Getting financial help with going to college

Higher education now comes at a higher price. The average cost for attending a public university is more than $10,000 a year. Private universities cost twice as much. <br><br>The US Department of Education

Tuesday, March 9th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Higher education now comes at a higher price. The average cost for attending a public university is more than $10,000 a year. Private universities cost twice as much.

The US Department of Education says the good news is, more money is available to help you pay those bills.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says there is money up for grabs.

Now that the college applications are in, it's time to start thinking about how to pay for that education. Federal education experts say there are more than $70-billion in financial aid out there to help students and their families. And now is the time to start filing those financial aid forms. The number one mistake that high school seniors and their parents make is assuming they won't qualify for assistance.

The reality is, 9-million students qualify for federal grants, loans and work study programs to help offset the cost of college. One TU freshman says she was surprised how much money was available. Kristen Zander, TU Freshman: "I was, I was real shocked on the amount of money on the amount of money open, I didnâ€™t think we could actually receive these grants and there's actually money out there."

The first step is filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. You can pick up a paper copy or file online, as soon as you complete your taxes.

You can access the FAFSA by visiting their website www.fafsa.ed.gov.