As Massachusetts’ primary source for information about saving, planning and paying for college, MEFA has developed a close relationship with the school counselors across the Commonwealth. Our services are free and were developed in partnership with our statewide Counselor Advisory Board.

Resources for Students and Families

 MEFA Publications

MEFA’s publications and resources are free for high school families and counselors.

• MEFA's Guide to College Financing 
• MEFA's Admissions Toolkit 
• MEFA's Early College Planning Guide for Parents 
• MEFA's Early College Planning Student Workbook 
• Resources for Spanish Speaking Families Brochure 
   

Counseling Links

These resources may assist you with counseling students throughout the college enrollment process, especially for specific counseling issues that often require a referral or more detailed information.

College planning  

• College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL) allows you to see and compare profiles of colleges and universities across the nation including information about college's tuition and fees and average financial aid awards.  
• YourPlanForTheFuture.org, the Massachusetts college and career Web portal that helps students prepare for life after high school.
• Career planning tools from MassCIS.
• College planning tools from the U.S. government.
• www.CollegeWeekLive.com, a free online college and career fair. Visit hundreds of colleges, chat with admissions reps, watch live video presentations on key admissions topics, and get answers to questions real-time.
• TOEFL exam for non-native English speakers.
• High School Administration for NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Tuition Break at New England public colleges and universities.
• Admissions standards at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.
• MassTransfer provides information on transferring within Massachusetts public higher education.

Financial Aid 

• Understanding Net Price Calculators
• Using the FAFSA IRS Data Retrieval Tool
• Financial Aid Application Verification
• 2011-2012 Paper FAFSA 
• The Counselors and Mentors Handbook, developed by the U.S. Department of Education, provides information regarding federal financial aid programs and eligibility to assist your efforts in counseling students.
• College Goal Sunday offers free assistance to families in completing the FAFSA 
• Massachusetts Educational Opportunities Centers provide free federally-funded assistance with the college admissions and financial aid process.

Grants and Scholarships 

• Learn more about the Federal Teach Grant program  
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) offers higher education resources for immigrant families.
• Frequently Asked Questions with Foster Youth and the FAFSA 
• NCHE (National Center for Homeless Education) offers helpful information for assisting homeless youth with accessing a higher education. 
• DCF Education describes scholarships and grants offered to adolescents through the Department of Social Services.