Funding Sources for Undergraduate Education
The following resources provide information for undergraduate students looking for funding for education and education-related programs in the U.S. Each book is shelved by its call number in the Grants Information Collection (GIC), which is located in Room 262 D/E Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Printed Works
College Blue Book: Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Loans. New York: Macmillan Reference. (GIC: LB/2338/C624)
A comprehensive listing of mostly private sources of financial aid. Arranged in nine broad subject areas: area studies, environmental studies, humanities, life sciences, medical sciences, minorities, physical sciences, social sciences, and technology. A General section lists sponsors with unrestricted subjects of study. Indexed by title, sponsoring organizations, level of education, and subject.
College Cost and Financial Aid Handbook. New York: College Entrance Examination Board. (GIC: LB2342 C6332)
Much advice on preparing for undergraduate college costs. The bulk of the book profiles specific colleges and costs per school for items such as tuition and fees, board, books and supplies. There is also an index of scholarships by type (athletic, ROTC, academic, music/art, etc.) listed by sport and college following the text.
Don't Miss Out: the Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid. By Anna & Robert Leider. Alexandria, VA: Octameron Associates. (GIC: LB/2337.4/L44)
Excellent, detailed, and succinct advice on planning for college costs. Mostly useful to high school students and their parents.
Foundation Grants to Individuals. Edited by Phyllis Edelson New York: Foundation Center. (GIC: HV/97/A3/F57)
Contains over 4,072 private foundations in the U.S. which provide financial assistance to individuals. Includes a large section for education funding, especially from little-known local foundations as well as some of the larger ones. Details are brief. A large proportion are for graduates of specific high schools and/or residents from specific communities. For inclusion in this directory, grant awards must total at least $2,000 per year.
How to Find a Scholarship Online. By Shannon R. Turlington. New York: McGraw-Hill. (GIC: LB 2337.2 T881)
Packed full of information on types of financial aid and sources, with advice on how to apply, write essays and personal statements, how to avoid scholarship scams, and more. Online sites are arranged by field of interest, gender, religious affiliation, and more. Much of the material is for graduates as well.
Loans and Grants from Uncle Sam: Am I Eligible and for How Much? By Anna Leider. Alexandria, VA: Octameron. (GIC: LB 2337.4 L62)
A detailed account of federal student assistance programs.
Making a Difference: Scholarships for a Better World. By Miriam Weinstein. Gabriola Island BC, Canada: New Society Publishers. (LB 2338 W45)
A refreshing compendium of funding arranged in the following sections: scholarships from colleges to their own entering and continuing students who do community service; scholarships for students interested in areas of importance for making a difference - health, environment, peace, etc.; and fellowships for people actively engaged in working for a better world. Also includes awards or project funds, rather than scholarships.
Need a Lift? College Financial Aid Handbook. Robert Caudell. Indianapolis, IN: American Legion. (GIC: LB 2338 N37)
Includes the basics in selecting and paying for college, and applying for federal student financial aid. Profiles American Legion programs and other scholarship opportunities, including federal and state financial aid, programs for veterans, and private loan agencies.
Paying for College Without Going Broke. By Kalman A. Chany. New York: Random House/Princeton Review. (GIC: LB 2337.4 P746)
Outlines both long and short-term strategies for paying for college, how to pick colleges, filling out standardized forms, and special advice on topics such as establishing residency in a state, aid for the older student, special payment options, and more. Not a directory of funding programs.
Peterson's College Money Handbook. Stanford, CT: Peterson's/Thomson Learning. (GIC: LB 23374 C673)
Primarily includes college-specific financial aid profiles of more than 2,100 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. Also provides other information on financing a college education, federal and state financial aid programs, and more.
Peterson's Scholarships, Grants & Prizes. Stanford, CT: Peterson's/Thomson Learning. (GIC: LB 2337.4 P476)
Includes information on more than 3,400 scholarships, grants, and prizes. Arranged in categories of academic/career areas, civic, professional, social, or union affiliation, corporate affiliation, employment experience, impairment, military service, national or ethnic background, religious affiliation, state of residence, and talent. Includes a free CD-ROM in Memorial Library's Media/Microforms Room 443.
Scholarships. By Gail Schlachter and R. David Weber. New York: Simon & Schuster. Series: Kaplan Books. (GIC: LB 2338 S347)
Detailed listing of college student funding which is "portable," or which can be used at any number of schools. Programs must offer at least $1,000 per year in be included, and must be non-repayable A total of 1,242 of the more than 3,000 programs are unrestricted by subject area. All are are aimed at incoming, currently enrolled, or returning college students. Also excludes funding opportunities for international study and very restrictive requirements (small geographic areas or membership groups). Indexed by subject, residency, sponsoring organization, and tenability. Includes an excellent introduction. Programs for foreign students are included. Computerized in RSP Funding databases.
Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans: a Guide to Education- Related Financial Aid Programs for Students and Professionals. Edited by Amanda C. Quick. Detroit and London: Gale Research. (GIC: LB 2338 F4)
Lists more than 5,000 education-related financial aid sources for all levels of study, and from a broad spectrum of organizations and companies. State and federal-sponsored funding programs are included. Descriptions contain brief notes on the sponsoring organizations, the award program, selection criteria, amount of funding, application details, deadlines, and contact. Indexed by field of study, recipient categories, sponsor & scholarship, legal residence, and place of study.
Web Sites
Choose the link, Paying for College to find information especially for undergraduates and their parents as well as for financial aid advisors. Includes the basics in financial planning for college, with other pertinent and helpful advice such as "responsible borrowing."
Financial Aid Information Page
Includes information on every aspect of funding, plus hard-to-find material such as how to apply for loans,advice for international students, searchable databases, advice for aid administrators, newsgroups, addresses of university financial aid offices, publishers of grant resources and software, and more. This book-length resource is maintained by Mark Kantrowitz.
State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board
Covers all aspects of financial aid for Wisconsin residents. A part of the State of Wisconsin Information Server.
U.S. Department of Education: students.gov
The best place to visit for federal student aid program information. Categories include scholarships and grants, student loan programs, work-study, military funding, internships, state financial aid, and more. Suggestion: begin with The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. News Online: Paying for College
Includes useful and current information on financial planning for college, scholarships, federal aid, how to search for college funding, and more. Pertinent articles are also available at this site.