From budgeting templates to scholarship databases, these free resources help you
plan, pay, and
thrive throughout your college journey.
Below is a starter pack of trusted links and simple templates. None of them
require
an account or payment—they’re just the essentials we wish someone had handed us
on
day one.
FAFSA® Application
Portal.
Go straight to studentaid.gov to file;
early submission unlocks the most aid.
Federal Loan
Simulator.
Use the official Loan Simulator
to preview monthly payments under every repayment plan.
College Budget Template
(Google Sheet).
A one‑page worksheet you can copy and tailor to track tuition, rent, and
textbooks—no fancy app needed.
Essential Tips
Before You Borrow
Create a semester budget that includes tuition, fees, housing, meals, books,
and entertainment—then add 10 % for surprises.
Understand the difference between subsidized (interest-free during school)
and unsubsidized loans (interest accrues immediately).
Know your school’s cost of attendance versus the “sticker
price”—scholarships and grants can shrink the gap.
Plan for the six‑month grace period after graduation; interest keeps ticking
on most loans even while payments are paused.
Borrow only what you can repay on your expected first‑year salary; a good
rule is loan total ≤ starting salary.
Bookmark this page and check back each semester—we keep it short on purpose,
adding
only resources that have proven genuinely useful to students and families.
Take Your Budget
Anywhere
Download resources to your phone, sync them to Google Drive, or print hard
copies
for your advisor meeting—the choice is yours. All files work offline, so money
planning never depends on campus Wi‑Fi.
