🎓 Education & Career Planning: Start Here
🧭 Choices After High School
Not sure what comes after high school? Work through the Choices After High School worksheet: compare college, trades, apprenticeships, work and the military, pick your career clusters, and write your plan. Type your answers online and print the finished page for your counselor, or print it blank and fill it in by hand.
📘 Missouri Department of Higher Education
- Main site: – 800-473-6757 | dhewd.mo.gov
- 12 Free Publications – Prepare for College, Career Guide, Note-Taking, more
- Helping Adult Learners – Resources
- Missouri Higher Education Institutions – Public 4yr, 2yr, Specialized/Technical, Independent, Theological
- MO Virtual Campus Tours – Explore colleges & universities visually
- Plan & Pay for College – dhewd.mo.gov/ppc
- Workforce Development – Apprenticeships, Job Seekers, Training
📚 ACT & SAT Preparation / Success Tools
- ACT Alternatives to College - Exploring college alternatives
- ACT How to Find Your Path After High School – Guide
- ACT Resources for High School Success – act.org
- ACT Smart Goals – How to set SMART goals
- ACT Tips on Deciding What to Do After High School – Find your path
- BigFuture Multiple Pathways to Success - Multiple pathways to success
- SAT Plan for Life After High School – BigFuture by College Board
- Test Prep Resources – StL County Library
- Tips for College-Bound Students (SLU) – Early college prep tips
📖 College Readiness & Support for Special Populations
- College Readiness Resources (PTA) – pta.org
- Preparing for Post-Secondary Education – Students with Disabilities | U.S. Department of Education
- Rise First (First-Generation, Low-Income – FGLI) – Resource directory
- U.S. Department of Education – Colleges, universities, & higher education programs
💸 Free College Tuition for Low-Income Students & More
- Colleges Offering Free Tuition Based on Family Income – List
- Educational & Training Voucher Program – Check Eligibility
- For High Achieving Students from Low Income Backgrounds – QuestBridge
- Free Career-Technical Education in Missouri – Certificate Programs
- Free College Tuition for Middle Class Families – CollegeRaptor
- How to Find Financial Aid for College: 6 Strategies for Middle Class Families – CollegeRaptor
- List of Colleges with Free Tuition for Low Income Students – appily.com
- St. Louis University Promise – SLU Tuition Promise details – Full undergraduate tuition covered
- Tuition Assistance Former Foster Students – Site – Currently or were in Foster Care
- University of Missouri Columbia Land Grant – financialaid.missouri.edu – Federal Pell Grant Eligible
- Washington University Financial Aid – How WashU helps – Students whose families make under 75K; program covers tuition, fees, housing, dining, for incoming full-time Missouri & Southern Il. students
- Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition – The College Investor Full List
🎯 What Do You Want to Do After High School?
Use the resources below to explore your options after high school and make informed decisions. Visit and research each site.
Explore & Complete Your Choices After High School
- 1. Public 4-Year College – Missouri Higher Education Institutions
- 2. Public 2-Year College / Community College – St. Louis Community College – Start at
- 3. Apprenticeship – MO Apprenticeships | Resource Directory | Apprenticeship USA
- 4. Specialized Tech College
- 5. Independent College / University
- 6. Theological
- 7. Military – Should I join? | Our Forces | U.S. Department of War
- 8. Employment (Get a Job) – Young Adult Employment Assistance
- Find a Missouri Job Center – Locations
- Also visit St. Louis Community College – All Programs | College Career & Technical Education Programs | Short-Term Career Training You may find a program that will help you develop the skills for a high demand career. You will receive help to navigate & overcome any program obstacles. Call Counseling 314-539-5151 for all campuses
- More tools: – ACT: Find Your Path | Federal Student Aid – Choosing a School | SAT Plan for College | Get Schooled
📚 College Planning & Financial Aid
College Planning
- 8 Time Management Tips for Students – Harvard Summer School
- ACT – Stay Ahead in High School 7 Tips for Building Study Habits & Skills
- Big Future (College Board) – Plan, pay, search colleges
- Choosing a School – Federal Student Aid
- College & Degree Search – Plan for College
- College Credit Options for High School Students – StL Community College
- College Navigator (NCES) – Filter by state, degree, financial aid, institution type
- College Readiness: Career Exploration – StL County Library
- College Ready for Students & Parents – Plan & Pay for College
- College Scorecard – Compare by location, cost, outcomes
- College Students Remote Resource Guide – StL County Library
- Communication – Interpersonal Skills Guide – StL County Library
- Community College Information & Resources – U.S. Dept. of Education
- Find the Right College or Career School – StudentAid.gov
- High School Checklist: – Freshman Through Senior Year
- Higher Education Institutions – Missouri
- How to Be Successful in High School: – Complete Guide
- How to Choose a College – ACT Many Resources
- Journey to College - Pay for College - Pay for College
- Middle & High School Resources – Stl County Library
- Missouri College & Degree Search – Plan for College
- National Center for College Students with Disabilities – NCCSD
- Peterson's College Search Tool – College Search
- Plan for College – Middle School & High School
- Saving for College: Cost of College – St.L County Library
- Search Missouri Colleges & Degrees – Find Programs That Fit You
- Skills You Need – Interpersonal Skills Lists many skills.
