Students seeking college money can submit FAFSA starting Oct. 1

College-bound students can begin filling out the widely used application for federal student aid on Monday. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to apply for federal grants and loans and is used by many colleges to determine other kinds of financial aid to help pay for school.

The deadline for federal student aid for the 2019-2020 school year is June 30, but officials said there are advantages to completing the form early. 

Student loan company Sallie Mae recommends families complete the FAFSA early because “some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, or from programs with limited funds.” 

It also recommends parents and students to get ready now by having their Social Security numbers, driver’s license information, bank statements, recent tax returns and W-2 forms available. 

“Complete the FAFSA as a high school senior, and every year in college, even graduate school. Filing a new FAFSA each year is the only way to remain eligible for federal student aid, and the amount of aid can vary year-over-year,” Sallie Mae advises, in a tip sheet.

The Georgia Student Finance Commission has information about financial aid options available to the state’s students on its website here. 

To apply online, visit this website.