High school juniors and seniors, here's your first college assignment: Figure out how to pay for your college education.

The challenge is: Even if you have terrific grades, lots of drive and the full support of your family, you still have to come up with $3,000 to $20,000 a year for tuition, plus books, supplies and other fees. Schools with high academic ratings cost even more, as does living in a dorm or apartment. A disability adds its own expenses, for personal assistants, service dogs, transportation, adapted computers, notetakers, wheelchair and ventilator repairs, and more.

In your favor is the fact that there are literally thousands of sources of financial aid for college students. Organizations from the Rotary Club to the CIA have scholarship funds to award to someone -- maybe you.

LIBRARY RESEARCH

Let's get started. Your high school counselors have information about admission procedures and scholarship application deadlines. But they may only know about the most familiar sources of financial aid. Further research will uncover other sources.

Your next stop is the public library or a college library. You'll find several shelves of reference books listing scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. Each award has its own eligibility criteria, based on academic achievement, financial need, your field of interest or the college you choose.

You may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of sources of money. For example, the Department of Education has at least six different categories of financial aid for college students. Almost any personal characteristic -- religion, geographic area, hobbies, age, ethnic background -- may make you eligible for a related scholarship. Your parents' line of work, military service, college history, professional or labor affiliations, may result in a tuition waiver or scholarship qualification. There are grants for cheerleaders, relatives of clergy and twins.

There are some scholarships offered only to students with physical disabilities. Sources include the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, the Foundation for Exceptional Children's Stanley E. Jackson Scholarship Awards for Students with Disabilities and Ms. Wheelchair America. But the awards based on disability alone are few, and some of them are limited to those with very specific disabilities.

ORGANIZE YOUR EFFORTS

Search all financial aid categories that apply to you. You should first get a sense of what kinds of awards are available. As you continue your research, you can narrow down your list to those that seem the most compatible with your goals.

Remember: Obtaining a scholarship is a competitive process. Many sources that offer very specialized scholarships give only one a year. And the amount may be as little as $500 or even $100.

But a small award might cover the cost of an adapted keyboard or feed and groom your service dog for a year. These small grants generally won't keep you from applying for or receiving others.

An important non-library source of information is your state's vocational rehabilitation agency. Every state has a program administered under the federal Rehabilitation Act, with the goal of helping clients become employed. Most states assist students with disabilities and some pay virtually all in-state college expenses. Eligibility requirements vary among states.

COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT

Once you've chosen a college, check its office of disability support services. This service may provide assistance with needs such as note taking and transportation. Other students can offer tips on low-cost ways to meet needs. Ultimately, you'll coordinate all the elements of support through the financial aid office at the college you choose. The earlier you begin your research, the sooner you can put all the pieces together in a good financial aid package. And you can start your college career with an A-plus assignment to your credit.

RESOURCES

"Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities," HEATH Resource Center, Washington, DC, (800) 544-3284, single copies free. An excellent starting place, this pamphlet explains in detail how scholarships are awarded, what's covered by financial aid, the role of vocational rehabilitation agencies, scholarship sources and other resources.

"Recruitment, Admissions and Students with Disabilities," by Kelly Mazzeo, AACRAO, Annapolis Junction, MD, (301) 490-7651, $7.

"The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education," (800) 433-3243, free.

Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families, 1996-1998, by Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber, Reference Service Press, San Carlos, Calif., (415) 594-0743, $42.50. Lists scholarships and fellowships as well as grants-in-aid for adapting a vehicle or residence.

"Get the Most Out of College, a Step-by-Step Guide," Quest, 1995, no. 1. Ask for a copy at your local MDA office.

The Higher Education Money Book for Minorities & Women, by William C. Young. Young Enterprises International Inc., Washington, DC, (800) 516-9960, $25. Includes programs for students with disabilities, but don't rely on the index to pinpoint them all.

Peterson's Paying Less for College 1996, Peterson's, Princeton, NJ, $26.95. Lists awards based on many "special characteristics."

Talent Search & Educational Opportunity Centers, a federally funded program that may help negotiate financial assistance for students with disabilities. Call (202) 724-4201.

The Federal Trade Commission has a web site, http://www.ftc.gov, with information on determining which scholarship search services are legitimate and which are fraudulent.