October 1 is the first day to apply for financial aid for college students.
Students can start filing today for a free application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2019-2020 school year.
Experts say it's better to file early and every student who is considering college next year should fill out the FAFSA.
It's required to take out any federal student loans which are cheaper and safer than private market loans.
Even if you don't think you'll qualify for federal grants, most states and many colleges also don't use the form to award grants and scholarships.
Students who don't file the FAFSA forgo an average of nearly $10,000 in aid.
