<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Student Loan Debt Is Being Canceled Even Earlier Than Expected For Some Borrowers"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Having a FAFSA freakout? Don’t worry, experts say. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Despite the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/08/06/fafsa-simplified-2024-25-what-to-expect/70441059007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">late</a> and rocky start for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/08/06/fafsa-simplified-2024-25-what-to-expect/70441059007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">new, simplified</a> Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), things are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/12/31/new-fafsa-application-open/71934979007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">improving</a>, they say. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Increasingly, families can <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2024/01/08/fafsa-2024-24-application-now-open-full-time/72155920007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">complete their form</a> for the 2024-25 academic year without delays. But if you’re still worried about roadblocks or whether the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/12/06/fafsa-changes-2024-25/71767926007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">change in the financial aid formula</a> will net you enough money for school, there are other non-FAFSA related avenues to explore.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Keep in mind that students have to fill out the form-- which has been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2023/04/30/fafsa-changes-2024-25/11760352002/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">streamlined</a> compared with past years-- if they want federal financial aid in the form of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/student-loans/what-is-a-pell-grant/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">Pell Grants</a> or government student loans. Financial aid experts advise all students to complete the FAFSA even if they’re unsure if they’ll receive aid. </p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">That said, here’s where you can look for money or what you should know.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Learn more:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":body nav (pl)|e|auto spike click:6|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" href="https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/personal-loans/best-personal-loans/">Best personal loans</a></p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_mt"><strong>FAFSA first</strong> </h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Before heading down the road of alternatives, FAFSA remains the top option for securing financial aid, experts say. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“The reason we think of FAFSA for financial aid is that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/student-loans/what-is-a-pell-grant/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">Pell Grants</a> and federal loans are the backbone,” said Bill DeBaun, nonprofit advocate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncan.org/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">National College Attainment Network</a>’s senior director of data and strategic initiatives. </p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The U.S. <a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/fsa/index.html" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Department of Education awards</a> more than $120 billion a year in grants, work-study funds, and low-interest loans to around 13 million students. And federal loans offer better consumer protections, including flexible <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/student-loans/student-loan-forgiveness-programs/" rel="noopener"></p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2024/01/26/fafsa-school-financial-aid-alternatives/72354973007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
