As the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) goes live and high school seniors start choosing colleges, local entities are banding together to help students navigate the financial aid landscape.

The soaring cost often makes financial aid a necessity for students to be able to attend college. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, From academic years 2007-08 to 2012-13, the percentage of first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students at four-year degree-granting institutions receiving any financial aid increased from 80 to 85 percent from academic years 2007-08 to 2012-13.

And the basis for all financial aid is the FAFSA form.

“Filling out the FAFSA is something we suggest each senior do.” Crosby Scholars’ Senior Programs Director Jessica Vess said, “It’s required by many colleges, and without it, a student may not receive consideration for state and federal economic assistance.”

While it determines if students qualify for federal aid, it’s also a tool that colleges can use to learn a student’s financial situation. But many don’t feel prepared to submit a FAFSA

“The FAFSA can really be kind of daunting,” Vess said.

But there’s help available. On Saturday, Feb. 20, at Catawba’s Corriher-Linn-Black Library, college financial aid officers and specialists will be available to help seniors, their families and college students complete and submit their FAFSA form online. The event, known as “FAFSA Day,” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, and is sponsored by the College Foundation of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and State Employees’ Credit Union.

And between Feb. 22 and Feb. 26, local State Employee Credit Union branches will be ready by appointment to help students and families with FAFSA completion.

Vess encourages students to fill out the FAFSA form as soon as possible, as money available for financial aid dwindles as time goes on.

To be fully prepared to complete the FAFSA, families should either file their 2015 federal taxes in advance or bring the following: both the student’s and parents’ federal 1040 tax forms for 2015 (or W-2 forms and other income and asset documents if completed tax forms are not available), the student’s and one parent’s FSA ID obtained in advance from the U.S. Department of Education website, fsaid.ed.gov , and a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet with as much information entered as possible. The online Worksheet is available at www.fafsa.gov.

Vess also encourages high school seniors to check with their school’s guidance office, their parents’ place of employment, places of worship and other membership organizations to see what scholarships might be available in addition to checking college websites. Scholarships are even available for things such as being left handed, or having a particular eye color. You never know until you look, Vess said.

“Our hope is to not only encourage our Crosby Scholars seniors, but every senior in Rowan County to complete the FAFSA and submit it early enough that they will be able to receive the best possible economic package from the college they will be attending,” she said.

The Crosby Scholars program will be offering specific scholarships and grants to seniors who have completed the Crosby Scholars program. Vess said the Salisbury branch of the program hopes to award at least four scholarships at its May 1 Senior Gala varying in amount from $1,000 to $2,000. A renewable Last Dollar Grant of up to $1,000 will also be awarded to Crosby Scholars seniors who have unmet financial need.

Pre-registration for FAFSA Day is strongly encouraged. Go to CFNC.org/FAFSAday or call 866-866-2362 toll-free to register.

Financial aid specialists are available by phone every Tuesday in February between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call the CFNC toll-free number, 866-866-2362.