A college education is a significant investment in you and your future, and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an essential step to help you pay the cost of college.

Still, it can be intimidating! FAFSA is designed to be easy to fill out — and trust us, when you get the hang of it, it is — but it can’t completely be done in just one day. You have to fill it out every year that you’re in school. And, let’s be honest, there is something a bit nerve-wracking about filling out official forms and sending them to the federal government!

Thankfully, there are resources available to help you fill out the FAFSA. At small colleges like Alma College, in Michigan, there is typically a financial aid officer who can meet with you and your family or supporters, face-to-face, to help you fill out this important form. Bekah Schaub is the director of financial aid at Alma College, and she suggested the following tips to help you fill out your FAFSA.

What is FAFSA?

 Here are the basics! FAFSA is free — it’s right there in the first word — so, be cautious if someone is telling you to pay for this. It determines your financial aid eligibility and is a requirement for federal, state and institutional grants, federal student loans and federal work-study (all of which are GREAT ways to pay for college!). Your federal financial aid can cover costs like tuition, room and board, books and supplies and transportation. It can also be used to pay for other related expenses, like a computer.

Get after it!

This might change as the date draws nearer, but the government is currently saying that you will be able to file the FAFSA for the 2025-26 academic year beginning Dec. 1, 2024. So, why wait? You and your parent or guardian should get a Federal Student Aid (FSA) identification number as soon as you can. (If you’re doing this for the first time, it will take a couple of days to get an FSA ID.) This account gives you access to complete your application and allows you to track the status of the aid for which you’re eligible. Whether you think you’re eligible for federal aid or not, you should definitely apply.

  • Use code 002236 to list Alma College on your FAFSA to be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. Learn more about scholarships at Alma College.

Get ready

When you’re waiting for that FSA ID, you’ll want to get your paperwork together. If you are dependent on parents or guardians, bring them together and have them collect their tax information for 2023, along with yours. (You can also file if you are independent.) If you’re taking out loans for the first time, expect to fill out something called a master promissory note and complete loan entrance counseling before you can proceed. This is your opportunity to become an educated consumer before making a big investment! Completing these steps does not lock you into accepting federal student loans — you can change your mind until any loans are applied to your balance.

There are special exceptions to be made in the case of parents who are separated, divorced, not speaking or not willing to help out on college costs — ask a financial aid counselor about them.

Communicate with Financial Aid!

People like Bekah can help, whether you eventually decide to go to the college they work for or not. The key is to not procrastinate. If you wait until August to fill out the FAFSA, you’re likely to be sitting in line, waiting for help, like everyone else. However, if you seek out help when the FAFSA opens in December, you’ll have lots of support from people who can guide you, and answer your questions.