Students looking for financial help for next year's school year will want to act quickly.
More than 13 million college students file for the "free application for federal student aid," or FAFSA, each year. It's a life saver for many college students, providing over $150 billion dollars in grants, loans and work study funds.
This year, the application process is a little different, aligning more with the college admission season.
Instead of opening on Jan. 1 like years in the past, applications will be accepted starting Oct. 1. Anyone looking for financial assistance may want to apply as soon as possible, because some of the funds are provided on a "first come, first served" basis.
