Last year, private college tuition rose to nearly $25,000. Public colleges, especially community colleges, charged far less, but costs there are rising as well.

In recent years, four-year college tuition has risen at about 6.2% a year, while two-year college costs have increased about 4.5% annually. In most instances, available aid has increased as well.

And it would be nuts not to apply for some of that aid because doing so is really pretty simple.

Two of three students currently receive federal student aid. Federal aid comes as both grants and (subsidized) loans. The average student attending a community college received $2,040 in such aid last year while the average student at a four-year public university was awarded more than $3,500, and students at four-year private colleges were awarded, on average, $9,300 in federal aid.

The amount of federal grant aid and subsidized loans for which a student is eligible is calculated after an analysis of the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which students applying for federal aid programs are required to file.

There are other kinds of scholarships and grants available from states, colleges, and various organizations which require a student to have a completed FAFSA, so be sure to take care of the FAFSA as soon as you can.

College and university financial aid offices will gladly help you apply for federal, state, and other kinds of financial aid. And, don’t forget the wealth of financial aid and scholarship information you can find on the internet. Just try a search for “financial aid”, “college scholarships” or “scholarships” and you’ll see.

Contrary to what you may have heard, completing the FAFSA can be done pretty quickly and easily. Just look at it to determine what information it requires, get the information together, and plug it into the form.

Although you can fill out a paper version of the FAFSA, completing the online version offers several advantages, especially if updates or corrections become necessary.

Be accurate and be on time. There is nothing else to know. That’s not too hard, right?