MAIN Your Money College Financial Aid

As college costs skyrocket, even most well-heeled parents are looking for ways to help soften the blow of paying for tuition, books and all of the other expenses involved with getting a degree.

These sites are the top resources available on student financial aid, but be sure to check with the colleges you apply to. Many have special grants, funding and sports scholarships specific to each school.

FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the first step for applying online for U.S. government subsidized loans, grants and work study programs. Most college base their financial aid awards on the results of this form. Includes instructions, worksheets, a student guide, and all-important deadlines. Apply early - even if you are not sure which schools to send the results to.

4-Fed-Aid - The Student Loan Network hosts this collection of how to's and information. One of the best places to get a solid grounding in what is available. They also do a good job of explaining exactly what grants, scholarships and other forms of aid mean, and what has to be repaid and what doesn't. This site should be one of the first stops in any parent or students financial aid quest.

FinAid - Another top spot to collect information on financial aid, this one is still the best for detailed information on loans, grants, military and other types of aid. The tools are excellent. Financial Aid Officers actually recommend this site to students, and Forbes has also picked it as a favorite. The link to one of the best private scholarship databases can turn up funds that are not based on your income. All of the services are free of charge and free of scams...

Sallie Mae - The home site of Sallie Mae - the Student Loan Marketing Association - offering clear and comprehensive facts and information on applying for and managing student loan debt. Sections on tax plans, planning ahead sections for parents, and check out the bottom right hand corner to access the WiredScholar database of scholarships...

Edvisors Network - This group manages a network of financial aid related sites with links to college scholarship and grant information, a searchable information database for international students, and lots more.

Financial Aid Resource Center - Comprehensive listings and information on federal, state, military aid, scholarships, grants and more. You'll find tools and cost calculators, FAQ, a resource directory, and a free newsletter. In addition to the usual online scholarship search, there are specialized databases for scholarships for minorities and women.

Back to College - Returning to college as an adult has special challenges not the least of which is paying for the course work. Here you'll find a site geared to the non-traditional student aid featuring an online forum and tips on finding ways for on-the-job financial aid..

College Athletic Scholarships - A father and son team with clear-eyed advice about playing your way through college - offering a detailed FAQ, articles, tools, links, resources, and contact information for more info on available baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track and field scholarships.

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