As rebate checks arrive in households across the nation and recession looms in the balance, people continue to struggle with how to get ahead without falling behind. Many are looking to invest in themselves through education, but are challenged to find the financial aid necessary to pursue their dreams. To help current and prospective students find the financial aid they need to go to school, eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics, offers the Debt-Free College Guide. The guide, located at http://debtfree.elearners.com/, is a one-stop resource with more than 300 financing opportunities including online scholarships.

"In terms of finances, we are facing difficult times, but one of the best investments someone can make in economic hard times is an investment in themselves through education," said Terrence Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer for eLearners.com, which connects prospective students with online learning providers. "A college education gives people the competitive edge in a tight job market and helps those with a job to keep moving forward and up the career ladder. The eLearners.com Debt-Free College Guide puts the vast offerings of financial aid in one convenient location."

The Debt-Free College Guide lists hundreds of lesser known financial aid programs designed to make an online college education financially accessible. Visitors can search for financial assistance programs by state, with tailored results customized to their search. It also has information on tax deductions and credits so students can save money on future tax returns.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the Debt-Free College Guide is the list of loan forgiveness programs, which is the most comprehensive list of loan forgiveness and repayment programs on the Internet. Loan forgiveness programs are generally designed to encourage students to pursue educational goals that will lead to employment in specific need-based occupations, such as working for volunteer organizations, federal and state governments, teaching or practicing medicine. In exchange for service in these fields, part or all of student loan debt can be forgiven, be it from a traditional institution or from one of many online colleges.

"Searching for financial aid can be incredibly time consuming and frustrating," continued Thomas. "We recognized this and created the Debt-Free College Guide to make sure everyone realizes a college education can be within reach."

The Debt-Free College Guide is part of eLearners.com's Student Loans and Financial Aid Center. The center also offers a loan buying guide, in collaboration with The Greentree Gazette, where visitors can compare more than 300 student loans by loan vendor, type, up-front fees and interest rates. eLearners.com has also introduced such innovations as the eLearners Advisor, an assessment that through a series of targeted questions ranging from technology access and skills, to personal motivation and learning styles, helps prospective elearners determine if online learning is right for them.