Put your college planning on track

When it comes to paying for college first look for money you won’t have to pay back (scholarships and grants). Then explore federal student loans. Finally, consider a responsible private student loan to cover the rest.


Scholarships


Financial aid

Education
Student loans

Tools to help you plan and pay

Learn about the
1-2-3 approach

Explore how you can follow a step-by-step method to pay for college.

See the 1-2-3 approach to paying

Build a customized
financial plan for college

Join the families with a plan who saved 46% more than non-planners.

Make a plan for college

Search for
scholarships

Access more than 5 million college scholarships worth up to $24 billion.

Search for scholarships

Stay up to date

Get help picking the right college for you

Use the College Ahead™ mobile app to easily compare schools as you visit.

Learn about the app

Meet our scholarship winners

We just awarded 10 inspiring students with $40,000 for college.

See their stories

You could win $1,000 in our monthly Plan for CollegeSM sweepstakes

Register to use Scholarship Search for a chance to win.

Register for a chance to win

I’m positive that whatever route I choose, I’ll need a college education in order to truly be successful.

Find scholarship opportunities

Blake T.,
Make College Happen Challenge winner

How American families pay for college

is paid by scholarships and grants

is paid by parent income and savings

is paid by student borrowing

is paid by student income and savings

is paid by parent borrowing

Source: How America Pays for College 2016, by Sallie Mae and Ipsos. Top five ways; does not total 100%.

 No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. See official rules at SallieMae.com/SweepstakesRules.

How America Pays for College 2016, by Sallie Mae and Ipsos.