For over 25 years, Nelnet has been helping students and their families pay for college. With a strong emphasis on relationship building and personal customer service, Nelnet knows just about everything that you need to know about finding money to fund your education.

Read on for helpful tips and tools to get you through the planning process.

Dollars and sense: calculating costs
When determining how much a college costs, it's important to remember that expenses go beyond tuition and housing fees. You should also take books, travel expenses, and spending money into account, or you could find yourself in a financial jam throughout your semester.

Start your college financial planning with a thorough assessment of the complete costs associated with each school on your list. This will help you accurately compare expenses down the road when you have financial aid offers from each school.

• Get a head start with Nelnet's helpful planning and budgeting calculator.

Financial aid: Do you qualify?
Covering the cost of higher education can be a challenge. Once you've figured out the price tag on your colleges of choice, it's time to start thinking about financial aid. But how do you know if you qualify?

The process of determining your eligibility starts well before you ever receive an offer of admission. To get the ball rolling, complete the Free Application for Federal and Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 of the year in which you intend to start school. Based on the information you provide, you'll open the door to various forms of need-based aid.

• Learn more about the FAFSA.

FAFSA and PROFILE essentials
When it comes to getting financial aid, consider the FAFSA your best friend. Why? As mentioned above, to qualify for any state or federal aid — including scholarships, work-study programs, grants, or loans — you're required to complete it.

About 600 undergraduate colleges, many of which award large amounts of their own financial aid, also require you to fill out an additional form known as the CSS PROFILE. The CSS PROFILE is designed to provide schools with more information than the federal government provides in the FAFSA. The CSS PROFILE requires you to pay a small application fee, but it also qualifies you for institutional aid.

• Get tips to help you complete the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE aid applications.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Student Aid Report (SAR)
Approximately three weeks after you submit your FAFSA, you will receive a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). This report details your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is how much you'll be expected to contribute to college costs. Your EFC is determined by the information you supply on the FAFSA.

The schools you selected on your FAFSA will also receive a copy of your SAR so that they can customize a financial aid package for you. If you have been accepted for enrollment, the schools will send you an award letter. These award letters will outline the total cost of attendance at each school, your EFC, and a financial aid package.

• Get an early estimate with the EFC Calculator.

Out-of-pocket costs
Once you know your financial aid information, it becomes a lot easier to get a realistic idea of what you'll need to come up with to bridge the gap between the cost of a school and the financial aid offer. There are plenty of resources to help you pay for school, so research all your options, including:

• Scholarships and grants
• Student loans