Think College — buscador de programas inclusivos postsecundarios

Think College is a national resource centre on inclusive postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities, associated with the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston. Its Students & Families section brings together a college-program search tool, frequently asked questions, and guides to help a young person consider what kind of college experience may fit their goals. It is a starting point for comparison, not a scholarship award or admission guarantee.

The search tool helps locate programs by state and features, and review how classes, participation with students without disabilities, supports, and credentials are organised. Families can use it to prepare practical questions before contacting colleges: which courses carry credit, whether internships are available, how transport or residential life works, and which services cost extra. Each program must confirm its current offering and cohort availability directly.

Think College also explains Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) and maintains answers to common FAFSA questions. Its materials clarify, for example, that a student in an approved CTP may be exempt from the high-school diploma requirement, and that the official list of programs approved for federal aid is on StudentAid.gov. This helps distinguish federal approval from a descriptive program listing; the two sources may update at different times.

Federal aid in a CTP is limited to Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work-Study, subject to specific conditions. Think College does not process an individual application or decide the award; the institution and its financial-aid office do. Ask the campus what disability and IDEA eligibility records are required, how FAFSA works for its CTP, and whether state, vocational rehabilitation, or scholarship aid can be coordinated without duplicating costs.

The Student Corner offers material on transition from school, choosing a program, and concerns students and families may have. It can inform a conversation with a school transition coordinator and help prepare for an admissions visit, but it does not replace local special-education, vocational-rehabilitation, or legal advice. Check that the information fits the applicant’s age, support needs, and employment goals.

Before making a financial decision, ask the CTP for an itemised cost sheet covering tuition, fees, housing, meals, transportation, support services, materials, and any deposit. Compare it with the formal aid offer; a label such as “college experience” or “inclusive postsecondary” does not itself prove federal eligibility. If a Think College profile says CTP approval is pending or the program does not participate, budget for no federal aid until the college confirms otherwise in writing.

<a data-profile="ctp-fsa">Federal Student Aid publishes binding rules and final approval</a>; <a data-profile="ctp-thinkcollege">Think College helps families compare programs and organise their search</a>. Use its search tool as a starting point and confirm the directory, costs, and services with each campus before sending sensitive records.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Think College brings together postsecondary programs with search filters and guides to compare inclusion, courses, supports, and access to aid. It also publishes FAFSA questions for CTP students; it does not award or administer Pell, FSEOG, or Work-Study.

How to apply or get help: The search tool and guides are online. Think College provides educational resources; it does not make FAFSA decisions or replace the federal directory of approved CTP programs. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information