Yes, you can absolutely appeal financial aid offers! This is called a "professional judgment review" or sometimes a "financial aid appeal." Each school handles these differently, but the process typically involves: 1. Writing a formal letter to the financial aid office explaining why you believe additional aid is warranted 2. Providing documentation of any special circumstances not captured on the FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) 3. Sometimes including a competing offer from another comparable institution Colleges have discretion to adjust their offers, especially if there are circumstances that the standardized FAFSA formula doesn't account for. Some schools have limited funds for adjustments, while others (particularly private colleges with large endowments) have more flexibility. The most effective appeals are those with documented changes in financial circumstances since your tax year data or exceptional expenses that affect your ability to pay the expected contribution. Simply saying "we can't afford it" without documentation typically isn't effective.

Just wanted to add one more thing that really helped us - create a spreadsheet to track all the different deadlines and requirements for each school your son applies to. Every college has different FAFSA priority dates, some require CSS Profile, some have their own supplemental forms, and scholarship deadlines can be all over the place. We had a simple spreadsheet with columns for school name, FAFSA deadline, CSS Profile required (Y/N), CSS deadline, any school-specific forms, and scholarship application deadlines. It saved us from missing anything important and helped us stay organized during what can be a really chaotic time. Also, if your son ends up applying to any schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need (mostly highly selective private colleges), those tend to be much more generous with aid even for middle-income families. The trick is getting accepted, but it's worth looking into if his stats are competitive!

btw one more thing - sometimes if u have a major change in financial situation u can appeal the SAI. my friend lost her job after filing fafsa and they got it reduced. so keep that in mind if anything big changes

I'm in a similar situation with my son - our SAI came back at 22,500 and I was initially panicked thinking we'd only get loans. But after reading through all these responses, I feel much more hopeful! It sounds like the key is really applying to a good mix of schools and comparing their actual aid packages rather than assuming the worst based on the SAI alone. One thing I'm planning to do is create a spreadsheet to track each school's total cost, what aid they offer, and our actual out-of-pocket cost so we can make an informed decision. Has anyone else found that helpful for comparing offers across multiple schools?

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! Just to make sure I have everything straight: 1. Use 2023 tax return for 2025-26 FAFSA 2. Have my son create his FSA ID early 3. For our changed financial situation, complete FAFSA first, then contact each school individually 4. Use the FAFSA Simulator to get an early estimate of our SAI 5. Make sure to mention multiple children in college when talking to financial aid offices 6. Pay extra attention to parent/contributor sections to avoid delays This has been so much more helpful than anything I've found on the official websites. I feel much more prepared now!

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can confirm everything mentioned here is accurate! One additional tip: if you're planning to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to automatically import your tax info, make sure you've filed your 2023 taxes using the EXACT same name and address that's on your FSA ID. Even small discrepancies like middle initials or apartment numbers can cause the DRT to fail, and then you'll have to enter everything manually. Also, keep in mind that if you filed an amended return for 2023, you might not be able to use the DRT and will need to enter the information manually from your tax documents. Starting early like you're doing is definitely the smart approach!

That's such great news that you got through and they have the relief program available! For anyone else still struggling with this - I'd also recommend checking if your school has a student emergency fund or hardship grants through the Dean of Students office. Sometimes these are separate from financial aid and can be processed faster. Also, if you're dealing with private landlords for off-campus housing, try contacting your school's off-campus housing office - many have relationships with local landlords and can help advocate for payment deferrals when students are waiting for aid. The key really seems to be being specific about the FAFSA delays when you're asking for help!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year (though not due to FAFSA delays), I want to emphasize how important it is to get everything in writing when you're requesting deferrals or extensions. When I contacted our apartment management company, they initially said they could waive late fees, but then later claimed they had no record of our conversation. Having email confirmations saved us from a $150 late fee. Also, for the health insurance specifically - most university health plans have a grace period that's not well advertised. When I called our student health services, they told me there's actually a 10-day grace period after the due date before coverage is suspended, which bought us extra time. Don't just assume the posted due date is the absolute deadline!

just wondering did either school give u merit scholarships yet? sometimes they send those separate from need-based aid and u can at least compare those while waiting

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my twins! Here's what actually worked: I called both financial aid offices and explained I had twins with overlapping but conflicting deadlines at different schools. I asked to speak directly with a financial aid director, not just the front desk staff. The key phrase that got results was: "I need to make an informed financial decision for my family, and these timeline conflicts make that impossible." One school moved up their aid release by a week, and the other granted a 10-day extension on the commitment deadline. Also - document everything in writing! Send follow-up emails after every phone call summarizing what was discussed and any commitments made. This saved us when one school tried to backtrack on their timeline promise. Don't give up - squeaky wheel gets the grease, and most schools genuinely want to help families make informed decisions.