When seeking to secure funding for higher education, first contact the financial aid office at the college or university you plan to attend. The World Wide Web has many sites addressing financial aid resources, planning and issues. Some websites provide access to free services.
Some organizations offer fee-based services, that is to say they charge for services.
When looking for scholarships and financial aid services, be careful to review the policies of each organization or website and clearly understand there may be potential costs for using their services. Be very careful and check the organization or website out completely before you agree to pay for any services. Unfortunately, some websites and organizations may be more interested in getting money from you than in getting money for you. Foundations often provide financial aid through colleges or universities rather than directly to individual students. The Orange County Department of Education believes that while the websites listed below seem to provide access to accurate information, and every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, no guarantee can be made about the accuracy and timeliness of this information.