The Free Application for Federal Student Aid—or FAFSA—is a form that determines a student’s financial need level, and opens the opportunity for federal scholarships, grants, work study programs, and student loans. Though not strictly mandatory, the FAFSA is still a MUST for students in terms of paying for college.
Whether your goal is to pay for college, avoid crushing student loan debt, or both, the FAFSA should be your very first step. Many students avoid filing the FAFSA because they (often wrongly) believe they won’t qualify for any federal aid. Others simply aren’t aware of the benefits the FAFSA can provide.
If there’s one piece of college financial advice you should listen to, it’s this:
ALWAYS FILE THE FAFSA.
