After reading through this thread, I'd suggest creating a detailed budget for your college expenses before deciding. List all your costs (tuition, fees, books, housing, food, etc.) and subtract any grants, scholarships, and money from savings/family. If there's still a gap after the subsidized loan, then consider the unsubsidized loan, but only for the amount you actually need. Remember that federal loans also have loan fees (about 1%) deducted from the disbursement amount, so you receive slightly less than what you borrow.

Great thread with lots of solid advice! As a newcomer here, I wanted to add that another factor to consider is your state's loan forgiveness programs. Some states offer loan repayment assistance for nurses who commit to working in underserved areas for a certain number of years. Since you mentioned nursing as your major, it might be worth researching what's available in your state - this could potentially help offset some of that unsubsidized loan debt down the road if you do decide to take it. The HRSA website has a good database of these programs. Just another angle to consider as you make your decision!

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I've talked with my son and he's going to e-file his 2022 taxes tomorrow. He's also going to call the financial aid office to explain the situation and ask about a possible extension for the priority deadline. It sounds like trying to submit without filing would create even bigger headaches down the road. I really appreciate all the insights!

As someone who went through a similar situation with my nephew last year, I just want to emphasize how important it is to get ahead of this now. We made the mistake of waiting until after the priority deadline to sort out his tax issues, and he ended up losing out on about $3,000 in institutional grants that were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. One thing I'd add - if your son's 2022 income was really low (under $10,000), he might actually qualify for simplified needs test or automatic zero EFC benefits once he files properly. This could work in his favor for aid calculations. The key is just getting that return filed ASAP so the FAFSA reflects his actual financial situation rather than estimates that will trigger verification. Good luck to both of you - law school financing is stressful enough without tax complications!

I just went through this whole process with my twins. What a nightmare! I still don't understand why they changed from EFC to SAI - seems like the same thing with a different name. One thing no one mentioned yet: your daughter should also be applying for outside scholarships like crazy. Every $1000 helps! We found several local organizations (Rotary Club, credit union, my husband's employer) that offered small scholarships with much less competition than the national ones. Also, when we got confused about our SAI and aid packages, we scheduled in-person appointments with financial aid offices at each college. SO much more helpful than trying to figure it out over the phone or email.

Hey Sofia! I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter last year - SAI of 52,847 and felt completely overwhelmed. Here's what I wish someone had told me: that SAI number isn't necessarily doom and gloom! Yes, it's higher, but both UT Austin and Baylor have pretty good merit scholarship programs that aren't tied to your FAFSA at all. My daughter ended up with a really decent package from a similar-tier private school despite our high SAI because of her academics (sounds like your daughter has great stats too with that 3.8!). The waiting is the hardest part honestly. Make sure she's submitted all her applications and any additional scholarship applications the schools require. Also double-check that both schools were listed on her FAFSA so they get the data automatically. You're doing great as a first-time FAFSA parent - this process is confusing for everyone!

UPDATE: I wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps anyone else. I called MOHELA this morning, asked specifically for a PSLF specialist, and requested to be switched from SAVE to PAYE. The first rep tried to tell me it wasn't possible, but I asked for a supervisor and mentioned the FSA guidance. The supervisor confirmed I could switch plans and processed my application! My payment will increase from $45 to about $75 per month - not ideal but MUCH better than the $550 standard plan. Most importantly, I'll continue making qualifying PSLF payments. For those still struggling, be persistent and specifically reference your right to change IDR plans despite the SAVE litigation. Thank you all for your help and support through this nightmare!

This is such a relief to read! I'm a social worker at a nonprofit and got hit with the same SAVE suspension nightmare last month. My servicer (FedLoan) initially told me I had to go into forbearance and lose my PSLF progress, but after reading this thread I called back three times until I got someone who understood the situation. I'm now on IBR and my payments only went up about $20/month from what I was paying under SAVE. The key was being super specific about wanting to switch IDR plans due to the litigation, not just asking for "options." I also want to mention that if anyone is having trouble with their servicer, filing a complaint through the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) can sometimes get faster results than the FSA feedback system. They take student loan complaints seriously and servicers have to respond within 15 days. Hang in there everyone - this political mess isn't our fault and we shouldn't have to suffer for it!

I went through a similar situation with my daughter last year when my ex-husband lost his job mid-year. One thing I learned is that you can actually update your FAFSA information if there's been a significant change in circumstances since the tax year being used. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax data, but since your ex-husband's disability started in 2024, you may be able to get what's called a "data change" to reflect his current lower income. Contact the financial aid office at your daughter's university - they can often make adjustments for situations like long-term disability that happened after the base tax year. This could potentially give you even better aid than just choosing which parent to report!

Just wanted to add another perspective on this - I work at a university financial aid office and see these situations frequently. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that if your daughter's father is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this information should definitely be included in any Professional Judgment appeal. Disability benefits are treated differently in the aid calculation and can significantly impact the final determination. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all medical expenses related to the disability, as these can sometimes be factored into the appeal process as well. The key is comprehensive documentation when you approach the financial aid office - the more complete picture you can provide of the changed circumstances, the better they can assist you.