If you are a Spanish-speaking student, you might be feeling extra overwhelmed about the college application process. For those of you whose first language is not English, applying for college and seeking out financial aid can often be confusing. However, there are lots of resources out there to help you get started!

Don’t let a language barrier prevent you from going to college and building a better future for yourself and your family! Once you are competent in English, you can start exploring profitable careers in business, science, engineering, and health care. If you are looking for help applying to college and finding financial aid, there are many resources available for students just like you.

Many federal and educational institutions offer assistance to students by providing important information in multiple languages, including scholarships and financial aid for Hispanic students. If you are struggling with applications, take a look at some of these resources below that will help you land a spot at a top college!

Federal links:

FAFSA – this is THE website to visit in order to get financial aid from the government. The FAFSA gives you a general overview of the scholarships and grants that are available, and also has an online application that is translated into Spanish.

The Department of Education Funding Beyond High School 2009-2010 – this booklet, which is written completely in Spanish, provides an overview of federal financial aid and student loan repayment plans.

Finaid.com – if you’re still wondering how to tell the difference between a Pell Grant and a Stafford Loan, this Spanish-language website is the place to go to find more information.

Private companies:

Texas Guarantee Student Loan Corporation – this is a student loan provider provides general loan information to students, even if they choose not to borrow money

Educamexus – designed to help immigrants navigate their way through laws on higher education

Univision – run by the Education Channel, this site provides Spanish-speakers with secondary education information

Mapping Your Future – this website was designed in collaboration with many financial aid serves to give general information to Hispanic students

Scholarships and Grants:

Hispanic scholarships – scholarships for students who are of Hispanic descent

FastWeb – provides a list of national scholarships that has information in Spanish

Financial Aid Finder – has a section on scholarships for Hispanic students