This page contains a list of the major awards won by Mark Kantrowitz for his work on the FinAid site. The page itself has won numerous awards from web review sites and magazines.

The College Board Western Region Special Award (February 24, 1998)

The Western Regional Assembly of The College Board presented Mark Kantrowitz with a special award "for extraordinary service in helping to educate the public about fraudulent scholarship programs".

1996 NAGPS President's Award (October 25, 1996)

The National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS) conferred a 1996 President's Award on Mark Kantrowitz for his work on the Financial Aid Information Page. The NAGPS President's Awards are given annually to outstanding graduate/professional student leaders.

1996 NASFAA Meritorious Achievement Award (July 16, 1996)

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conferred it's Meritorious Achievement Award on Mark Kantrowitz "in recognition of his outstanding achievement in developing and maintaining FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page on the World Wide Web." This award is presented to individuals who have made an important contribution to the Association or the Profession.

1995-96 Carnegie Mellon Community Service Award (May 9, 1996)

Mark Kantrowitz was chosen to receive the 1995-96 Carnegie Mellon Community Service Award for his work on the Financial Aid Information Page. The CMU Community Service Award is given to recognize meaningful service to the Greater Pittsburgh or campus community by a CMU student.

Jefferson Medal (December 31, 1995)

Mark Kantrowitz was named one of six 1995 Pittsburgh Outstanding Citizens by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and KDKA-TV for his "exceptional volunteer work". He was awarded the Jefferson Medal from the American Institute for Public Service in Washington, D.C. In naming him, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote,

"Mark Kantrowitz, a 28-year-old graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, has devoted hundreds of hours to creating the Financial Aid Information Page on the World Wide Web. This page presents accurate and timely information about student financial aid to people all over the world, for free."

Kentucky Colonel (August 2, 1996)

Mark Kantrowitz was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Paul E. Patton, governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, on August 2, 1996. This honorary appointment recognizes individuals who have demonstrated "strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others". It is the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Above & Beyond Citizen Honors (March 5, 2008)

Mark Kantrowitz was selected by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society as the Pennsylvania State Finalist for the 2008 Above & Beyond Citizen Honors. They wrote:

"Mark Kantrowitz of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, for going above and beyond as a public-interest mathematician committed to the ideal of providing all students with access to a higher education, regardless of ability to pay. This MIT and Carnegie Mellon educated research scientist turned down lucrative offers from Google and others, choosing instead to devote his life to using his mathematical skill to helping students to attend college by enabling them to understand student loans and to find the best possible rates. Kantrowitz founded FinAid.org in 1994, and is also Director of Advanced Projects for FastWeb.com, a complete scholarship search site. Both websites have been used by more than 50 million students to locate scholarships and low-cost loans, and their databases are available to the public at no cost. In 2006 he wrote a book on financial aid, FastWeb College Gold, and used his royalties to buy 30,000 copies, which he distributed for free to college financial aid administrators and guidance counselors nationwide."