College education is so expensive in America that student loan is a must. Even if you are a meritorious student and eligible for scholarships and grants, still you’ll need a loan to complete college education. The department of education has come up with an application form that will assist in getting financial aid. That form is known as FAFSA. FAFSA holds the key to federal, and in some cases state and institutional, financial aid. It is a free application provided by the federal government that can qualify you for federal student aid.

Fafsa form is available nowadays on the internet. It can also be obtained from your school administrative office. It is better to fill up fafsa while you are in high school. The financial aid is given on first come first serve basis. The earlier you submit fafsa the better your chances for obtaining aid. This form has personal particulars about the student and his/her family’s EFC (expected family contribution) that enables the department to know how much aid a student will need. The fafsa only asks for the student’s financial status and not about their religion or race. The only criterion is the student should be an American citizen.

Once you fill out the fafsa form submit it to the admission processor that is mentioned in the form. Some schools also have a supplement form besides fafsa. It is better to fill them up so that you do not miss out on institutional aid. Stick to application deadlines and submit your fafsa on time to be eligible for aid.