The U.S. Department of Education has developed a unique online tool that seeks to help ensure that students and families have the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and reliable information available on colleges (both 2 and 4 year). The site allows visitors to sort and filter their search results to easily compare schools and decide which college makes the most sense when considering the typical costs, average student loan amount, students’ ability to repay their loans, and their future earnings.
Also of note is that students and their families can obtain financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The form is available online and in Spanish, and allows many students to automatically import their families’ tax information. Additionally, with new changes being made for this year’s application, students and families can now apply for financial aid earlier—starting on October 1, as the college application process gets underway, rather than in January—and they can use their families’ tax information from two years ago to complete it. Find more information on these changes at the U.S. Department of Education website.
College Scorecard Communications Toolkit (PDF)