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Planning and paying for college

Discover all the ways to plan and pay for your college degree.

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A good place to start

Step 1

Mother and teenage daughter completing forms at a kitchen table

How to complete your FAFSA application

Follow these simple tips to ease the financial aid process for you and your family.

Step 2

A student compares financial aid award letters

How can students compare (and appeal) college financial aid award letters?

Just as no two schools are the same, neither are any two financial aid offers. Learning how to compare — and appeal, if needed — your award letters is key to selecting the school that matches your situation.

Step 3

A woman fills out paperwork while working at a computer

Make your college application short list with these digital tools

There's never been more information available about colleges and universities. These digital tools can help you sort out the details to determine your short list of choices.

Step 4

Student loan application form on desk with stationery

Private student loan vs. federal student loan

Learn the ways in which federal and private student loans vary from each other.

Step 5

A multi-ethnic group of high school age students are sitting together in class and are working on an assignment at their desk.

Earning college credit hours: AP classes, dual enrollment, and more

Learn five common ways to earn college credit before you actually step foot on campus.

Next steps: Start your college prep

Planning for college

A student uses his laptop to work on college applications.

Apply yourself: College application stats to know

Start your college applications with these helpful insights.

Smiling teen making a frame with his fingers

High school checklist: Make the most of your senior year

Soak up your last moments in high school while also preparing for college with these must-do items.

A young woman in the ocean smiles as she rests her arms on a surfboard.

How to make the most of the summer before your college freshman year

Don’t let your education motivation melt away during summer break. Keep up your momentum as you head into your first semester with these tips.

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Paying for college

A young female students searches for scholarships.

Scholarship recipients share their top tips for winning scholarships

Watch this video of advice from real scholarship winners — then go apply!

A parent and student explore scholarship info.

Parents: How to help your student with their scholarship search

Do’s and don’ts for helping your student search for scholarships.

laptop keyboard overlaid with pen and paper scholarship application

Need scholarships? Look no further

There are a wealth of scholarship opportunities at your fingertips. Here are some tips for applying.

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Get College Ready

Discover all the ways we may be able to help you prepare, from figuring out how to pay for college to managing your money once you’re there.

Free access to more than 7 million scholarships

Head to TFS Scholarships to apply.

Money tips, tailored to you

CollegeSTEPS strives to provide helpful, accurate, and up-to-date information. Yet, with the changing conditions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, some CollegeSTEPS imagery, content, and situations portrayed may not reflect advised behaviors during the pandemic. Visit our College & COVID-19 resources for additional guidance.

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