Many of the education and training guides listed above include information on financial aid. The following sites focus on this type of information.
Before College: Plan and Preparing for School from Sallie Mae
http://www.salliemae.com/before_college/
Sallie Mae has helped thousands achieve their dream of higher education by providing funds for educational loans, primarily federally guaranteed student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). This free site allows students and parents to learn about many ways to pay for college. The section called Wiredscholar helps students and families prepare for entrance exams, evaluate and select the best college and apply for and finance the cost of college. Financial Aid 101 introduces users to key terms and concepts for reviewing various funding options. It also offers a free scholarship database and free Paying for College seminars around the United States.
College Is Possible
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=CIP1
This is a resource guide for parents, students and education professionals made possible by the American Council on Education. This site walks a user through preparing for college, choosing a college and paying for college with good information and links to other resources. There is also a section dedicated to adults who have decided to return to college or are now deciding to attend for the first time.
FinAid, The Financial Aid Information Page
http://www.finaid.org/
Established in 1994, FinAid is possibly the finest single source for information and resources for all types of educational financial aid. It also offers a plan for figuring out debt loads and payback, facts on scams and alerts.
Student Aid on the Web
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
This site is a one-stop center for all of the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs. Available in English and Spanish, this site will guide you through the process of preparing for college, selecting and applying to schools, securing funding from several sources, attending college and repaying loans once you are through. Information is available for high school, undergraduate and graduate students as well as parents and international students. The site links to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for easy access and application processing. A few portions of the site require the user to create a login and password.