"Making the decision to start or continue your education can be challenging, but community college is a quality, cost-savvy option to consider," U.S. News and World Report writes.

... "In most cases, community college students have access to the same federal and state financial aid resources as those attending a four-year college, such as grants, loans and work-study. To be eligible, students need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which typically opens Oct. 1 each year."

"'Funding does get awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so definitely file the FAFSA early and then also be aware of any date or institutional financial aid deadline,' says Sarah Austin, a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 3/13/2026