Since your wife is considering nursing specifically, I'd also recommend researching the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program and similar state-level programs that can forgive up to 85% of nursing student loans for those who work in critical shortage facilities after graduation. These programs can dramatically reduce the long-term cost of the degree and should be factored into your financial planning alongside the initial FAFSA results.

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who went through this process recently, I'd add that you should also check if the nursing programs she's considering have any prerequisite courses that could be taken at community college first. Many of my classmates did their science prereqs (A&P, microbiology, chemistry) at CC to save money before transferring to a 4-year program for the actual nursing courses. The FAFSA trial run will help you budget for both scenarios. Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities - even part-time students can sometimes qualify, and healthcare-related work-study positions at hospitals or clinics can provide valuable experience alongside the income. At your income level, you might be surprised what you qualify for, especially if you have any unusual expenses or multiple people in college.

I just wanted to follow up - based on what you've described, your FAFSA is actually processing correctly. The "Processing" status is what matters most. The system will automatically forward your information to your selected schools even while sending you these erroneous signature request emails. For peace of mind, you might want to call or email your school's financial aid office directly to confirm they've received your FAFSA or that they'll be able to access it soon. Many schools can see that your FAFSA is in the system even before it's fully processed.

So glad to hear your school confirmed they can see your FAFSA in their system! That's exactly what I was hoping would happen. This whole signature loop issue has been plaguing so many students this year, but as long as the schools can access the data on their end, that's what really matters. Thanks for updating the thread - I'm sure other people dealing with this same problem will find your resolution really helpful. It's such a relief when these technical glitches don't actually derail your financial aid timeline!

One more thing - since your son is a transfer with an SAI around 4500, make sure to have him check if he's eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) program. It's not part of the federal FAFSA calculation but is a California program for families with incomes up to $201,000. It won't appear in his initial aid package but is processed separately later in summer. He should automatically be considered if his FAFSA info indicates California residency.

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter's UCSD transfer last year, I wanted to add that the financial aid package timeline can vary quite a bit depending on when your son was accepted. Early acceptances (March/April) typically get packages by late May, while later acceptances might not see them until mid-June. One thing that really helped us was setting up text alerts in the UCSD portal - we got notified immediately when her package was posted rather than constantly checking. Also, don't panic if the initial package looks lower than expected - sometimes work-study allocations and departmental scholarships get added in separate waves throughout the summer. The key is just staying patient during this waiting period since you've done everything correctly on your end!

No one's mentioned this but you should also look into whether you can claim a casualty loss on your taxes for the portion of the roof replacement not covered by insurance. Might help offset some of the financial impact. Talk to your tax professional about it.

As someone who went through a similar situation two years ago (major medical expenses wiped out our college savings), I want to emphasize that timing is crucial here. Don't wait - some schools have earlier deadlines for professional judgment appeals than others, and available funds can run out. When you contact the financial aid offices, be prepared to explain not just what happened, but also how it impacts your ability to contribute to college costs going forward. In our case, we had to explain that we couldn't rebuild our savings before our daughter started college, which helped them understand the ongoing impact. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - some schools lost our documentation and we had to resubmit. The whole process took about 3-4 weeks from start to finish, but we ended up getting an additional $8,000 per year in grants. Definitely worth the effort!

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I feel much better knowing this is common. I'll gather our documents and complete the verification process this weekend. I might try Claimyr to get through to FSA first, just to confirm exactly what they need from us. Really appreciate all the insights!

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your daughter's school has sent any emails about the verification process. Some schools will reach out directly once they receive the FAFSA and see it needs verification. They often have their own deadlines that might be earlier than the federal 45-day window, especially for priority consideration for institutional aid. My daughter's school sent a checklist of exactly what documents they needed which made the whole process much smoother than trying to decipher the federal letter.