Summer is almost over and that means students are getting ready to head back to school for the 2010-2011 school year. Last year back to school shopping accounted for $7.2 billion in retail sales. This period was the second highest for sales all year, coming in behind the Christmas holiday season. 19.1 million students are predicted to attend college this fall, and we’re sure that means some of you will be going back to school too! So, to help you get the most bang for your buck during these tough economic times, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 resources online for back to school savings this year. Check out our list below and let us know what your favorite sites are for back to school savings.

1. USA.gov Back To School – The official government page for back to school, this website has tons of information for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. It covers everything from applying for financial aid to school insurance and teacher resources. The site even has a place to provide feedback on how the education system is working.

2. CNET Back to School Desktop / Laptop Review – CNET reviews dozens of PCs for back to school, in every major category you can think of. Laptop reviews include netbooks, budget, mainstream, and high-end, with the Toshiba Portege R705-P25 coming in as the editor’s choice. Similarly, the desktop reviews range from budget to high-end systems.

3. Apple Back to School Program – If you’re an Apple fanboy and you qualify as a college student or faculty member, you can get savings ranging from $50 on a MacBook to $200 on a MacBook Pro. In addition, Apple is throwing in a free iPod Touch 8GB, which has a retail value of $180. This program runs through September 7th, so if Apple is your thing, don’t miss out.

4. The Apple Blog Back to School Buyer’s Guide – Another list of must-have stuff for Apple fanboys (and girls!). This buyer’s guide gives you the 411 on deals for Apple product accessories ranging from iPod/iPhone cases, power adapters, MiFi bases, and more.

5. Tax Free Weekend List by State – Almost two dozen states have a tax free weekend for back to school shoppers. Qualifying items usually include anything that can be considered a back to school supply, from paper to some clothing items. Get all the details and find out the dates for your state’s sales event at this page.