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We track new college programs, tuition changes, and scholarship openings — and email you the ones that match your profile. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Complete Toolkit

Everything You Need to Find the Right School

Search, compare, and afford college — all free, all in one place, no account required.

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College Search by ZIP

Find 4-year universities, community colleges, and trade schools within 50 miles. Real cost data, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings from the Department of Education College Scorecard.

Official Federal Data
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Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare any two schools head-to-head on tuition, net price, graduation rate, median earnings, and acceptance rate. Make an informed decision — not an expensive guess.

Compare 2–3 Schools
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FAFSA Walkthrough

Step-by-step guide through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. We flag common mistakes that reduce your award and help you maximize every dollar of aid.

FAFSA 2025-26
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Scholarship Finder

Search 10,000+ scholarships by major, state, GPA, demographic, and merit vs. need. Only active, verified opportunities — no dead links, no expired awards.

10,000+ Awards
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Net Cost Calculator

Estimate your true cost after grants, scholarships, and work-study based on your income and GPA. Know the real number before you commit to anything.

Net Price Tool
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Tuition-Free Programs

Track state free community college programs, Promise scholarships, and last-dollar grants. 30+ states now offer some form of free tuition for qualifying residents.

30+ States
Smart Comparison

Compare Any Two Colleges

Side-by-side data on cost, outcomes, and selectivity — so you can make the right call, not the expensive one.

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Step-by-Step

FAFSA Walkthrough

The FAFSA unlocks federal grants, subsidized loans, and work-study. Most families leave thousands on the table by filing late or making avoidable errors. Our guide flags every one.

1

Create your FSA ID

You and your parent (if dependent) each need a separate FSA ID at StudentAid.gov. Verification takes 1–3 business days — start early.

2

Gather your documents

Prior-prior year tax returns (or use IRS DRT), Social Security numbers, bank statements, investment records, and driver's license numbers.

3

Complete the application

Takes 30–60 minutes. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill income data and avoid the #1 cause of processing delays.

4

Review your SAI

Your Student Aid Index (formerly EFC) determines eligibility. SAI of 0 qualifies for maximum Pell Grant ($7,395 in 2026). Lower is better.

5

Compare award letters

Each school sends an aid offer. Compare net price — not sticker price. Negotiate: schools have flexibility, especially for merit applicants.

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Start Your FAFSA

Our guided walkthrough flags common mistakes and helps you maximize your aid award. Takes about 45 minutes — could save you $15,000+ per year.

Open FAFSA Guide →

Free. No account required. Based on official StudentAid.gov guidance.

Free Money First

Scholarships That Pay Real Money

Active, verified awards — no dead links, no $250 prizes requiring a 1,000-word essay. Updated monthly.

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Up to $7,395/yr
Federal Pell Grant
The foundation of all need-based aid. File FAFSA with SAI of 0 to qualify for the 2026 maximum. Doesn't need to be repaid.
Need-Based
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Up to $15,000/yr
State Grant Programs
Every state runs its own grant programs on top of federal aid. Cal Grant, SEOG, Texas Grant, NY TAP, and 50+ more.
State-Specific
$500–$25,000
Merit Scholarships
GPA, test scores, leadership, or extracurriculars. Most don't require top 1% — 3.0 GPA qualifies for hundreds of awards.
Merit-Based
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100% Tuition
GI Bill Benefits
Post-9/11 GI Bill covers full tuition at public schools + housing allowance + book stipend. Transfer to dependents after 36 months.
Military
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$1,000–$20,000
STEM Scholarships
Engineering, CS, nursing, and pre-med students have hundreds of field-specific awards available through corporations and foundations.
Field-Specific
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$500–$10,000
First-Gen & Diversity
First-generation college students, underrepresented minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities have dedicated award pools.
Demographic
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$2,500–$50,000
Employer Tuition Aid
Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, UPS, and hundreds more offer tuition reimbursement. Work part-time and earn your degree at no net cost.
Employer
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Full Ride
Institutional Aid
Rice, MIT, Amherst, and others meet 100% of demonstrated need for families under $75K income. Apply broadly — sticker price is fiction.
School Aid
Browse All Scholarships →
Why Data Matters

What the Numbers Actually Tell You

The College Scorecard tracks real outcomes from millions of graduates. These numbers matter more than rankings.

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63%
Avg 6-Year Graduation Rate at Public 4-Year Schools
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$45K
Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment (All Schools)
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$14,400
Avg Net Price for In-State Students at Public 4-Year Schools
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30%
Students Who Receive Pell Grants (Free Federal Aid)
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2.4 yrs
Avg Payback Period for Community College vs. Immediate Work
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$1.7T
Total Student Loan Debt — Why Finding Free Aid Matters
Net Price Tool

College Cost Calculator

Estimate your true net cost after financial aid — before you commit to anything.

Estimates based on national averages. File FAFSA to get your actual award — it's almost always more than you expect.

✦ For College-Bound Students

Raise Your Score, Unlock More Aid

A 200-point SAT increase can unlock $5,000–$40,000 in merit scholarships. Official free prep through Khan Academy and College Board.

🎯 Free SAT Prep — Khan Academy →

Free via Khan Academy + College Board official partnership · No signup required

🎖️ Military Education Benefits
Veteran? The GI Bill Covers 100% of Tuition

Post-9/11 GI Bill pays full in-state tuition at public universities, plus a monthly housing allowance and book stipend. We've cross-referenced GI Bill eligibility into our college search — see which schools accept it at face value.

🎖️ GI Bill Guide →
Simple Process

Find Your Right School in 4 Steps

No registration, no spam, no sales calls. Just federal data and smart tools.

1

Enter Your ZIP Code

We pull every accredited college, community college, and trade school within 50 miles using the College Scorecard API.

2

See Real Cost Data

Sticker price, average net price, graduation rate, and median earnings 10 years after graduation — from official federal data.

3

Compare Side by Side

Pick two schools and compare them head-to-head on the metrics that actually predict your return on investment.

4

Apply & Get Aid

File FAFSA with our guide, apply for matching scholarships, and know your net cost before you commit to a single dollar.

🏛️ Dept. of Education Data
🔒 No account required
🎓 6,700+ colleges
⚖️ Side-by-side comparison
🆓 Always free

Find Your College Match

Real cost data, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings — searchable by ZIP code in under 10 seconds.