Student Resources
This student resources hub helps students, graduates, and alumni quickly find support for scholarships, books, basic needs, and next steps.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Learn How Money Actually Works
Next Gen Personal Finance offers free lessons on budgeting, credit, taxes, and paying for college. Local programs pair it with…
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Registering and Preparing for the ACT
ACT.org handles registration, free practice questions, and fee waivers for students who qualify.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Free SAT Prep That Actually Matches the Current Test
The SAT is digital now. Full-length practice lives in College Board's Bluebook app, and Khan Academy provides free targeted practice.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Paid Work Experience for Young Adults in Wichita
The Workforce Alliance runs a WIOA Youth Program and a Youth Employment Project offering paid work placements, job readiness workshops,…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Practice for an Interview Before You Have One
CareerOneStop's free interview guide and the practice tool on KANSASWORKS let you rehearse before it counts.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Build a Resume and a LinkedIn Profile
Free resume guides and templates from Indeed and CareerOneStop, plus what to actually put on LinkedIn when you have no…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Kansas Career Pathways: Turning a High School Class into a
Kansas organizes career and technical education into 13 clusters and 31 pathways. Some let you earn state-funded college credit while…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
See What Jobs Actually Pay in Kansas
The Kansas Labor Information Center publishes wage data, high-demand occupation lists, and job outlook specific to Kansas regions.
- Graduate Resources, ScholarshipsGraduate Resources, Scholarships
Kansas State Grants You Might Not Know About
Beyond the big scholarships, Kansas runs a Comprehensive Grant, a Career Technical Workforce Grant, and several service scholarships.
- Scholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-SecondaryScholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Free One-on-One FAFSA Help from Kansas Financial Aid Professionals
KASFAA and the Kansas Board of Regents run free virtual FAFSA nights and individual help sessions, in English and Spanish.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
What Kansas Public Universities Require for Admission
Kansas Qualified Admissions sets the coursework and performance standards for admission to the state's public universities. Check them before senior…
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Search and Compare Colleges Before You Apply
BigFuture, CollegeData, and Kansas DegreeStats let you compare schools on cost, programs, admissions odds, and what graduates earn.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
One Application for More Than a Thousand Colleges
Common App lets you fill out your information once and send it to hundreds of member colleges, with fee waivers…
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Get College Application Fees Waived Any Time of Year
Every Kansas college waives application fees for financial hardship year-round, not just during Apply Free Days. Here is the form…
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Apply to Any Kansas College for Free, October 5 to
Kansas Apply Free Days waives application fees at every public college and most private ones, for any Kansas resident regardless…
- Basic Needs SupportBasic Needs Support
Somewhere to Stay Tonight
Start with 211. Dial 211 or search 211kansas.org. Shelter capacity changes nightly, so a call gets you accurate information that…
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
See a Doctor Without Insurance in Wichita
GraceMed, Hunter Health, HealthCore, and Guadalupe Clinic provide medical, dental, vision, and mental health care on a sliding scale.
- Basic Needs SupportBasic Needs Support
What Actually Happens the First Time You Visit a Food
The hardest part is walking in the first time. Knowing what to expect makes that easier.
- Basic Needs Support, Books for College, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Books for College, Graduate Resources
Free Groceries on Your Own Campus
If you are enrolled at a college in the Wichita area, there is very likely a free food pantry on…
- Basic Needs SupportBasic Needs Support
Free and Low-Cost Clothing in Wichita
Klothes Kloset, Goodwill, and The Dream Center provide clothing, including options for job interviews and work.
- Basic Needs SupportBasic Needs Support
Free Hygiene Supplies in Wichita
Shampoo, toilet paper, deodorant, laundry detergent, and diapers are available free through two Wichita-area programs.
