Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! Just to make sure I've got this straight now: 1. We'll need to file a new FAFSA for 2025-2026 starting December 1, 2024 2. I should check with his specific school about summer 2025 coverage and priority deadlines 3. I should start gathering 2023 tax documents now (same ones we just used) 4. I need to ask about CSS Profile requirements for his specific school This is so much more complicated than I expected but I feel much better prepared now. REALLY appreciate all of you taking time to explain this!

Welcome to the FAFSA maze! 😅 As a fellow parent who just went through this - you're absolutely right that it's confusing at first. Everyone here has given you great advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that saved me headaches: create a simple spreadsheet or document tracking all the important dates for your son's school (FAFSA deadline, verification deadlines, CSS Profile if needed, etc.). Also, if your son plans to live on campus next year, housing deposits often have early deadlines that come BEFORE you get your final financial aid package. Just something to keep in mind for planning purposes. You're doing great by asking these questions early - so many parents figure this stuff out the hard way!

Oh that's a really good point! I hadn't even thought about SAP calculations. I'm in good standing right now but will make sure I stay that way. Thanks for bringing that up!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you're part-time, your aid disbursement schedule might be different too. Some schools disburse aid later in the semester for part-time students, so make sure to ask about timing when you talk to your financial aid office. I got caught off guard by this my first semester going part-time and had to cover tuition upfront for a few weeks. Also, if you're planning to stay part-time for multiple terms, consider mapping out how long it'll take to complete your degree so you don't run into issues with maximum timeframe for aid eligibility. Good luck with everything!

I went through almost exactly your situation! We needed about $15k/year for my son after all other aid. We ended up borrowing through Parent PLUS but took a multi-strategy approach: - He transferred AP credits to skip some gen-ed classes - Took summer classes at the community college for cheaper credits that transferred - He graduated a semester early by taking extra classes - We paid interest during school (about $120/month per year of loans) Ended up with about $52k total instead of $60k, and now our payment is $623/month on a 10-year plan. Still tough but manageable. Don't just accept the $17k/year as fixed - there are ways to reduce it!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been researching this extensively. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that you can also look into state-specific loan programs that might have better terms than Parent PLUS. Some states offer parent loans with lower interest rates or more flexible repayment options. Also, if your daughter is considering graduate school later, you might want to factor that into your decision. Taking on $68k now could limit her (and your) ability to finance grad school if needed. Sometimes it's worth considering a less expensive undergraduate option to preserve borrowing capacity for a graduate degree that might have better ROI. And definitely look into employer tuition assistance programs - some companies offer tuition reimbursement not just for employees but for their dependents too. It's worth checking if either you or your spouse have this benefit available.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! We went ahead and checked "Yes" since she does receive free lunch through the district program, even though our family wouldn't qualify individually. So glad I asked - I was overthinking this and would have probably answered incorrectly.

Great to hear you got it sorted out! You definitely made the right choice. This is actually a really common confusion point with the new FAFSA, especially for families in CEP districts. The key thing to remember for anyone else reading this is that the FAFSA is asking about what you actually received, not what you would theoretically qualify for based on income alone. When schools participate in these community-wide programs, it's specifically designed to streamline the process and reduce barriers - so answering honestly about receiving the benefit is exactly what they want you to do. Hope your daughter's financial aid process goes smoothly from here!

when I went thru this my school wanted: termination letter, unemployment benefit statements, last pay stub from old job, current pay stubs from new job, and copies of bills wasn't enough - they wanted a monthly budget showing income vs expenses. each school is different tho.

@OP - Yes, a termination letter is essential documentation. For bills, a budget summary is more useful than individual bills. Most schools want to see: 1. Official documentation of job loss (termination letter) 2. Last pay stub from previous employment 3. Unemployment benefit statements if applicable 4. Current pay stubs showing reduced income 5. A monthly budget showing income vs. expenses 6. Bank statements showing reduced assets (optional but helpful) Start gathering these now. And don't be discouraged by negative stories - most legitimate cases with good documentation do receive adjustments. It's designed to help families in exactly your situation.