May 28, 2008 by Mara Strom If you’re a community college student applying for financial aid, then know this: You’re in exceedingly good company. The number of your fellow students in need of aid has skyrocketed over the last five years, according to Robert Shireman, president of EconomicDiversity.org: “As costs like housing and textbooks continue to rise along with tuition and fees, financial aid is becoming a necessity for more community college students.” Shireman’s organization reports that in 2000-2001, just over one-quarter of all community college coeds completed a FAFSA; in 2005-2006, that number jumped to 34%. While the percentage of students applying for aid from two-year colleges is lower than at public four-year (59%) and private four-year (66%) sch...