- Basic Needs SupportBasic Needs Support
Food Pantries in Wichita and Nearby Towns
A starting list of pantries across Wichita, Andover, Augusta, and Arkansas City. Call ahead, since hours change often.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
How to Apply for SNAP Food Benefits in Kansas
Kansas calls it the Food Assistance Program. Here is who qualifies, what to gather, and where to get free help…
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Find a Food Pantry Near You
Kansas Food Bank supplies hundreds of pantries statewide and publishes a mobile pantry schedule plus free help applying for SNAP.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Search Free and Low-Cost Programs by ZIP Code
findhelp.org lets you search every category of assistance near you, from food and housing to health care and job training.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
One Number for Food, Housing, and Bill Help Anywhere in
Dial 211 or search 211kansas.org. Trained navigators connect Kansans to food, housing, utilities, healthcare, and more, by ZIP code.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Someone to Talk to, Any Hour
988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential by call or text. Local crisis support is also available…
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Get Your Taxes Filed for Free
United Way of the Plains offers free tax preparation each filing season. Filing is worth doing even at low income,…
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Free College Tuition If You Were in Foster Care
Kansas waives tuition and required fees at public colleges and technical schools for eligible current and former foster youth, through…
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Losing Health Coverage at 26? Your Options in Kansas
You get a 60-day window to enroll after aging off a parent's plan. Kansas rules differ from most states, so…
- Graduate ResourcesGraduate Resources
Student Loan Repayment Changed in 2026. Here Is What to
SAVE has ended and two new plans took effect July 1, 2026. If you were in SAVE, you have a…
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate ResourcesBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources
Your First Year After Graduation: What to Handle and When
The first year out has more moving parts than anyone tells you in advance. Here is the short list, in…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Colleges and Technical Schools Near Wichita
A quick map of the public and private options in south central Kansas, and what each one is best suited…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Make Sure Your Community College Credits Transfer
Kansas guarantees that approved Systemwide Transfer courses move between public institutions. Check the portal before you register.
- Workforce and Post-SecondaryWorkforce and Post-Secondary
Certificate, Associate, or Bachelor’s? How to Choose
The useful question is not which credential is best, but which one gets you to the work you want with…
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Finish Your GED in the Wichita Area
NexStep Alliance and Butler Community College Adult Education offer GED preparation at multiple Wichita-area locations.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Free Housing, Meals, and Career Training If You Are 16
Job Corps is a free federal residential program covering housing, meals, career training, and a high school credential for eligible…
- Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryScholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Compare Colleges on Cost, Graduation Rate, and Earnings
College Scorecard and College Navigator are free federal tools showing what schools actually cost and what their graduates actually earn.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
See What a Career Actually Pays
CareerOneStop is the U.S. Department of Labor's free hub for salary data, training program finders, resume tools, and interest assessments.
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Talk to a Free College and Career Navigator
Level Up Kansas gives Kansans 18 and older a personal navigator for figuring out programs, aid, and next steps. No…
- Graduate Resources, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Search Kansas Jobs, Training, and Apprenticeships in One Place
KANSASWORKS is the state's official career site, hosting job listings, training programs, and the route into most apprenticeship openings.
- Basic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Free Resume and Job Search Help in Wichita
Workforce Centers of South Central Kansas offer free in-person resume help, interview practice, workshops, and training funds.
- Graduate Resources, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Get Paid to Train for a Skilled Trade
Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship connects you to paid, on-the-job training that ends in a nationally recognized credential.
- Graduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryGraduate Resources, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Going Back to School as an Adult? Start Here
Most scholarship advice assumes you are 17 with a counselor and a graduation date. Here is what actually applies to…
- ScholarshipsScholarships
Write One Essay You Can Use Ten Times
Scholarship essays feel like ten separate assignments. They are usually one assignment asked ten different ways.
- ScholarshipsScholarships
When to Apply for What: A Scholarship Calendar for Kansas
Scholarship season is a year-long sequence, not a spring activity. Here is the month-by-month calendar for Kansas students.
- ScholarshipsScholarships
Do You Need the CSS Profile Too?
