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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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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.

Get College Ready Tracker

Our step-by-step guide is here to help you — from senior year, to freshman orientation and beyond.

Paying for college Get started
Getting ready for school Get started
Managing money at school Get started

Next steps: Start your college prep

Planning for college

Mom and teen daughter meeting with school counselor

Parents’ discussion guide: Questions to ask your student’s academic advisor

Help to set your teen up for success by starting an ongoing conversation with their school counselor or academic advisor.

How to decide if you should sign up for extracurricular activities

Before you try out for a sport or sign up for a club, ask yourself these five questions.

Two groups of students outside large school

Five tips to narrowing down your final college choice

Tips on how to make a selection once your acceptance letters have arrived.

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Paying for college

What the CARES Act means for students

As of January 2021, helpful coronavirus-related emergency relief measures for federal student loans covered by the March 2020 CARES Act are extended through September 2021.

Parents: How to help your student with their scholarship search

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

Mom and teen daughter looking at laptop, dad in background reading newspaper

Getting real about college costs

How can you figure out the real price of college?

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Student Impact Scholarship

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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

For general banking questions:
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Welcome to CollegeSTEPS®

Planning and paying for college

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

A good place to start

How to complete your FAFSA application

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

Make your college application short list with these digital tools

Private student loan vs. federal student loan

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

Get College Ready Tracker

Next steps: Start your college prep

Planning for college

Parents’ discussion guide: Questions to ask your student’s academic advisor

How to decide if you should sign up for extracurricular activities

Five tips to narrowing down your final college choice

Paying for college

What the CARES Act means for students

Parents: How to help your student with their scholarship search

Getting real about college costs

Student Impact Scholarship

Get College Ready

Free access to more than 7 million scholarships

Money tips, tailored to you

We are here to help

Call us

Find us

Make an appointment