There are many excellent resources on the Internet that can help you plan and obtain funding for a college education. Here are some that we highly recommend. HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency. We’re a national leader in helping people pay for college by providing need-based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs – like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program – and college access and preparation assistance for students and counselors that enable college to be a reality for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year. Visit the HESC web site The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators NASFAA offers students and parents assistance in academic preparedness, postsecondary options and paying for college. Whether you are applying for financial aid for the first time or are a returning student this web site will assist you in navigating through the academic and financial aid process. Visit the NASFAA web site US Department of Education Federal Student Aid FSA, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, plays a central and essential role in America's postsecondary education community. Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible Americans benefit from federal financial assistance — grants, loans and work-study programs — for education beyond high school. Visit the FSA web site Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA opens the door to the federal student aid process. Every step you take will get you closer to achieving your educational goals. Find out what you can expect from beginning to end. Visit the FAFSA web site