The Internet is a great resource for finding college money. But you have to know where to look. Here are seven great sites to get you going.

FinAid! The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid

www.finaid.org

Start here. This well-organized, comprehensive site provides free, objective information on just about every aspect of the search for college funds. You'll find the lowdown on loans and scholarships, calculators for figuring your costs and needs, straight answers about financial aid applications, an interactive "Ask the Aid Advisor" feature, and much more.

fastWEB!

www.fastweb.org

This site's searchable database connects you to more than 400,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans. Just create a personal account, and fastWEB searches its database to find scholarships and other aid for which you might be eligible. The service is free, and all of your information is kept confidential unless you choose to allow fastWEB to share it.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Save time and paperwork by filing your FAFSA online. The page also offers tips for completing the form and answers general questions on topics like "What's in a financial aid package?" and "How will federal aid programs help me pay for college?"

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

www.nasfaa.org

While not a source of student aid, this site is a wellspring of information straight from the folks who know financial aid best. Under "Financial Aid Information for Parents, Students and Counselors," you'll find self-quizzes, checklists and help for filling out complicated aid forms. Also check out the Cash for College brochure, which features even more helpful hints.

Peterson's Education Center: Financing Education

www.petersons.com/resources/finance.html

Insightful articles here explain trends in financial aid, debunk scholarship myths, offer tips for parents, and define those confusing financial aid terms.

Tuition: Impossible

www.kaploan.com/tuition

What should you do with gift money from Grandma? Is it cheaper to live on campus or off? This page is actually a game (Tuition: Impossible—can't you just hear the theme music?) in which you make financial decisions and watch how they affect your college funding totals. Not intended to be comprehensive or entirely realistic, this is still a fun place to start thinking through your options.

U.S. Department of Education

www.ed.gov

How might recent legislation affect your financial aid? What are some creative ways to pay back your student loans? Will new tax credits help your family pay for college? These questions and others are answered here in the "Student Financial Assistance" section.

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