- St. Louis Community College – Research Guides
- The Princeton Review – Find Your College
- Tips for Getting a Good Start in High School – childmind.org
College Essay
- 12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay – Harvard Summer School
- How to Write a Great College Essay – Step by Step – The Great Essay
- St. Louis University – Essay Example by an Accepted Student | More Essays SLU
💰 Financial Aid & Tests
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program – Access the Program
- ACT Test – Register / info
- FAFSA – Apply for federal student aid
- Federal Student Aid – Home
- Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities – Financial Aid
- Grants for Economically Disadvantaged Students – U.S. Dept. of Education
- Higher Education Consortium of Metro St. Louis – 314-985-7075 | HECSTL – Low-income, first-generation college students, disabled support
- Information on College Preparation & the Federal Student Aid Programs – Resources
- Journey to College – Your Journey to College Begins Here
- Missouri Financial Aid Portal – Plan & Pay for College – Student Portal
- Missouri Grants & Scholarships – Grants & scholarships (dhewd.mo.gov)
- Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation – Scholarship & loan programs (moslf.org)
- Money for College – U. S. Dept. of Education From Pell Grants to federal work-study opportunities
- SAT Test – College Board SAT
- School Search Find & Select Colleges & Career Schools – School Search
- Student Financial Aid (Federal) – studentaid.gov
- The Go-to Guide for College Financial Aid – Your Guide
- Types of Financial Aid – Understand Your Options
🎓 Scholarships
- Fastweb (Vocational & Trade Schools) – Vocational, Technical & Trade School Scholarships
- Fastweb – Scholarships for College & Trade School
- Financial Aid in Missouri – College Grants & Scholarships
- Harris Stowe State University – 314-340-3366 | hssu.edu – Scholarship Endowment SIM & G21 Information Technology
- Low-Income Student Scholarships – Search – Under AI Overview click Show More
- Missouri Grants & Scholarships – Grants & Scholarships
- Missouri Scholarships – Site – Scroll to bottom of page
- St. Louis Community College Scholarships – Scholarships | Department Contacts
- St. Louis Community College, Foundation Scholarship – 314-644-9117 | Application | Applying for Aid | Enrollment | A+ Schools Program Financial Aid; Student Support & Admissions Offices; Can cover the costs of tuition for up to 18-credit hours per semester.
- St. Louis Community Foundation Scholarships – 314-588-8200 | Scholarships
- St. Louis University Promise – SLU Tuition Promise details – Full undergraduate tuition covered
- St. Louis University Undergraduate Scholarships – 314-997-2350 | Undergraduate | Freshmen | Financial Aid: SLU | Student Success Coaching Financial Aid 314-997-2350; Student Success Coaching 314-977-3484
- StL American Foundation – 314-533-8000 | Scholarships/Grants/Local Minority Students
- The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis – 314-725-7990 | Home
- Tuition Assistance (MO Dept. of Social Services) – Tuition Assistance – Currently or were in Foster Care
- University of Missouri (UMSL), Student Financial Services & St. Louis Scholarships & Grants – 314-516-5526 | Student Financial Services | UMSL | Scholarships and Grants University of Missouri Columbia Land Grant – Federal Pell Grant Eligible
- University of Missouri, Columbia Scholarships – 573-882-7786 | Mizzou Freshman | Student Financial Aid | Learning Center Financial Aid 573-882-7566; Learning Center 573-882-2493
- Urban League St. Louis MO – 314-615-3600 | Scholarships | Locations - ULSTL Headquarters
- Washington University Scholarships – 314-935-6066 | Scholarships | Undergraduate | Financial Aid | Student Support Washington University Financial Aid – How WashU helps (financialaid.washu.edu/how-washu-helps). Students whose families make under 75K Program covers tuition, fees, housing, dining, for incoming full-time Missouri & Southern Il. Students. Financial Aid 314-935-5900; Admission 314-935-6000
- What are the Best Scholarship Websites for Students? – Forbes
🔍 Explore Careers & Your Interests
- Career Ideas for Teens Home – Home - LibGuides at St. Louis County Library Learn about different kinds of careers & library resources available to help you explore your future.
