Resource Library
Financing Your Higher Education
U.S. Department of Education Website
Your source for free information from the U.S. Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.
The “SmartStudent” Guide to Financial Aid
Information about paying for college: how to find and access loans and scholarships. Sponsored by an education lender.
Myths about financial aid
Learn more about financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education shares myths and realities about financial assistance and your college education.
College Scorecard
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, discover and compare schools. Search by programs, location, size, costs, financial aid & debt, earnings after graduation, and student body.
Avoid Scholarship Scams: How to avoid scholarship scams.
MEFA
A non-profit self-financing state authority that serves students and families in Massachusetts, and out-of-state students and families pursuing higher education in Massachusetts. This website provides excellent resources about the college search and financial aid processes as well as sources for loans.
NHHEAF
A non-profit organization, the NHHEAF Network is a capable, trusted, and innovative leader in educational loan services that enhance the promotion, advancement, and support of higher education for NH and the region. This website includes excellent resources about college admissions and financial aid, among other resources. The Financial Aid Insider guide is an excellent overview of the financial aid process.
Strategies for presenting yourself well on scholarship applications
The collective wisdom of organizations belonging to The National Scholarship Providers Association.
Understanding and using Net Price Calculators
College websites show a net price calculator to help you estimate what a college might offer you for financial aid. Learn about this tool before you try to use it.
Federal Financial Aid
Do You Need Money for College? Apply for Federal Student Aid
This document is a comprehensive resource about grants, loans and work study from the U.S. Department of Education. Available in both English and Spanish (1-800-4FEDAID).
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Everything you need to know about filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is required by all colleges that give federal grants, scholarships, or loans. The FAFSA can be filed beginning on October 1st for the academic year that begins the following September.
The FSA ID
The FDA ID is a username and password combination that serves as a student’s or parent’s identifier to allow access to personal information in various U.S. Department systems and acts as a digital signature on some online forms. Students and parents, if the student is dependent, need to create a FSA ID before beginning the FAFSA.
U.S. Department of Education Financial Aid
Information from the U.S. Department of Education about receiving their grants, finding financial aid in general, and managing student loans.
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
The National Student Loan Data System provides a comprehensive summary for students of all their existing federal student loans.
Other Scholarships
Scholarship Search Engines:
Study Abroad Scholarships:
Scholarships for Undocumented Students:
New England Regional Scholarships:
Edwards Scholarship Fund (Boston)
Fidelity Scholars Program (Massachusetts)
George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute (Maine)
Red Pine Scholars Program (Massachusetts)
Yawkey Scholars Program (Massachusetts)
Search for your local community foundation—examples include:
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Connecticut Community Foundation
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Funding & Programs Available to Current College Students and Graduate Students:
Adelante U.S. Education Leadership Fund: Scholarships for Hispanic college students.
The Asia SiVon Cottom Scholarship: The Asia SiVon Cottom Scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math to be eligible for this award.
The Evalee Schwarz Charitable Trust for Education: Interest-free loans for undergraduate and graduate studies.
The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: This scholarship for top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees is the largest private scholarship for community college transfer students in the country.
The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers provides coaching and support for the graduate school application process to college juniors and seniors, recent graduates, and working professionals who want to continue their graduate education in the humanities, social sciences and education.
The Leadership Brainery works with academic institutions, prospective and current graduate students, employers, and committed community members to eliminate systemic barriers to master’s and doctoral degrees and workforce leadership opportunities for underrepresented talent — including people of color, first generation students, and individuals from a lower socioeconomic status.
Navigating College Life
Resources shared by National Scholarship Providers Association