With the cost of a four-year college education rising 49 percent since 2001, students and their families depend on information concerning financial aid. This trend has created a proliferation in false and misleading promises about student aid.

According to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission), obtaining a scholarship or grant should not cost you money.

ISAC warns students applying for financial aid to be wary of organizations using government (or professional) sounding names. These scams usually ask you for money or require you to attend seminars to learn more about their programs. Some will tell you you’re guaranteed to win their scholarships or claim an outrageous success rate, such as “everyone wins.”

These claims are often based on the fact that they will provide financial aid in the form of loans. Be extra cautious of programs requesting personal information such as a bank account, credit card or social security number.

Reputable sources for researching information on financial aid include:

• CollegeZone, a free, comprehensive resource for college planning and financing information provides detailed information on estimating financial aid, planning and saving early and applying for scholarships, grants and loans. CollegeZone can be accessed via its Web site at
  collegezone.com , by calling 1 (800) 899-ISAC (4722), or by visiting a CollegeZone Outreach Center located on every community college campus in Illinois.
• Any college financial aid office. Talk to the financial aid administrator at the school you plan to attend. Ask about “institutional aid,” money the school itself awards students. The school’s catalogue or website is also a good source of information about aid available at the school.
• Your local or college library has relevant materials usually listed under “student aid” or “financial aid.” The reference librarian can help you.
• Your High school counselor’s office has large selections of materials, knows what recent graduates have received and can guide you to free on line information.