Order Code RL33451
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Financial Aid for Students: Print and Web Guides
June 2, 2006
Laura L. Monagle
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Financial Aid for Students: Print and Web Guides
Summary
This report includes a list of books and Internet sources that may help students
locate financial aid information. Students themselves are often in the best position
to determine which aid programs they may qualify 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; students studying abroad; or veterans,
military personnel, and their dependents). 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 public libraries provide
access to the Internet for public use. This report will be updated annually.

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Contents
Planning for College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
General Directories and Search Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Disabled Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Women and Minority Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Veterans, Military Personnel, and Dependents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Other Specialized Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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Financial Aid for Students:
Print and Web Guides
The following information includes sources for planning and acquiring funds
to attend college.
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 Board, 2006.
Compares costs and financial aid available at more than 3,100 four- and two-year
colleges.
Brown, Nathan, and Sheryle A. Proper. The Everything Paying for College Book:
Grants, Loans, Scholarships, and Financial Aid — All You Need to Fund
Higher Education. Adams Media Corporation, 2005.
One-stop resource guide for parents, students, and adults returning to school
regarding paying for college. Includes information on the difference between
loans and grants, conditional cash, options for long-term investing, when and
how to fill out the forms, and qualification guidelines.
Greene, Howard R., and Matthew W. Greene. Paying for College: The Greene’s
Guide to Financing Higher Education. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004.
Offers 10 principles designed to help families of every income level and at every
stage of preparation for college plan a strategy for paying for college.
Hurley, Joseph F. The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529
Plans, 2007. Pittsford, NY: BonaCom Publications, 2006.
Comprehensive guide to 529 plans (Qualified Tuition Programs) and other
college savings strategies. Includes state-by-state comparisons of all 529
programs.

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CRS-2
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, 2006. New York: Princeton Review
Publishing, 2005.
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.
Peterson’s College Planner.
[http://www.petersons.com/]
Internet resource guide for parents and students (including international students)
regarding preparing for, selecting, and paying for undergraduate, graduate, and
online and continuing education.
Schlachter, Gail A. How to Find Out About Financial Aid and Funding, 2003-2005.
El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2003.
Guide identifies, describes, evaluates, and compares all of the currently available
resources that provide financial aid information for individuals (from college and
graduate students to professionals and postdoctorates) and organizations. The
guide identifies standard sources and “best buys.” Standard sources’ publication
histories and name changes are traced. Indexed by types of aid (scholarships,
grants for organizations, internships, etc.), subject area, geographic coverage,
special needs groups, and publisher.
Tanabe, Gen and Kelly Y. Tanabe. Sallie Mae’s How to Pay for College: A
Practical Guide for Families. Los Altos, CA: SuperCollege, LLC, 2005.
Parental guide to financial aid (scholarships, student loans, and work-study
programs). Guide provides tips, strategies, and advice to help all families create
a plan to pay for college.

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CRS-3
General Directories and Search Engines
Cassidy, Daniel J. The Scholarship Book. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 2004.
Guide to 4,000 private sector sources for scholarships, grants, and loans,
including corporations, unions, trust funds, religious and fraternal organizations,
and private philanthropists.

College Board. Scholarship Search.
[http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp]
Database of more than 2,300 funding sources, including scholarships,
internships, grants, and loans.
College Money Handbook, 2006. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2005.
Profiles of the financial aid programs of more than 2,800 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.
FastWeb, Inc. FastWeb Scholarship Search.
[http://fastweb.monster.com/]
Matches students with eligibility requirements for 1.3 million scholarships from
around the country based on profile data entered by the student.
Grants Register 2006. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
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 website 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.
McKee, Cynthia Ruiz, and Phillip C. McKee, Jr. Cash for Graduate School: The
Ultimate Guide to Graduate School Scholarships. New York: Harper Collins,
2004.
More than 2,500 entries for scholarships and grants, along with a step-by-step
guide through the entire application process and sample resumes, letters,
schedules, forms, and charts.
Michigan State University. Grants for Individuals.
[http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3electro.htm]
Sponsored by the Michigan State University Libraries, this site indexes grants by
academic level, population group, and academic subject.

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CRS-4
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). College Answer: The Planning
for College Destination.
[http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp]
Sallie Mae is the nation’s largest provider of education loans, primarily through
the federally guaranteed Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL). This
comprehensive website 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. College Student’s Guide to Merit and Other
No-Need Funding, 2005-2007. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2005.
Profiles of more than 1,200 different merit and no-need based funding
opportunities for currently enrolled, continuing, and returning college students
in any subject area and at any type of postsecondary institution (public or private
junior college, community college, proprietary school, vocational/technical
institute, four-year college, or university). Programs are listed by discipline,
specific subject, sponsoring organization, program title, where student lives,
where school is located, and deadline date. Programs included are those that
award money solely on the basis of: career plans, academic record, creative
activities, writing ability, research skills, religious or ethnic background, military
or organizational activities, athletic success, and even pure luck in random
drawings.
Schlachter, Gail, and R. David Weber. High School Senior’s Guide to Merit and
Other No-Need Funding 2005-2007. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service
Press, 2006.
Profiles of more than 1,100 different merit and no-need based funding
opportunities for high school senior’s interested in going to college. Programs
are listed by discipline, specific subject, sponsoring organization, program title,
where student lives, where intended postsecondary school is located, and
deadline date. Programs included are those that award money solely on the basis
of: academic record, creative activities, writing ability, speech-making skills,
religious or ethnic background, parent’s military or organizational activities,
athletic success, high school club membership, and even pure luck in random
drawings.
Schlachter, Gail, and R. David Weber. Kaplan Scholarships, 2006. New York:
Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Covers only portable undergraduate scholarships worth at least $1,000.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. RSP Graduate Funding Set, 2005-2007.
El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2005.
Four-volume set covering graduate funding sources for students in the arts and
humanities, biological and health sciences, physical and earth sciences, or social
and behavioral sciences disciplines. Each volume in the set is available
separately.

