Where to Find Free Money to Pay for College

Here is MainStreet's list of some of the best scholarship and grant databases online:

Grants

GrantsWeb
From SRA International, this site provides information on government and private funding as well as other resources.

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog
Also known as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), this site provides a searchable directory of federal programs that provide assistance including formula grants and project grants.

GrantSource Service
From UNC Chapel Hill, this site provides a library of grant databases for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Philanthropy News Digest
This publication provides weekly updates on available aid.

Commerce Business Daily
The CBD provides notices of proposed government grants and aid.

DHHS GrantsNet
This site provides information about grant opportunities through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Federally-Funded Research in the U.S.
Information about federally-funded research in the U.S. can be found at this site.

Scholarships

FastWeb Scholarship Search
One of the largest free scholarship search sites, the FastWeb database provides automatic email notification of new scholarships that match the student's profile.

College Board's Fund Finder
This site lists scholarships and other types of financial aid programs from 3,300 national, state, public and private sources.

Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com provides a database of scholarships available to students.

NextStudent
NextStudent offers a free scholarship search as well as student loan products and services.

ScholarshipExperts
This site also provides a free online scholarship search service. The award listings include information about the awards and also allow students to look at a separate list of expired awards.

BrokeScholar
Another online reference that provides award listings available to prospective college students.

CollegeData
This database uses a simple one-page profile with keyword search to provide students with scholarships that they are eligible to apply for.