NILES — The Niles-Buchanan YMCA hopes to help make college more affordable by sharing tips and information about financial aid to current high school seniors and their parents and guardians.

The nonprofit will host a free financial aid workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The event, which is open to the public and requires no registration, will assist students and parents with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The FAFSA is the federal application that is required to receive federal financial aid, including the Federal Pell Grant, student loans and need-based state grants. Professional financial aid counselors will be available to give individual help, answer questions and assist with online completion of the FAFSA.

Filling out the FAFSA provides opportunities for prospective students to be eligible for the following: federal grants and loans for certifications such as cosmetology, plumbing, electrical, welding, auto and diesel mechanic programs; other qualifying certification or license-based education; federal grants and loans for college-bound education; and eligibility for other scholarships.

Those who attend the workshop will need to bring social security numbers for parents and students, 2018 tax information and a driver’s license or another form of identification, organizers said. Attendees will also receive a free pizza lunch and day pass to the YMCA.

In 2019, about $100 million in unclaimed FAFSA money in the state of Michigan was returned to the federal government, YMCA staff said. There is no income cutoff to qualify for federal student aid. Whether prospective students’ families have a low or high income, they will still qualify for some type of financial aid, including low-interest student loans, they added.

The law also protects undocumented parents of documented students who need assistance with filling out the FAFSA, they said.

The Niles-Buchanan YMCA is located at 905 N. Front St., Niles. Prospective attendees can call (269) 683-1552 for more information.