SOUTH BEND — The cost of college tuition is rising at almost twice the rate of inflation, according to Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock. That's just one reason thousands of families across the state got free help filling out financial aid forms Sunday.

Hundreds of volunteers from Indiana colleges manned the College Goal Sunday event at 36 sites throughout the state. The goal — to get as many Hoosiers as possible to apply for free or borrowed money for college.

Kiaris Green said college is her only option.

"[It's] important if I want to have a good job," she told WSBT.

That's why the Clay High School senior and her mom took advantage of the free help filling out financial aid forms.

"We don't want to make any mistakes," said Ashley Green. "This is my first time."

Kiaris, the oldest of five children, wants to be a nurse. She's already applied to five schools, including IU South Bend, IUPUI Bloomington and Valparaiso University.

But without financial help, Kiaris' mother says her daughter probably would not be going to college, or be forced to attend a local community college.

About 250 families showed up to the Ivy Tech location alone Sunday. That's double the amount in past years, and South Bend College Goal Sunday coordinator Jeff Pethick said the reason is clear.

"With the economy and with a lot of the publicity about financial aid, it's really encouraged people to apply for financial aid," he said.

Pethick is also the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Notre Dame. He said lots of families don't fill out the forms for fear they make too much money to receive any financial help.

"There's definitely no income cutoffs," he told WSBT.

Tony Wiltse, a Junior at Bethel College, also waited in line with his mother Sunday.

Wiltse is studying youth ministry and Spanish.

"I consider myself really blessed to be able to go to college," said Wiltse.

He also said tuition at the private school is more than $20,000 a year.

That's why both Kiaris Green and Wiltse are taking their parents' advice — asking for help and doing whatever it takes to get that college degree.

"Times are hard, and without a college education I don't know what kind of future you'll have," said Ashley Green.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates occupations that require a bachelor's degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs that don't require a degree. People who have that degree earn an average of $23,000 more each year, compared to those who don't.

If you missed the College Goal Sunday event, you can still fill out the financial aid forms online.

The Indiana deadline to fill out the application is March 10 in Indiana and March 1 if you live in Michigan.