Best College Planning Websites for Students & Parents

💁🏾‍♀️Let’s be real, college planning can get messy fast… there’s too many links, too many opinions, but no clear next steps.

That’s why I put together this clean resource page with tools I actually use and recommend.
Now you can stop Googling in circles, do your research, and start making smart, confident decisions out the gate.

📌 Save this page and return often. Your future self will thank you 😉

🔍 College & Career Exploration

Before choosing a college, you need clarity on who you are, what you’re interested in, and where those interests can take you. Use the following tools to start that research.

College Research Tools
Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS) – Explore careers, salaries, job growth, and education requirements straight from the U.S. Department of Labor

Onet Interest Profiler – A student‑friendly career exploration tool that helps connect interests to real‑world careers

College Research & Comparison

College Navigator (NCES) – Official college data including majors, enrollment, graduation rates, and demographics
College Scorecard – Understand outcomes like graduation rates, earnings, and debt after college

📝 Applications & Testing

Understanding where and how to apply can remove so much stress from the process. Check each college website and see if you need to apply through their site or the app systems below.

Application Platforms

Common Application – Apply to hundreds of colleges with one application
Common Black College Application – A simplified option for applying to multiple HBCU’s
SUNY Application – Apply to New York State colleges
CUNY Application – Apply to New York City colleges

Testing & Test‑Optional Resources

FairTest – See which schools are test‑optional or test‑free
SAT Registration (College Board) – Official SAT sign‑up and prep info
ACT Registration – Official ACT testing site

💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships

College planning isn’t complete without a real strategy for paying for school.

Scholarship Search Tools

On Track Scholarship List – A curated list of scholarships I vetted & recommend

Scholarship America – One of the largest private scholarship providers

Going Merry – Apply to multiple scholarships with one profile

Scholarships360.org – A long‑standing, reliable scholarship database

Bold.org – Scholarships plus career and resume tools

Scholarships for HBCU’s

UNCF – Scholarships and programs for Black students and HBCUs
Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Financial support and leadership programs for HBCU students attending specific HBCU’s

Financial Aid Applications

FAFSA Application– Go here to start your FAFSA application and learn more about financial aid
Get Your FSA ID – Create your FAFSA credentials when it’s your time to apply (senior year)
CSS Profile – Learn more about this special financial aid application and apply if needed
State Financial Aid Finder – Find additional money in your state with this website

🎒 College Transition & Beyond

Getting accepted is just the beginning. The real work starts once you commit.

College Budget Tool – Use this to see what your financial responsibility may look like before your full financial aid package comes
College Comparison Tool – Compare your top 3 colleges to see which has the best deal

👉Check out this blog post to learn how to choose the right college in 4 steps

👉Check out this blog post once you’ve chosen your college and are getting ready to go