Some private colleges require a second aid form beyond the FAFSA. Fee waivers are available for eligible families.
- ScholarshipsScholarships
Find Scholarships That Never Get Posted Online
Local civic clubs, churches, employers, and alumni groups route awards through high school counselors and rarely publish them anywhere.
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Search National Scholarship Databases
BigFuture, Fastweb, Going Merry, and Bold.org let you search thousands of national awards by profile. Use a dedicated email address.
- Scholarships, Updated OpportunitiesScholarships, Updated Opportunities
Let Your College Match You to Scholarships Automatically
Most Kansas colleges run a matching portal that alerts you when you qualify for a new award. Wichita State uses…
- ScholarshipsScholarships
Scholarships for Students from Specific Kansas Towns
The Central Kansas Community Foundation offers awards tied to particular communities, including Newton, Augusta, Andover, and El Dorado.
- ScholarshipsScholarships
One Application for Dozens of Wichita-Area Scholarships
The Wichita Foundation matches you automatically to every scholarship you qualify for through a single general application. Opens January 1.
- Books for College, ScholarshipsBooks for College, Scholarships
A Full-Ride Option for Kansas Students with Financial Need
The Rudd Foundation Scholarship covers remaining direct costs including books at participating Kansas public universities, renewable for four years.
- ScholarshipsScholarships
Kansas State Scholarship for Top-Performing Seniors
If you completed the Kansas Scholars Curriculum and were designated a Kansas State Scholar, you may qualify for need-based state…
- Books for College, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBooks for College, Scholarships, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Get Tuition, Fees, and Books Covered at a Kansas Technical
The Kansas Promise Scholarship can cover the full cost of eligible certificate and associate degree programs, including books and materials.
- Graduate Resources, ScholarshipsGraduate Resources, Scholarships
Apply for Kansas State Aid (different than FAFSA)
The State of Kansas Student Aid Application is required for most state scholarships and grants, in addition to the FAFSA.…
- Books for College, Scholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBooks for College, Scholarships, Updated Opportunities, Workforce and Post-Secondary
File the FAFSA
The FAFSA at studentaid.gov is the gateway to federal grants, work-study, loans, an dmost state and college aid. It is…
- Basic Needs Support, Books for College, Workforce and Post-SecondaryBasic Needs Support, Books for College, Workforce and Post-Secondary
Get a Free library card
Public libraries give you books, ebooks, research databases, public computers, and interlibrary loan at no cost.
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Rent, Buy, or Borrow: Decide Book by Book
Not every book deserves the same decision. Running each one through a quick filter typically cuts a semester's book cost…
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Borrow your Textbook from the Library
Instructors place required texts on course reserve at the library specifically so students who cannot buy them still have access.…
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Ask your school for a book voucher before classes start
Many colleges let you spend part of your expected financial aid refund at the bookstore before the refund arrives. Most…
- Books for College, ScholarshipsBooks for College, Scholarships
Pay for Textbooks with Financial Aid
Your FAFSA and financial aid package can cover books and supplies, not just tuition. Here is how to actually access…
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Ebooks if you have a reading disability
Bookshare provides free accessible ebooks, including many textbooks, to students with a documented reading or print disability.
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Free Classic Books for Literature and philosophy classes
Project Gutenberg offers more than 70,000 older works for free, which covers most reading lists in literature, philosophy, and history…
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
Open Textbook Library (free Textbooks)
The Open Textbook Library and LibreTexts hold thousands of free, faculty-reviewed college text beyond what OpenStax covers.
- Books for CollegeBooks for College
OpenStax (free Textbooks)
OpenStax publishes free, peer-reviewed college textbooks covering most general education subjects. Check here before you buy anything.
Need something specific?
Don't see what you need? Reach out and ask. Pando can help point you toward the next step, whether you need support now or are still figuring out what to look for. If you want the bigger picture first, you can also explore how Pando supports students through every stage.