This guide provides a description of Federal Student Aid programs and the application process. Readers will find information on federal student aid as a source for funding postsecondary education, and know where to go for more detailed information. Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid speaks to high school students, college students, adults, and parents interested in finding out about financial aid from the federal government to help pay for education expenses at an eligible college, technical school, vocational school, or graduate school.

The Dept. of Education developed the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to provide good data to ensure that program funds are awarded appropriately and loans are repaid promptly. This report addresses schools' use of NSLDS. Specifically, it (1) determines the extent to and purposes for which schools are using NSLDS; (2) identifies any problems these schools are having and the benefits they are getting from using the system; (3) determines why some schools are not using NSLDS; and (4) describes the extent to which the Dept. of Education is taking or plans to take steps to ensure that schools are fully using NSLDS.