College Planning Resources

UAlbany Worksheets & Checklists

Financial Aid Checklist

Financial Aid Handout

Cost Comparison Worksheet

 

Financial Aid Presentations

Watch our February 2, 2023, presentation on Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter.

Explore other admissions events.

 

Financial Aid Literacy Resources

These financial literacy resources will help you make informed decisions as you apply for admission and financial aid. 

College Scorecard is a federal planning tool that allows you to research a college's cost, graduation rates and average loan amount that students borrow. 

College Navigator is an interactive website that allows you to explore and compare features of different colleges, including their tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid and student loan default rates. The College Navigator also features a cost calculator and school comparison tool. 

College Financing Plan — also known as the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet — offers a model financial aid award letter designed to simplify the information prospective students receive about costs and financial aid. The federal template is an easy comparison tool for students deciding where to attend college. 

Paying for College — a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau tool — allows prospective students to enter their actual financial aid award information to compare a maximum of three schools at a time. 

SUNY Smart Track offers several financial literacy tools through its online learning center. Students can learn about budgeting, using credit cards responsibly and avoiding identity theft, as well as the basics of banking, borrowing and working while in college.