Researching/Applying to College
Databases
Library databases are online collections of information, organized for research. Databases contain articles, eBooks, images, maps, primary sources and more. Start your research with these general databases, available from any Denver Public Library or from home with a Denver Public Library Card.
Look for the video icon to see a Denver Public Library screencast.
Learning Express Library Prepare for college admissions tests and learn to write a college admission essay.
Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans Directory of sources of education-related financial aid sponsored and administered by private organizations and companies. Covers a variety of programs in all educational areas.
Tutor.com (3-10pm, 7 days a week) Offers expert writing help, test prep resources from The Princeton Review® for the ACT®/SAT®
Other Resources
ACT Everything you need to know about the test!
CollegeBoard / Big Future Plan for college, take the tests, get into college, and pay for it.
- College Search Search colleges and universities based on a variety of options.
- College Majors Research majors and find colleges that offer them.
College Scorecard Compare schools based on cost, graduation rate, and average salary after attending. Created by the U.S. Department of Education.
SAT Prep with Khan Academy Maximize your score with free SAT practice.
Paying for College
Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Resources
- Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan
The Supreme Court issued a decision blocking this one-time student debt relief plan.
Visit StudentAid.gov/debtrelief to learn more about the actions President Biden announced following the decision and find out how this decision impacts you.
- Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Keep reading to see whether you might qualify.
- *New* Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan The SAVE Plan, like other income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, calculates your monthly payment amount based on your income and family size. The SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsudized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans.
- Borrower Defense Loan Discharge If your school misled you or engaged in other misconduct in violation of certain state laws, you may be eligible for “borrower defense to loan repayment,” sometimes shortened to “borrower defense.” This is the discharge of some or all of your federal student loan debt.
Scholarships & Loans
Care Forward Colorado This state program covers all tuition, fees, and course materials for short-term healthcare programs - nurse assisting, phlebotomy, emergency medical services, and other in-demand professions in the healthcare sector.
Career Advance Colorado This state program covers all tuition, fees, course materials, and other costs for programs in high-demand fields that move Colorado forward: construction, education, early childhood education, firefighting, forestry, law enforcement and nursing.
CollegeBoard / Big Future Plan for college, take the tests, get into college, and pay for it.
The College Opportunity Fund (COF) Created by the Colorado Legislature, COF provides a stipend to eligible undergraduate students. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition when you attend a participating college.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Student Loans U.S. federal agency with tools and resources to help you make decisions about preparing for college, attending school, or repaying your student loans.
Denver Scholarship Foundation Resources, tools, knowledge, and financial resources to empower Denver Public Schools students to enroll in and graduate from college.
Displaced Aurarian Scholarship The Displaced Aurarian Scholarship Program provides former Auraria residents and their descendants scholarships to all programs offered on the Auraria campus. Available at CU Denver, Metro, and CCD.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Apply for aid, check the deadlines, check your status, and find answers to your questions about aid in English and Spanish.
The Go-to Guide for College Financial Aid Information on financial aid for college and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses.
LGBT Student Scholarship Database created by the Human Rights Campaign.
Manage LoansNavigate the student loan repayment process with confidence: make payments, change repayment plans, explore options, and get help.
Native Forward Scholars Fund Scholarships for Native students.
UNCF The nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Read about and download program and scholarship applications.