Help that already exists

The free application that unlocks federal grants, loans, and work-study, plus most state and school aid. Filing it is the single most important money step.

A need-based grant for undergraduates that generally does not have to be repaid. Eligibility and the maximum award are set each year.

Part-time jobs, often on campus, for students with financial need. You earn the money as pay rather than taking it as a loan.

A directory of every Title IV school's own net-price calculator, so you can estimate what you'd actually pay before you apply.

Official data on cost, graduation rates, and post-enrollment earnings, searchable by school, program, and field of study.

Paid, employer-sponsored training that combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction and ends in a nationally recognized credential.

Check whether an occupation requires a state license and which agency issues it, so you credential up for the right thing.

Free in-person help near you with career changes, training funds, résumés, and local job leads.

Trusted pay, growth, and entry-requirement data for hundreds of occupations, updated regularly.

A detailed database of what occupations involve, the skills they use, and related careers worth considering.

Earn college credit by passing exams in subjects you already know, which can shorten a degree and lower its cost. Accepted credit varies by school.