• FASFA Deadlines: States and colleges use FAFSA info to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans. Be aware of those dates.
  
  
• Types of Student Federal Aid: Learn about the different types of financial aid including grants, work-study, loans, scholarships, and more to help make college affordable.
  
  
• Renew your FAFSA: See step-by-step instructions on how to renew your FAFSA.
  
  
• See a helpful video and tips on how to fill out the FAFSA form.
  
  
• Work Study: Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
  
  
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): If you work for a federal, state, or local agency, or a non-profit organization (such as a 501(c)(3), you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and could get your loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
  
  
• Income-Driven Repayment: An income-driven repayment (IDR) plan bases your monthly student loan payment amount on your income and family size. For some people, payments on an IDR plan can be as low as $0 per month.

General Searching Tips

• Avoiding scams, a few things to be mindful of when searching for scholarships on the internet.
  
  
• Federal tips on hunting for scholarships and basic tips on strategies and routines for searching.

Scholarship Resources

• American Indian College Fund (AICF): This fund provides scholarships and support services to American Indian and Alaska Native college students who are attending tribal colleges and universities!
  
  
• Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education (ATSHE): Provides resources and scholarships for adult and returning students
  
  
• College Greenlight has a goal to make college more accessible for underrepresented folks and boasts over 1.5 million scholarships for historically underserved students by bridging information and opportunity gaps with free resources, events, and scholarships. 
  
  
• College Scholarships provides listings by degree program or career field. No login or registration is required.

• Fastweb is your connection to scholarships, colleges, financial aid, and more.
  
  
• HBCUConnect: Scholarships and grant opportunities for students who attend an HBCU! Create a free membership to get started.
  
  
• HBCULifestyle: See a list of over 100 HBCU scholarships to help you find money for college.
  
  
• International Education & Financial Aid (IEFA): Resource for international scholarships and grant information for students.
  
  
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: This foundation provides scholarships and other support services like mentorship, career guidance, internship and permanent job placement, travel abroad and leadership training.
  
  
• Military Branch Scholarships: Scholarships applicable to each branch of the military that can pay for books and fees and provide stipends. Previous military service is required for eligibility.
  
  
• Scholarships for Returning Adults lists grants and scholarships specifically for returning students.
  
  
• Scholarship for Undocumented Students can file for scholarships who fall under the DACA status or are undocumented.
  
  
• Scholarships.com is one of the largest databases covering a variety of scholarship options.
  
  
• Scholarships for Minority Students: Not only are there tips for applying to scholarships to boost your chances of winning, but also lots of scholarships for minority students.
  
  
• The Gates Scholars Program: This foundation provides scholarships and support services to outstanding minority students who have financial need and demonstrate leadership potential!
  
  
• US Department of Labor offers a free scholarship finder tool.

*Key Tip: Track the organization granting the scholarship, the due date, the dispersal date, the date you submitted your application, and the award amount for reference later and to stay organized. 

• Open Educational Resources (OERs) is a hub to find free, adaptable, openly licensed textbooks and supplemental resources.
  
  
• Free College Textbook Guide provides various websites to find free college textbooks.

VA Once: Online guidance created by a team of schools and VA representatives for submitting VA Forms 22-1999, 22-1999b, and 22-6553c. It is a completely Internet-based application developed by a team of schools and VA representatives.

• How to Make a Budget Create a traditional, personal budget.
  
  
• NerdWallet: Budget Worksheet Interactive online budgeting tool.
  
  
• Additional Resources Advice, tips, and templates.
  
  
• Financial Path to Graduation tool helps identify the best financial options to finish your program with debt you can afford.

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or EBT, is a federal program that provides monthly funds for people to buy the food they need to thrive, and the student eligibility requirements.
  
  
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides states, territories, and tribes grants to help families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency.
  
  
• Childcare Financial Assistance Options provides a summary of different programs that may be available to help with the cost of child care.
  
  
• The National Diaper Bank Network collects, stores, and distributes free diapers to families in need.
  
  
• Free Clinic Directory If you don't have insurance but need medical care, this can help you find free/affordable clinics nearby.
  
  
• The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): assists eligible households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs.
  
  
• Local Legal Aid Organizations: If you need help on various issues like managing custody or visitation arrangements, immigration help, etc. you may be able to get assistance.
  
  
• Military Once Source: Military OneSource is a 24/7 connection to info, answers, and support to help anyone in the military family reach goals, overcome challenges, and thrive. Services include tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more.

• Crisis text line: Are you a person of color and feeling down, stressed, or overwhelmed? Text STEVE to 741741 and a live, trained Crisis Counselor will respond.
  
  
• Domestic Violence Situation: Connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7/365 by calling 800.799.SAFE (7233) or text “START” at 88788.

Check with your financial aid office if you are experiencing a financial emergency and they may be able to adjust your financial aid eligibility or tell you about emergency assistance programs.

• Local Food Pantries provide food for those in need. Find the nearest food pantries, soup kitchens, summer meal sites, government nutrition programs, and grassroots organizations.
  
  
• Find government-assisted food programs: Find other free and low-cost emergency food aid programs through various government assistance programs.
  
  
• Google Food Locator: Use this Google resource to find local food resources.
  
  
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): This program provides state grants for supplemental foods for pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.

211 Call your local assistance to speak to someone now or search by location for online resources like help to pay bills, caregiver resources, food programs, housing, and health expenses.

Emergency Shelter If you might become homeless soon, you can start here to help you find emergency shelter, receive housing assistance, and/or begin looking for other basic needs in your community.

Tip: If you are at risk of homelessness or are experiencing homelessness, reach out to your financial aid office. They may be able to adjust your financial aid eligibility or connect you to emergency assistance programs on campus. 

• Government resources for additional support: Look up the specific financial support and services available if you’ve been in the foster care system.
  
  
• Rapid Response Help: Check to see if you qualify for emergency assistance if you’ve been in the foster care system.