Site Map

Calculating College Cost

Folder Checklist: Download these forms and attach them to file folders to help you stay organized and hit your deadlines.
College Cost Projector: Estimate your actual college costs based what college will cost when you're ready to enroll.
Parent Debt Calculator: It's a good idea to avoid borrowing too much, even for college.
Paying for College GANNT Chart: A time-frame planning tool that shows when the most time-consuming financial aid tasks start and end.
Loan Calculator: When you borrow, you need to know your monthly payment to determine whether you can afford the loan.
EFC Calculator: Financial aid is based on the difference between your Cost of Attendance and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Student Budget Calculator: Use this calculator to estimate the total cost of attending a particular college over four years.
Family Budget Analyzer: Compare your family's annual expenses against regional and national norms to help you identify expenses that are above or below average.
Financial Aid Laws and Regulations: The federal laws and regulations concerning eligibility for financial aid change at the will of Congress.

Creating a Financial Plan

Savings Plan Designer: This calculator shows you how much money you must contribute each month to an interest-bearing bank account or investment fund in order to reach your savings goals.
Savings Growth Projector: Specify the details of your current savings plan and this calculator will tell you how much you will accumulate by the time your child enrolls in college.
Parent Debt Calculator: It's a good idea to avoid borrowing too much, even for college.
Loan Calculator: When you borrow, you need to know your monthly payment to determine whether you can afford the loan.
EFC Calculator: Financial aid is based on the difference between your Cost of Attendance and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Tax Benefits and Regulations: A description of tax benefits you'll receive when you pay for college, as well as eligibility requirements. This page expands on information found in Chapter 15 of FastWeb's College Gold.
EFC Worksheets: Download the EFC Worksheets that appear in Chapter 3 of FastWeb's College Gold.
Loan Payment Chart Generator: This calculator generates charts that compare monthly payments, total payments, and total interest paid over the lifetime of a loan.

Finding Scholarships

Unusual Scholarships: This page lists some of the more interesting, esoteric and unusual scholarships available.
Scholarships for Average Students: Scholarships that are more geared towards average students. Although these scholarships don't require a high GPA, they do require excellence in another area, which is usually non-academic.
Prestigious Scholarships: The scholarships and fellowships listed here are among they most prestigious and most lucrative awards. They are also among the most competitive. Go for the Gold!

Applying & Deciding

Award Letter Comparison Tool: This award letter comparison tool makes it easier to compare financial aid packages and college costs.
Tuition Freeze List: Schools offering Tuition Freeze, Level Tuition, and Tuition Cuts.
Federal School Code DB: You will need the Federal School Code for each college or university to which you are applying in order to complete the FAFSA.
Common FAFSA Errors: An expanded list of common errors made on the FAFSA application.
Dept of Education Downloads: The U.S. Department of Education keeps a database of low-income school districts that qualify for the loan forgiveness programs.
State Residency Requirements Info: The 50 states provide different types of programs and have different eligibility requirements for residency.

About the Book

College Gold News and Events: News about FastWeb's College Gold.
College Gold Press and Media: Press ready information about FastWeb's College Gold.
Mark Kantrowitz: Mark Kantrowitz is the Publisher of FinAid.org, the leading source for unbiased and clear financial aid information, the Director of Advanced Projects at FastWeb, the most popular and complete scholarship resource available, and is the President of MK Consulting Inc.
Doug Hardy: Doug Hardy has worked as an editor, writer and editorial manager for more than 25 years at major media companies including Random House, The New York Times Magazine Company, and AT&T New Media. Doug is General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of Monster Careers.com, authoring three books with Monster founder Jeff Taylor.
Updates & Errata: All book updates and error corrections from the first printing of the FastWeb College Gold book.

Scholarship Search

The largest, most accurate, and most frequently updated scholarship database. Create a personal profile today and receive a list of scholarships matching your skills and interests.

Start Your Scholarship Search Today!

Related Tools & Calculators

Savings Plan Designer: This calculator shows you how much money you must contribute each month to an interest-bearing bank account or investment fund in order to reach your savings goals.
College Cost Projector: Use this calculator to estimate how much college will cost when you are ready to enroll.
EFC Calculator: Financial aid is based on the difference between your Cost of Attendance and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Paying for College GANNT Chart: A time-frame planning tool that shows when the most time-consuming financial aid tasks start and end.