I just went through this process with my daughter last year and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, make sure to check if your school participates in the Direct PLUS loan program (most do, but it's worth confirming). Also, when the Parent PLUS application does open in June, I'd recommend applying as early as possible because processing can take 1-2 weeks, and you don't want to be cutting it close to your tuition deadline. One thing that caught us off guard was that even after approval, the funds don't get disbursed to the school immediately - there's usually another week or two delay. My advice is to contact your school's bursar's office now to ask about their specific Parent PLUS loan timeline and whether they offer any grace period for tuition payments while federal loans are being processed. Most schools are pretty understanding about this situation since it happens every year!

I'm a current college sophomore and went through this exact situation two years ago! Just wanted to confirm what others have said - Parent PLUS loan applications for the 2025-2026 academic year should open around mid-June 2025. The wait is definitely nerve-wracking, but it's completely normal. One thing I'd add that really helped my family: while you're waiting, consider reaching out to your school's financial aid office to ask about their payment plan options. Many schools offer interest-free payment plans that can bridge the gap between when tuition is due and when your Parent PLUS loan funds actually get disbursed to the school. My college let us split the remaining balance (after my direct loans) into 3 monthly payments, which gave us breathing room while the PLUS loan was being processed. Also, if your parents haven't already, they should definitely create their FSA ID accounts now so they're ready to apply as soon as the application opens. The whole process from application to funds reaching your school can take 3-4 weeks, so applying early in June is key!

Something else to consider - Spring enrollment sometimes has different/fewer scholarship opportunities than Fall. Some institutional scholarships are only awarded to students starting in the Fall semester. Has your daughter considered waiting until Fall 2025 instead? She might qualify for more aid packages that way.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your state has any specific FAFSA deadlines that are earlier than the federal ones. Some states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis and can run out of funding surprisingly early in the cycle. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time with FAFSA, make sure you're using the official site (studentaid.gov) - there are a lot of scam sites that charge fees for something that should be completely free. The whole process can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions!

One more tip - when you're communicating with financial aid offices, be very specific about the dollar amount difference. For example, "Our 2023 income was $85,000, but $14,000 was temporary COVID hazard pay. Our projected 2024 income is $71,000." This specificity helps financial aid officers process your appeal more efficiently. Also, start this process early! Many schools have deadlines for special circumstance appeals, and they can run out of institutional funds if you wait until late in the cycle.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this process recently. When my daughter applied for the 2024-25 school year, we had a similar situation with my spouse's temporary pandemic-related income boost in 2022. A few things that really helped us: 1. Create a simple one-page summary document showing the income comparison (2023 vs projected 2024) that you can attach to each school's appeal 2. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - pay stubs, employer letters, tax forms. Some schools asked for additional documentation weeks later 3. Don't be discouraged if one school denies your appeal - each has different policies and available funds We ended up getting adjustments from 3 out of 5 schools she applied to, which made a huge difference in her final aid packages. The key is being organized and persistent. Good luck!

Update: FINALLY saw movement! Our application from March 17th just updated today with a processed date of March 25th. So there's a roughly 8-day processing time happening right now. Check your portals everyone!

Just wanted to add my experience - submitted March 19th and still stuck in processing. This thread is actually making me feel better knowing it's not just us! I've been refreshing the portal obsessively every day. My son has to commit to his college by May 1st and we really need to know what financial aid he's getting. Going to try contacting the schools directly like some of you suggested. Thanks for sharing all this info - at least now I know we're not alone in this mess!

One additional consideration: the timing of asset reallocation matters. The 2025-2026 FAFSA (which would likely be when your student transfers to a university) will use your family's financial information from 2023 tax year. So any strategic financial moves should ideally be completed before the relevant tax year. Also, don't overlook merit aid opportunities. Many universities offer specific transfer student scholarships that are based on academic performance rather than financial need. By maintaining a high GPA at community college, your student could qualify for significant merit-based funds that aren't affected by your asset positioning. One final note: The Asset Protection Allowance has been dramatically reduced in recent years, so strategic asset positioning is more important than ever for middle-income families.

Great strategy! I'm in a similar boat with my son who's halfway through CC right now. One thing that's worked well for us is splitting our savings between maxing out my Roth IRA contributions and paying extra toward our mortgage principal. The Roth gives us flexibility since we can withdraw contributions penalty-free for education if needed, plus it doesn't count on FAFSA. Also wanted to mention - check if your state has any special college savings incentives beyond 529s. Some states have programs that offer tax benefits for certain types of education savings that might work better for your timeline. And definitely start researching transfer agreements between your local CC and target universities early - some have guaranteed admission programs if your daughter meets certain GPA requirements, which could save you stress later! The community college route is such a smart financial move. You're setting your daughter up for success without the crushing debt load.