Listen up procrastinators. The fall semester may be upon you, but it's not too late to get help paying for your classes.

Whether your college costs have outgrown your budget, your financial situation has changed or you're just plain broke, you've still got options when it comes to financing this semester.

You just have to ask a few questions and fill out some paperwork.

If you haven't already done this, fill out a FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You can fill it out online and sign with an electronic pin at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It's the quickest way to get the document processed.

You'll need your social security number and a copy of your last tax return. Depending on your situation, you may need your parents' tax information as well.

The FAFSA is the document that determines the types of financial aid for which you are eligible. There are four basic types of financial aid for which you can qualify: loans, grants, scholarships and work-study.

Ideally, you would have started this process months ago, but since you didn't you'll have to be creative. It can take weeks for your FAFSA to be processed.

While you're waiting, ask if your school offers a tuition installment plan or emergency loan.
Many schools offer them at low or no interest, allowing students to pay tuition over time or borrow cash quickly at the start of the semester. If not, there are a handful of tuition payment-plan vendors that will work with you for a fee, typically around $50.

If you have been awarded financial aid but have since lost your job, lost a parent or been hit with significant medical expenses, you can ask for a hardship increase to your original package. Your school may ask you to provide a written explanation of your situation.

If you're worried about taking out loans in general to pay for your college education, don't be.
Two out of three bachelor's degree grads leave college with at least some debt. The average debt among graduating seniors is $19,300, according to a recent financial aid study.

Some student loans are interest free, and college loans, in general, offer lower interest rates than other lines of credit. It would be cheaper to live off of them than off of credit cards during your college years. Besides, a student loan isn't a debt. It's an investment in yourself.

Don't let a tight bank account keep you out of school this semester.

There's too much financial aid still out there just waiting for you to claim it.