Beyond MaybeResources worth your time (all free, all official)
College planning attracts paid imitations of free things. This is the short list of official resources, what each one is for, and when to use it.
studentaid.gov
Federal Student Aid. Create your FSA ID, file the FAFSA, understand grants vs. loans. Never pay anyone to do this.
College Scorecard
The U.S. Department of Education's data on every accredited institution: costs, graduation rates, earnings. The same data behind Beyond Maybe's live search.
O*NET OnLine
The Department of Labor's career database: tasks, skills, education, pay, and outlook for nearly 1,000 occupations.
CSS Profile
The extra aid form some private colleges require on top of the FAFSA. Fee waivers exist for first-generation and aid-eligible students, ask before paying.
Common App
One application accepted by 1,000+ colleges. Free to fill out; application fees vary by school and fee waivers exist.
apprenticeship.gov
The Department of Labor's registered apprenticeship finder, earn while you learn, with real credentials at the end.
How to spot a paid imitation
- The FAFSA is free. Any site charging to “file” it is not the FAFSA.
- Scholarship searches that require payment or extensive personal data before showing results are harvesting, not helping.
- Official federal sites end in .gov.
Inside Beyond Maybe
These guides pair well with the tools: planning by grade, cost comparison, paying for college, and the college match quiz.
Last reviewed September 8, 2026 by the Beyond Maybe team. Spot an error? Email hello@beyondmaybe.org and we’ll correct it.