Louisiana Resources:

Louisiana Board of Regents

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

General Information:

Financial Aid Information for Parents, Students and Counselors
A public archive of information maintained by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). NASFAA is a nonprofit association of postsecondary institutions, individuals, agencies, and students interested in promoting the effective administration of student financial aid in the United States.

Cash For College
A basic introduction to financial aid provided by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Don't Miss Out: The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid
An online version of Robert and Anna Leider's book (20th Edition, 1995), provided by Signet Bank.

FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page
FinAid page provides a free, comprehensive, independent, and objective guide to student financial aid. It was created by Mark Kantrowitz, author of The Prentice Hall Guide to Scholarships and Fellowships for Math and Science Students, and is sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

Calculators:

EFC Estimator
This service from FinAid provides an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and financial need.

Financial Aid Calculators
FinAid provides more than a dozen financial aid calculators, including a college cost projector, a savings plan designer, a student loan advisor, and a loan payment calculator.

The FAFSA:

Completing the FAFSA
Online instructions for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

FAFSA on the Web
An online form that allows you to electronically submit your FAFSA directly to the U.S. Department of Education. Requires a Web browser with domestic (128-bit) encryption.

Common Errors
A document from George Mason University on common errors made when filling out the FAFSA and how to avoid them.

Government Resources:

Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is responsible for formulating policy and directing and coordinating programs for assistance to postsecondary educational institutions and students pursuing a postsecondary education.

Project EASI
Project EASI (Easy Access for Students and Institutions) is a collaborative effort by government, education, student and business leaders to use cutting-edge technology and business processes to dramatically transform the administration of student financial aid and improve customer access to information and funding for education beyond high school.

Title IV School Codes
These codes are used in the FAFSA to specify the schools to which you are applying.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA administers a number of education and training programs for veterans.

Louisiana Colleges and Universities:

Bossier Parish Community College
Centenary College
Delgado Community College
Dillard University
Louisiana College
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Louisiana State University - Alexandria
Louisiana State University - Eunice
Louisiana State University - Shreveport
Louisiana State University - Medical Center
Loyola University New Orleans
McNeese State University
Nicholls State University
Northeast Louisiana University
Northwestern State University
Our Lady of the Lake College
Southeastern Lousisana University
Southern University - Baton Rouge
Southern University - New Orleans
Tulane University
Tulane University Medical Center
University of New Orleans
University of Southwestern Lousisana
Xavier University of Louisiana

Scholarship Databases:

FastWEB: Financial Aid Search Through the WEB
FastWEB is a free, searchable database of more than 275,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans from more than 10,000 sources worth more than $775 million.

Scholarship Resource Network
The Scholarship Resource Network maintains a free, searchable database of scholarships, fellowships, and grants for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral education.

Sallie Mae Online Scholarship Service
The Student Loan Marketing Association's free Online Scholarship Service gives students exclusive Internet access to CASHE® (College Aid Sources for Higher Education), one of the industry's most respected and comprehensive sources of financial aid resources for college.

FinAid Listing of Scholarship and Fellowship Databases

FinAid Listing of Commercial Scholarship Search Services

U.S. Department of Education Publications:

Families' Guide to the 1997 Tax Cuts for Education
This document outlines new tax benefits for parents who are sending or planning to send their children to college. Includes information on the HOPE Scholarship tax credit, Lifetime Learning tax credit, and other benefits and tax cuts available.

Funding Your Education 1997-98
This document provides general information about the U.S. Department of Education's federal student financial aid programs. It is designed for high school students and others considering entering a postsecondary school for the first time.

The Student Guide 1997-98
The Student Guide is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of student financial aid available through the federal Student Financial Assistance Programs. Updated each award year,The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them. The Student Guide 1998-99 is not yet available online, but a printed copy is available by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

Preparing Your Child For College
This 57-page resource booklet for parents provides information on how to prepare your child for college, both academically and financially. You may also order a printed copy by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN.