College Planning Financial Resources

Funding Your Education
With clear, well-sourced information about every major source of student aid, this article is a great starting point for anyone seeking a quick description of the many methods available to pay for college. Most of the hyperlinks connect to internal pages, but they eventually direct the reader to pools of federally-provided information, which allows for easy research on the wide breadth of student loan topics.

Huffington Post – Easy Steps to Getting the FAFSA Done
A great starting point for the college financial aid process, this brief article provides a basic description of the FAFSA form and helpful tips for completing it quickly and easily. Parsed out instructions simplify the financial aid program, and there are even some handy tips to prevent would-be FAFSA applicants from stepping in potholes during the application process.

http://www.cashcourse.org/
Cash Course offers a unique interactive tool to help students build useful financial management skills. While it offers services to staff, faculty, and people not affiliated with institutions of higher education, the bulk of its resources are directed towards students. Users must register for an account, but their services remain free for everyone.

Practical Money Skills – Start College Loan Search Early
This Practical Money Skills article lays out in plain English the basic financial aid process, and details in brief many of the options available to students and families who foresee applying for aid. While not the most in-depth resource available on financial aid resources, this article is a great starting point – it tells you what all is out there, and points you in the right direction to learn more.

O.M.G. Official Money Guide for Students
A book on personal finance, written specifically for college students.