Update: I finally got through to a FSA representative who confirmed my payments DO count as long as I'm on ICR (which I am) and working full-time at a qualifying employer (which I am). She did advise me to submit a new Employment Certification Form immediately to make sure these early payments are being tracked properly. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the tip about Claimyr which saved me hours of hold time!

Congratulations on getting confirmation! This is such valuable information for other parents in similar situations. I'm in a comparable spot - work for a public library system and have Parent PLUS loans for my junior. I've been hesitant to start payments early because I wasn't sure if they'd count, but your experience gives me confidence to move forward. Quick question: When you consolidated, did you have to wait a certain period before the payments started counting toward PSLF, or did they count immediately after consolidation? I'm worried about timing since I just submitted my consolidation application last month.

Thank you again! This is all such valuable information. I feel much more prepared now.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your daughter is considering any schools that offer early action or early decision (non-binding), you might want to encourage her to apply to those since the FAFSA won't be available until December 1st. Some schools have their own institutional aid applications that can be completed earlier, and getting an early acceptance can take some pressure off while you're navigating the new FAFSA system. Also, I've found it helpful to create a spreadsheet with all the schools she's interested in, their FAFSA deadlines, CSS Profile requirements, and any school-specific aid applications. With all these changes this year, staying organized is going to be more important than ever!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! Just to confirm what I'm understanding: 1) It's normal to only see University Park as an option on the FAFSA, 2) I should select that even though she's attending Altoona, 3) The money will automatically be directed to the right campus, and 4) We should keep checking both her PSU email and the student portal for any additional requirements. This makes me feel so much better!

As someone who just went through this process with my son at Penn State Beaver, I can confirm everything everyone is saying here! The confusion is totally normal - I was panicking about the same thing last fall. Just select University Park on all your federal aid applications and don't second-guess it. The Penn State financial aid system is actually pretty efficient once you understand how it works. Your daughter's aid will show up correctly on her Altoona campus bill. The only thing I'd add is to take screenshots of all your FAFSA submissions just in case you need to reference them later. Good luck and congratulations to your daughter!

One final piece of advice: since the 2025-26 FAFSA will be evaluating your 2023 tax year information, start gathering documentation now for any significant financial changes that have occurred since 2023. If your income has decreased or you've had major expenses arise, you'll want to prepare for potential professional judgment appeals at each institution. Also, with two in college, don't overlook the CSS Profile if your students are applying to private institutions. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile still factors in multiple family members in college when determining aid eligibility at many private schools.

As a new parent to this process, I'm finding all this information incredibly helpful! I have twin juniors in high school who will both be starting college in fall 2026, so I'm trying to learn everything I can now. Quick question - when you mention that each student needs to start their own application first, do they both need to complete their entire student portion before I can do anything as a parent? Or can I start working on my contributor section for the first child while the second is still working on their application?

Hey Christopher! Don't panic - this is totally normal at this stage. The studentaid.gov portal showing "no federal loans or grants" right after FAFSA processing just means your aid hasn't been packaged yet. Your FAFSA being "Processed" is actually a good sign! Now your schools need to receive your FAFSA data and create your financial aid packages, which usually takes a few weeks. They'll determine your Pell Grant eligibility and other aid based on your EFC. You should start seeing aid offers from your schools in the coming weeks, not necessarily on the federal portal first. Hang in there - you're doing everything right! 💪

Hey Christopher! Just wanted to add some reassurance as someone who works with financial aid - you're absolutely on the right track! The fact that your FAFSA shows "Processed" means the hardest part is done. One thing that might help ease your anxiety: you can actually check your Student Aid Report (SAR) on studentaid.gov to see your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI) if you used the new FAFSA. This will give you a better idea of what aid you might be eligible for while you wait for school packages. Also, keep in mind that schools are still adjusting to the new FAFSA timeline this year, so some may be running a bit behind their usual schedules. You're doing great navigating this as a first-gen student - don't hesitate to reach out to your schools' aid offices if you need updates! 🌟