LibGuides: Choosing and Paying for College: Start Here

Planning & Paying for College

Planning & Paying for College, Missouri Dept.of Higher Education and Workforce Development
MDHEWD provides services and resources for students and their families, Missouri’s financial aid community, high school counselors, personal finance teachers, and other professionals interested in helping students earn a college degree or certificate.

MDHEWD works to raise awareness about federal and state financial aid programs, scholarships and financial literacy. The tools and resources provided by the MDHE are designed to help students succeed in college and beyond are prepared to make informed decisions regarding educational opportunities and succeed in college and beyond.

College Affordability

MoSCORES
MoSCORES is a publicly available website that combines a searchable program inventory with additional information on program costs, program student demographics, graduate outcomes (earnings and employment), and a program comparison function. Missouri Economic Research and Information Ceneter.
College Affordability & Transparency Center, U.S. Dept. of Education
Find out which colleges have the highest and lowest tuition and net costs. How fast are college costs going up?
College ROI: 8 Tools to Gauge the Return on your Degree
by Kat Tretina (Credible.com)
College Scorecard, U. S. Dept. of Education
Previously this resource, which profiles colleges and universities, offered information on a schools’ graduates’ median earnings and debt; now that content is organized by field of study. Users can also figure out graduation rates for full-time, part-time, first-time, and transfer students—all information to help students make the strongest choices when applying.
Mapping Student Debt
How borrowing for college affects the nation.

Learning Express PrepSTEP

Learning Express PrepSTEP for Colleges
Online test preparation materials for education and other fields.

Learning Express, PrepSTEP for Colleges offers a variety of tools for skill building and career development. It includes the following sections:
Core Math and Science Skills; Core English Skills; College Success Skills; Career Preparation; Basic Computer Skills; Placement Test Preparation; ACT® and SAT® Test Preparation; High School Equivalency Center; and Recursos Para Hispanohablantes
NOTE: To use materials and tools, create an account in Learning Express. The account is free, just select "Register" under New Users. When users log in, they will see another section called My Center, where the tutorials, ebooks, tests, etc. used are stored for later access.
Learning Express User's Guide
Video Guides
System Requirements

PrepSTEP for Colleges, part of Learning Express, is a collection of tools for skill-building, test preparation, career development and more. To get the most out of PrepSTEP™, create an account. This will enable fuller access to the resources including the ability to track your progress through practice tests.

Learning Express User Guide
Learning Express includes practice tests, tutorials, and other materials for core skills, careers, and computer applications.

PTKConnect

PTK Connect
Phi Theta Kappa’s FREE online search tool for transfer scholarships, colleges and career pathways. You do not have to be a member of PTK to use this. Non-members can create a free guest account.

Connect with Colleges: Organize your transfer search by choosing your favorite colleges. Evaluate transfer-friendliness ratings, compare college profiles, and discover scholarship opportunities to inform your decisions.
Connect with Scholarships: Research and compare scholarships to find the perfect scholarship just for you. Find a college willing to invest in you and increase the affordability of your transfer journey.
Connect with Career Pathways: Plan for your career in reverse. Investigate which academic majors align with your career interests while exploring salary averages and job availability in your chosen field.

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Career Development Resources
by STLCC Instruction Librarians Last Updated May 16, 2022 359 views this year

Choosing and Paying for College

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Planning & Paying for College

College Affordability

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