Oh no! Now your favorite school might be financially out of reach.

You learn that because you didn’t apply for financial aid through FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) , you and your family are going to have to pay a lot more for your student loans. And that could affect which colleges you can afford to go to.

The point is that everyone, no matter their family income, can get low-cost government loans by filling out and submitting the FAFSA. But you can't get it if you don't apply. Make sure your parents know this, so they can avoid using more expensive options like home equity or personal loans.