A recent Sallie Mae Fund study reported that students from lower-income families (those with incomes of less than $50,000 a year) knew less about financial aid than students from more affluent families.

This lack of information could well undermine a student's ability to attend college. In fact, the study estimates that approximately 170,000 lower-income high school graduates each year are qualified to attend college but lack the financial resources and don't know about available funding.

Tip: If you are looking for financial aid to attend college, be sure to check out Reference Service Press's line of award-winning financial aid directories, particularly the High School Senior's Guide to Merit and Other No-Need Funding.