Bottom line: "They're not accurate enough that you can compare different colleges, " says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org.

WSJ: The New College-Cost Calculators: Are They Accurate?

Student loans from credit unions can be among the least-expensive options for borrowers, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors.com, which runs college-planning and financial-aid websites.

WSJ: New College Lenders Step Up

Congress also may make cuts in the Pell grant, the most popular federal college grant, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, which tracks financial aid and student-loan debt.

WSJ: D.C. Drama Will Dictate Financial-Aid Arithmetic

Since 2005, the number of graduates defaulting on their federal student loans has jumped 38%, according to Mark Kantrowitz, the publisher of FinAid, which tracks the student loan industry.

FORBES: More Graduates Defaulting on Their Student Loans

Most federal loans now carry interest rates of 6.8% or 7.9%, versus a rate of 2.875% on federal Stafford loans in May 2005, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the financial-aid website FinAid.org.

WSJ: Third of Student-Loan Debt Belongs to Subprime Borrowers

Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Finaid.org, a website that compiles data and provides financial advice for students, said the subsidies sometimes go to students from middle-class families who attend pricey colleges, and not just low-income students.

WSJ: Student Debt Sparks a Fight

Despite the breadth of private scholarships available, the actual number of students who receive these funds is low--only about 1 in 15 college students, or about 6.7%, according to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Finaid.org, an online scholarship resource.

FORBES: Weirdest Scholarships