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    Five Reasons to Fill Out the FAFSA

    Need money for college? Filling out the FAFSA is the first step toward getting financial aid.

    ArneDuncan
    by ArneDuncan

    Community Brand Publisher

    Filling out a government form is not my idea of a good time. But if that form means the difference between going to college and not going to college, I'd say it's well worth the effort.

    If you will be attending college between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward getting financial aid for college, a career or technical school, or graduate school. Here are five reasons you should fill out the FAFSA:

    1. It’s Free

    Enough said.

    2. College is Expensive

    President Obama and I are working to keep college affordable, but despite rising tuition, some form of higher education is still a sound investment in your future. If you need help paying for a higher education, the FAFSA is the first step.

    3. It’s Easier Than Ever

    We’ve done a lot to simplify the FAFSA over the past few years. If you’ve filled out the FAFSA before, a lot of your information will automatically transfer to this year’s application, and on February 2, you’ll be able to import tax information straight from the IRS. If you get stuck, we’re here to help.

    4. It Takes Less Than 30 Minutes

    Grab your laptop or mobile device, pull up an episode of your favorite sitcom, and on average you’ll be done with your FAFSA before the episode is over.

    5. Don’t Leave Money on the Table

    The FAFSA can open the doors to the $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds that the federal government has available. Also, many states, schools and private scholarships require you to submit the FAFSA before they will consider you for any financial aid. Don’t miss out – fill out the FAFSA. Get started at www.fafsa.gov!

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