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Tackle next year’s college financial aid now

In this June 20, 2019, photo a Virginia Commonwealth University student works at a library workstation at the school in Richmond, Va. Students and their families can begin to submit two key applications for financial aid on Oct. 1 to help pay for higher education for the following school year. And filing early has its perks: better access to limited funds and a quicker response from schools on aid packages. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
In this June 20, 2019, photo a Virginia Commonwealth University student works at a library workstation at the school in Richmond, Va. Students and their families can begin to submit two key applications for financial aid on Oct. 1 to help pay for higher education for the following school year. And filing early has its perks: better access to limited funds and a quicker response from schools on aid packages. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) In this June 20, 2019, photo a Virginia Commonwealth University student works at a library workstation at the school in Richmond, Va. Students and their families can begin to submit two key applications for financial aid on Oct. 1 to help pay for higher education for the following school year. And filing early has its perks: better access to limited funds and a quicker response from schools on aid packages. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

By Associated Press 4 min read

The school season may have just begun, but it’s nearly time to start thinking about next year.

That’s because college students and their families can begin to submit two key applications for financial aid on Oct. 1 to help pay for higher education for the following school year. And filing early has its perks: better access to limited funds and a quicker response from schools on aid packages.

THE BASICS

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA as it is known, is arguably one of the most critical documents to get help paying for higher education.

Current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students must fill it out annually if they want to get access to federal loans, grants and work-study programs. Some states use the information to determine state-based aid as well.