accounts), IDAs (Individual Development Accounts) for low-
income families, student loans, and public and private scholarships.
LaVeist, Thomas, and Will LaVeist. 8 Steps to Help Black Families Pay for College.
New York: Random House, 2003.
Step-by-step guide to finding the right school and understanding and applying for
financial aid.
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 (FFEL), 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,
2003.
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.
General Directories and Search Engines
Chronicle Financial Aid Guide. Moravia, NY: Chronicle Guidance Publications Inc.,
2002.
Scholarships and loans for high school students, college undergraduates, graduates,
and adult learners, indexed by majors and interests. Includes state and regional financial
aid.
College Blue Book: Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans. New York:
Macmillan Reference USA, 2002.
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.
College Money Handbook. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2003.
Profiles of the financial aid programs of more than 2,100 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.

---

CRS-3
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.
Grants Register 2004. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Comprehensive survey of non-refundable awards for postgraduate, professional, and
advanced vocational training throughout the world. Awards are indexed by subject and
subdivided into 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.
Kaplan, Ben. How to Go to College for Almost Free: The Secrets of Winning Scholarship
Money. New York: Harper Collins, 2002.
Step-by-step guide for identifying, applying for, and winning scholarship awards.
Michigan State University. Grants for Individuals.
[http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3subject.htm]
Sponsored by the Michigan State University Libraries, this site indexes grants by
academic level, population group, and academic subject.
National Scholarship Research Service. The Scholarship Book, 2003. Paramus, NJ:
Prentice Hall, 2002.
Guide to private-sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans for the
undergraduate, indexed by field of study.
Rosen, David, and Caryn Mladen. Free $ for College for Dummies. New York: Wiley,
2003.
How to find scholarships, grants, and other “free money.” Advice on applying for
federal grants, participating in state tuition plans, competing for scholarships from private
organizations, and finding financial aid from unlikely sources.
Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association).
[http://www.wiredscholar.com/]
Sallie Mae is the nation’s largest provider of education loans, primarily through the
federally guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL). This
comprehensive Web site covers all stages of preparing for and financing a college
education and includes a database of more than 2.4 million scholarships.
Schlachter, Gail, and R. David Weber. Kaplan Scholarships, 2003. New York: Simon
& Schuster, 2002.
Covers only portable undergraduate scholarships worth at least $1,000.

---

CRS-4
Scholarship Almanac. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2003.
Details on the 500 largest scholarship programs in the United States and Canada and
profiles of state-sponsored scholarship programs.
Scholarship Resource Network Express.
[http://www.srnexpress.com/index.cfm]
Database of over 8,000 scholarship programs for undergraduate and graduate
students. Includes student loan forgiveness programs.
Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2003.
List of more than 1.6 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, academic performance, ethnic heritage,
military service, and employment experience.
Tanabe, Gen S., and Kelly Y. Tanabe. Get Free Cash for College: Secrets to Winning
Scholarships. Los Altos, CA: SuperCollege, LLC, 2003.
Both a how-to manual and a comprehensive scholarship directory, indexed by
academic major and state of residence.
Turlington, Shannon R. How to Find a Scholarship Online. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2001.
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://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp]
General information on the major federal student aid programs, including grants,
loans, work-study assistance, and tax credits. Describes loan deferment, cancellation, and
consolidation, and dealing with loans that are in default. The site includes an electronic
application form.
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.
Vuturo, Chris. The Scholarship Advisor. New York: Random House, 2002.
In addition to listing more than 18,000 scholarships, this source walks the reader
through the application process and includes guidance on writing letters, essays, and
personal statements and on interviewing.
International
Council on International Educational Exchange.
[http://www.ciee.org/study/scholarships.cfm]
Information on scholarships offered directly by the council and links to financial aid
offered through other sources, including the International Student Loan Program, Rotary
International, and the National Security Education Program.

---

CRS-5
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 foreign 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.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. Financial Aid for Study and Training
Abroad, 2001-2003. El Dorado Hill, CA: Reference Service Press, 2001.
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/PDFs/Finaid2004.pdf]
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.
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 Fund.
[http://www.hsf.net/]
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to U.S. citizens or legal
permanent residents of Hispanic heritage.
Schlachter, Gail Ann. Directory of Financial Aids for Women, 2003-2005. El Dorado
Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2003.
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.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. RSP Minority Funding Set, 2003-2005. El
Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2003.
Four-volume set covering scholarships, grants, fellowships, awards, loans, and prizes
open specifically to African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans.

---

CRS-6
United Negro College Fund.
[http://www.uncf.org/scholarship/index.asp]
Covers scholarships awarded by the UNCF and includes an additional scholarship
database searchable by major, classification, achievement, and state.
Other Specialized Aid
AFL-CIO. Help with College Costs.
[http://aflcio.org/familyfunresources/collegecosts/]
Describes scholarships available from national and international unions, state labor
federations, central labor councils, and local unions.
Association of American Medical Colleges. Financing Your Medical Education.
[http://www.aamc.org/students/financing/start.htm]
Scholarships and government and private loans for pre-med and medical students
and for residents.
Clark, Andy, and Amy Clark. Athletic Scholarships. New York: Facts on File, 2000.
Explains the process often used in awarding athletic scholarships. Comprehensive
directory of four- and two-year colleges, listed by state and indexed by sport.
Law School Admission Council. Financial Aid for Law School.
[http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=lsac/financial-aid-introduction.asp]
Covers federal and private loans, scholarships and grants from individual law
schools and private sources, and loan repayment options.
Need A Lift? To Educational Opportunities, Careers, Loans, Scholarships, and
Employment. Indianapolis: American Legion, 2003.
Focuses on federal, state, and private aid for veterans and their dependents.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/benefits.htm]
Education benefits available to honorably discharged veterans, members of reserve
elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and members
of the Army and the Air National Guard. Also covers 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.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management. e-Scholar.
[http://www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp]
Provides information on educational opportunities offered by federal departments
and agencies, including scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, and cooperative
education programs.

---