Tools To Help Families
A short, trustworthy list — no fluff, no ads — for parents and guardians helping a high schooler or college student find scholarships, understand financial aid, and plan a path that doesn’t end in years of loan payments.
Scholarship Search Engines
Free databases that match students to scholarships based on their profile, interests, and background. Start here, then narrow down to local awards below. Just an FYI…all of these search engines and more are in The Scholarship File. These are just some quick resources for you until you can download The Scholarship File.
Fastweb
One of the largest free scholarship databases; matches students to awards as their profile fills out.
Scholarships.com
Searchable by grade level, state, major, and background — good for casting a wide net early.
Bold.org
Includes smaller, faster-turnaround scholarships that often draw fewer applicants.
Financial Aid & Planning
The core forms and figures every family needs, regardless of income level.
FAFSA (studentaid.gov)
Required for federal grants, work-study, and most state and institutional aid. File it every year, regardless of assumed income.
CSS Profile
A second application some private colleges require for their own institutional aid, in addition to the FAFSA.
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education tool showing real net price and graduate outcomes by school — not just sticker price.
Net Price Calculators
Every college is required to post one on its site. Run it before applying to get a realistic cost estimate for your family.
Free Planning Tools
For keeping deadlines, essays, and scholarship applications organized across a busy junior or senior year.
Naviance or SCOIR
If your high school uses one of these platforms, it can track deadlines and surface scholarships matched to your student.
BigFuture (College Board)
A planning timeline by grade level, paired with its own scholarship search.
College Planning Network
Free one-on-one financial aid guidance for families navigating the process for the first time.
FinAid.org
Plain-English glossary and calculators for decoding award letters and aid terminology.
Local & Community Resources
Often the least competitive and most overlooked source of scholarship money — because far fewer students apply.
Your Community Foundation
Most regions have one; they manage dozens of small, locally-funded scholarships with limited applicant pools.
Local Rotary Clubs & Civic Groups
Rotary, Lions Club, Elks, and similar organizations often fund awards for students in their service area.
Employer & Union Scholarships
Check whether a parent’s employer, union, or professional association offers scholarships for employees’ children.
Your High School Counselor’s List
Counselors often keep a running list of local awards that never appear in national databases. Ask for it directly.
Recommended Reading
“How to Go to College Almost for Free” — Ben Kaplan
A practical, well-known guide to building a scholarship strategy from the ground up.
“Debt-Free U” — Zac Bissonnette
A look at paying for college with more than just scholarships — smart choices on schools, spending, and student loans.
Podcast Recommendation
StepsToThrive.com
Steps to Thrive is a podcast which touches on a variety of topics. It empowers young Christians to live with purpose and lead with courage on high school and college campuses and in all walks of life. This is a podcast I highly recommend for anyone but especially high school and college students.