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CRS-5
Scholarship Almanac, 2005. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2004.
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, 2006. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s, 2005.
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.
Scholarship Handbook, 2006. New York: College Board, 2005.
List of more than 2,100 scholarships, internships, and loan programs offered to
undergraduates nationwide by foundations, charitable organizations, and state
and federal government agencies.
Scholarship Search. Princeton Review.
[http://www.princetonreview.com/college/finance/]
Database of over 230,000 scholarship programs. Free registration required.
Created in partnership with Find Tuition.com (a fee subscription service).
Tanabe, Gen S., and Kelly Y. Tanabe. Get Free Cash for College: Secrets to
Winning Scholarships. Los Altos, CA: SuperCollege, LLC, 2006.
Both a how-to manual and a comprehensive scholarship directory, indexed by
academic major and state of residence.
Tanabe, Gen and Kelly Y. Tanabe. 1001 Ways to Pay for College: Practical
Strategies to Make College Affordable. Los Altos, CA: SuperCollege, LLC,
2005.
A traditional and alternative how-to manual for parents, high school, college,
adult, and graduate school students find and win scholarships, negotiate with
colleges for more financial aid, maximize assistance from state and federal
governments, take advantage of educational tax breaks, and benefit from
government-subsidized student loans. Includes real-life examples of creative
strategies to find extra money for college, such as starting profitable dorm-room
enterprises, trading tuition costs for volunteer service, and canceling debts with
loan repayment programs.
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.

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CRS-6
Vuturo, Chris. The Scholarship Advisor. New York: Random House, 2003.
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.aspx]
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.
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, 2006-2008. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2005.
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/Creating%20Options%202006.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, 2006-2008. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press,
2006.
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.

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CRS-7
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. Funding for Persons with Visual
Impairments: Large Print Edition, 2006. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference
Service Press, 2006.
List of more than 275 scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants-in-aid, awards, and
internships (with offers of assistance that are $500 or more and with restrictions
greater than state level) set aside just for persons with visual impairments (from
high school seniors through professionals and others). Includes information
arranged by program type, alphabetically by program title, and indexed by
residency requirements. This directory is published in 19-point Helvetic Bold
print.
Women and Minority Students
Getting Money for College: Scholarships for African-American Students. Princeton,
NJ: Peterson’s, 2003.
Guide to more than 17,000 scholarship awards geared specifically toward
African-American students.
Getting Money for College: Scholarships for Asian-American Students. Princeton,
NJ: Peterson’s, 2003.
Guide to more than 17,000 scholarship awards geared specifically toward Asian-
American 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, 2005-2007. El
Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2005.
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, 2006-2008.
El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 2006.
Four-volume set covering scholarships, grants, fellowships, awards, loans, and
prizes open specifically to African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans.
Each volume in the set can be purchased separately.
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.

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CRS-8
Veterans, Military Personnel, and Dependents
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. GI Bill
[http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/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.
Military.Com
[http://education.military.com/money-for-school/state-veteran-benefits]
On-line general summary guide to state educational benefits for veterans and
their dependents.
Need a Lift? To Educational Opportunities, Careers, Loans, Scholarships, and
Employment. Indianapolis: American Legion, 2006.
Focuses on federal, state, and private aid for veterans and their dependents.
Schlachter, Gail Ann, and R. David Weber. Financial Aid for Veterans, Military
Personnel, and Their Dependents 2006-2008. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference
Service Press, 2006.
List of scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, grants-in-aid, awards, and
internships designed primarily or exclusively for veterans, military personnel,
and their dependents. Includes information on federal, state, and private sources
of financial aid. Indexed by program title, sponsoring organization, geographic
coverage, subject field, and application deadline.
Other Specialized Aid
AFL-CIO. Union Plus Scholarship Database.
[http://66.109.241.150/unionplus/scholarship.html]
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.
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.
Sports Scholarships and College Athletic Programs. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s,
2004.
Details on athletic programs at more than 1,300 four-year colleges and
universities. Covers all NCAA-sanctioned sports for both male and female
athletes.

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CRS-9
Tanabe, Gen S., and Kelly Y. Tanabe. 501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for
College. Los Altos, CA: SuperCollege, LLC, 2004.
Scholarships geared specifically to adult students, along with information on
employer assistance programs, retraining programs, academic credit for life
experiences, tax benefits, military education benefits, and loan forgiveness
programs.
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.
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