The links on this page will help you in your search for financial aid. Please note that a listing in this directory does not necessarily mean that the Maine Community Foundation endorses that resource. Research all organizations thoroughly and be sure the services are legitimate. You should never pay for scholarship information or to submit an application.

(You can download a printable copy of the information on this page here.)

FAFSA Information

• Step by step guide to filling out the FAFSA
• Fill out your FAFSA online
• Avoid common mistakes when filling out the FAFSA
• See a sample of a Student Aid Report
• Learn now to upload your Student Aid Report by watching this video from FAME

StudentAid.gov

StudentAid.gov is a new centralized site where students, parents, and school personnel can access student aid information. On the site you can learn about the various types of student aid, find the right repayment plan, complete loan counseling, and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.

Scholarship Search Sites

• Fastweb is a free scholarship search website that offers a scholarship matching service and information on other financial aid resources.
• Scholarship America provides more than 100 resources to search for a school, handle financial aid, and find scholarship information.
• Scholarships.com is a free scholarship and college search site.
• MES Foundation offers scholarships to Maine students.

Other Financial Aid Resources

• Sallie Mae provides college loans and offers tools for college planning. Planning for college resources at the site include calculators for the cost of education, scholarship links, application advice and links, as well as information on how to finance an education through a combination of loans, scholarships, and grants from colleges.
• The College Savings Plan Network is an information source for state-operated 529 college savings programs. These programs, directed by nonprofit state organizations, offer tax benefits to families.
• Federal Student Aid is the government site on financing higher education, including information on loan payback and consolidation.
• Fin Aid is a free resource for learning about the different types of parent and student loans available.
• Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) provides free information on planning and paying for college, career preparation, and a Maine-based scholarship search program.
• FSFT Program helps Maine Food Supplement recipients with job training and education to find and keep good paying jobs. There are lots of training opportunities available to you at no cost. If you receive Food Supplement and do not receive TANF assistance, you may be eligible.
• The Gauvin County Scholarship Fund of the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative awards $4,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in Aroostook County that plan to attend the University of Maine at Presque Isle or Thomas College and $2,000 to those who plan to attend the University of Maine at Fort Kent or Northern Maine Community College. If scholars attending Northern Maine Community College choose to transfer to Husson University-Northern Maine for their 3rd and 4th years, they will receive an additional $1,000 for each of those years.
• HOPE Program helps Maine families pursue training and education beyond high school to achieve their career goals.  The Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program helps to cover costs related to school, regardless of the degree or certificate you are aiming for.
• Intelligent helps students understand their eligibility for financial aid from all types of resources.
• NextGenForMe is the Section 529 savings plan administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
• Paying for College, a service offered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, offers a step-by-step guide to help you make informed financial decisions about paying for college.
• Saving for College offers information about 529 plans and how to save for college most effectively, gives answers to commonly asked 529 questions, and provides the latest news from the 529 industry.
• Student Guide to Financial Aid is the official government guide to federal grants, loans, and work-study.

College Information

• KnowHow2Go, offered by the American Council on Education and the Lumina Foundation for Education, provides a four-step guide to help low-income students and those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. KnowHow2Go also includes information on financial aid and links to other informative websites.
• The College Board provides online registration for the SAT and advanced placement (AP) exams. The site offers advice on college planning, college admission, financial aid, and enrollment, as well as tools for college readiness.
• College View is designed to provide information to help you with your college search, financial aid, and the application process.
• Maine College Website Directory
• The U.S. Department of Education offers information to help identify colleges offering the desired program or degree in the desired location, plan financial aid packages, and apply for financial aid.