- CareerOneStop – Career clusters | Explore Careers Career Clusters can help you choose your Career Path
- Education & Training Program Search – scorecard.mo.gov/search
- Missouri Career Pathways – Occupations at different education/training levels
- My Next Move – mynextmove.org (careers by keyword, industry, interests)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – bls.gov/ooh (job descriptions, outlook)
- *O\NET OnLine** – onetonline.org (browse occupations by abilities, interests, skills)
- Peterson's College Search Tool – College Discovery Center & Test Prep
📖 Adult Education & High School Equivalency
- 10 Scholarships & Grants for Adults Going Back to School – Forbes
- 13 Scholarships & Grants for Adults Going Back to School – 13 Scholarships/Grants
- Adult Education & Literacy – 314-231-3720 | St. Louis Public Schools | Locations
- Adult Education Missouri – dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/adult-education-literacy
- Excel Adult High School – StL County Library – Online high school diploma
- Fast-Track Work Incentive Grant – Details certificate/degree/industry recognized credential
- GED – St. Louis – 314-231-3720 | Find GED programs in St. Louis area
- High School Equivalency (MOHSE) – 573-751-3504 | dese.mo.gov
- St. Louis Community College Adult Education & Literacy – Free Classes at STLCC | Access Office-Disability Support Services Access Office
- U.S. Department of Education Adult Programs – U.S. Department of Education
🔧 Trade Schools and Apprenticeships
All trade school, apprenticeship and skilled-trade resources, including the St. Louis union training programs and a side-by-side comparison of trade schools and paid apprenticeships, are on one page you can print: Trade Schools and Apprenticeships.
🏫 St. Louis Community College (STLCC)
Main Phone: – 314-539-5005 | stlcc.edu
- Academic Pathways – stlcc.edu/pathways
- All Programs – Browse programs – 15 College Transfer, 80+ Career Programs
- Apply to STLCC – Application
- Career & Transfer Pathways – Catalog
- Career Technical Education Support – Career/Tech programs
- Certificate & Degree Training Programs – Education for life
- Continuing Education – Browse classes
- Online Programs – Distance learning
- Short-Term Career Training – Advanced Manufacturing (Boeing Apprenticeship), Trades, Transportation, Health Care | Adult Education & Literacy: 314-539-5310
Campuses & Education Centers
- Florissant Valley – 314-513-4200 | Info
- Forest Park – 314-644-9100 | Info
- Harrison Education Center – 314-763-6000 | Site (education & training for underserved area)
- Meramec – 314-984-7500 | Info
- South County – 314-984-7200 | Info
- Wildwood – 636-422-2000 | Info
Follow Your Path to Success (Six Schools / Pathways)
- 1. Advanced Manufacturing – Info
- 2. Business / Culinary Arts / Hospitality – Info
- 3. Communications / Design / Creative Arts – Info
- 4. Education / Public Service / Social Sciences – Info
- 5. Health Professions – Info
- 6. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) – Info
- Exploratory – Info – if you're still not sure
More STLCC Resources
- Academic Advising – Career & transfer advising
- Earn Your Associate Degree Before You Transfer – Benefits of attending STLCC
- Missouri Tech Training (npower) – 314-513-4600 | Free tech training for young adults (earn up to 12 college credits toward STLCC Associate's)
- STLCC Tech Academy – Cybersecurity, Network Security Engineer, Software Development, Web Development, IT
- STLCC YouTube Channel – Videos about programs and student life
- Student Advocacy & Support Center – Meals, groceries, crisis response support
💼 Job Search & Workforce Resources
- Approved Training Courses (download) – PDF flyer
- CareerOneStop – Careers, job search, training, reentry
- Catholic Charities Workforce Development – ccstl.org/workforce
- Employment & Training Resources – Mercy PDF
- Employment Connection – 314-333-5627 | employmentstl.org
- Free Education in Technology – 314-254-0107 | Launch Code Education & Job Placement
- Job Center (City) SLATE Missouri – 314-589-8000 | SLATE 1520 Market St, Suite 3050, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Job Center (County) Ferguson – 314-244-8020 | Ferguson 2900 Pershall Rd, Suite 166, St. Louis, MO 63136
- Job Center MET Center – 314-377-0445 | MET Center | Industrial certification programs stl.works
- Job Centers Missouri – Find a location | Request Job Center Services
- Job Corps (ages 18-24) – 800-733-5627 | stlouis.jobcorps.gov
- Justice-Impacted Job Seekers – CareerOneStop reentry resources
- Military Community Services – MO Heroes Connect – Up to $1,500, homeless assistance)
- MOJobs – Missouri's Job Search Resource
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (How to Find a Job) – Guide
- St. Louis City Employment Help – City site
- St. Louis County Workforce – Your Next Step Starts Here
- Ticket to Work (SSI/SSD) – 314-621-6300 | ssa.gov/work
- Urban League Employment Services – ulstl.com
- USA Jobs (Federal Government) – usajobs.gov
- Veteran & Military Transition Center – Civilian careers, school, jobs, benefits
- Vocational Rehabilitation – VR | Offices: Downtown 877-2940, North 475-7999, South 877-1900, West 587-4877
- YouthBuild St. Louis City – 314-657-3519 | City program page
- YouthBuild St. Louis County (North Oaks Plaza) – 314-261-0202 | Info (ages 17-24, GED, apprenticeship, job placement)