Applying to college is an exercise in paperwork: recommendations, essays, the application itself, and the FAFSA — the form that determines whether your student is eligible for federal financial aid.

Discover how FAFSA award letters outline your financial aid eligibility, detailing grants, loans, and scholarships offered by colleges to help fund your education.

Thousands of high school seniors are filling out their federal financial aid form or FAFSA. Numbers show a record increase in applications despite confidence in higher ed being at a low.