LEWISTON — Lewiston High School aspirations coordinator Doug Dumont walked into a government class Tuesday to talk to seniors about college and money.

How many of you are thinking you’re going to college?” he asked.

Several students raised their hands.

“How many of you have a huge stash of money ready to pay for college?” Dumont asked.

No hands went up.

The good news, Dumont said, is that programs are available to help them pay for college.

But to get that financial help — both from the government and from public or private colleges — they have to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, and the sooner the better, Dumont said.

College aid could come in the form of grants, which don’t have to be paid back, or in loans, which have to be repaid after graduation or when students leave school.

Dumont used to give his talks in November and December. But seniors and parents can submit the form Oct. 1 instead of Jan. 1, as it’s been for years.

Edward Little High School Principal Scott Annear said his school has been making robocalls to parents, holding parents’ nights and has information on the changes on the school’s website. 

Another big change is that the FAFSA forms are to be filled out with 2015 tax documents families used to file their taxes last winter and spring, instead of estimating what their 2016 income and taxes will be.

Dumont explained why it’s critical for seniors and parents to file the FAFSA in October.

Once the federal college grant money runs out, “the federal government doesn’t print extra money,” Dumont said. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” Filling out the FAFSA early could mean the difference of a student getting a grant of $10,000 or not, Dumont said. If they fill out the FAFSA late, that money will be gone.

Dumont went over with students how to create a federal student aid identification to get the process started.

Students asked questions about what tax form is used to fill out the FAFSA when the parents aren’t married.

“Whoever you live with more than 75 percent of the time” is the tax form that is used, Dumont said, or the parent who claimed the student as a dependent on tax returns.

Last year, about 80 percent of Lewiston’s seniors completed the FAFSA, Dumont said, and 87 percent planned to go to college or some form of higher education.

Lewiston High School will hold a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) lab with college financial aid counselors from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13 in the Lewiston High School library.

Students should come with parents and their 2015 tax forms. With expert help, filling out the form will take between 20 and 25 minutes, aspirations coordinator Doug Dumont said.

For more information: www.famemaine.com/education/topics/filing-the-fafsa.

Financial aid by the numbers

$31,000: Average college debt in Maine.

68: Percentage of Maine students who graduate from college with debt.

$11.5 million: Amount of Pell Grants left on table in 2014-15

Sources: Finance Authority of Maine, NerdWallet