Five .Gov Websites to Bookmark for College

When it comes to applying, getting into, and paying for college, there are an awful lot of resources out there. Some of those resources are better than others, and unfortunately a large amount of those “resources” offer very little quality.

One area of the web that has gotten significantly better over the years is government education websites. It makes sense too, given how closely the government is tied to education. The following is a short list of 5 government-run education websites that every college student and parent should bookmark.

1. U.S. Department of Education – The main website for education in the United States offers a wealth of information for both students and parents. Government policies on education are constantly evolving, and keeping up with the latest news can be incredibly helpful. Of particular note is the College Affordability section.
2. Federal Student Aid – This is the main federal student aid website that every student and parent should be familiar with. The site is filled with helpful information on who qualifies for aid, how to apply, how to prepare for college, and much more. The college preparation checklists are quite helpful for students in any high school year. They even offer a checklist for those getting a late start on college planning!
3. FAFSA on the Web – This is the FAFSA application website that’s used to determine what educational aid students may qualify for. Even if you don’t think you’ll be eligible for any aid, it never hurts to see what you might be awarded. For those facing economic hardship with tremendous uncertainty about affording college, being familiar with the FAFSA site is even more important.
4. Grants.Gov – Interested in applying for an educational grant, or curious if a relevant grant exists? This is the site to visit. Education is expensive, and the government offers many different avenues that can be utilized to help pay for college. Check out our article explaining the difference between a scholarship and a grant to learn more about grants.
5. StudentLoans.gov – If you have taken out or cosigned on student loans (or if you’re planning to), then this site should absolutely be in your bookmarks folder. It offers up information on how to apply for loans, guides on repayment, consolidation guidance, loan calculators, and more.

Getting into and affording college can seem like a daunting task, but fortunately the government offers some high quality resources. Combine these sites listed here with the resources YesCollege provides, and you’ve got a recipe for college success!

Low-Income Student Success with April Bell of NCCEP

Learn how low-income students can achieve success with this episode of the YesCollege Podcast. Joining Scott to explore this topic is April Bell, the Director of Constituent Relations for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP).

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What unique challenges college students from low-income backgrounds face.
• How students from low-income backgrounds can overcome some of their unique challenges.
• What key things every student from a low-income background should understand about Financial Aid.
• How anyone can help low-income students make their college dreams a reality.