Just want to echo what others have said - the FAFSA for grad school is easier administratively (no parent info), but worse financially (mostly just loans with higher interest rates). One thing no one mentioned is income-based repayment plans for after graduation. If you're going into a field that might not pay a ton compared to your debt, look into PAYE, REPAYE, and other IBR options. Some MBA programs also have loan forgiveness programs for graduates going into non-profit or public service careers.

Congratulations on your MBA acceptance! As someone who just went through this process for my graduate program, I can confirm the major differences others have mentioned. One additional tip: check if your MBA program offers any merit-based scholarships that don't require the FAFSA at all. Many business schools have scholarships based on work experience, GMAT scores, or specific career tracks that can significantly reduce your need for loans. Also, if you're currently employed, see if your company has tuition reimbursement programs - some will pay for an MBA if you commit to staying for a certain period after graduation. The combination of employer assistance and targeted scholarships can sometimes cover a huge portion of costs without touching federal loans.

UPDATE: I finally found the information! Thanks everyone for your help. For anyone else looking, the federal deadline for 2026-2027 FAFSA is June 30, 2027, but the California state deadline is March 2, 2026. I also discovered that some schools have much earlier priority deadlines for maximum aid consideration (some as early as December/January). I'm creating a calendar with all these dates now. The advice about calling with Claimyr might come in handy later when I actually start filling out the form and inevitably run into questions. This whole process feels unnecessarily complicated but I'm glad this community exists to help navigate it!

So glad you found the info you needed! Your experience really highlights how unnecessarily complex the whole system is. Creating that calendar is smart - I wish someone had told me to do that when I first started this process. One tip for when you do start filling out the form: save your progress frequently and don't try to complete it all in one sitting. The site has a tendency to time out if you're on it too long, and nothing's worse than losing all your work. Also, make sure you have all your tax documents ready before you start - the form will ask for specific line numbers from your tax returns. Good luck with your transfer applications! The financial aid maze gets easier once you've navigated it the first time.

UPDATE: I called FSA using the advice here and they confirmed it was just an automated security alert because I viewed the SAI calculation section. They said they're working on updating the email template to be less alarming. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a relief to read! My son is a senior this year and I've been helping him navigate the FAFSA process. I got one of these scary emails last week after just checking his application status and spent hours worrying that someone had hacked into his account. It's really frustrating that they use such alarming language - "information was changed" makes it sound like someone unauthorized accessed the account. I'm glad to know this is a common issue and that the Department of Education is supposedly working on fixing the wording. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to the financial aid office worker who provided the professional insight!

Don't forget to have your son apply for private scholarships too!!! There are TONS of scholarships specifically for students whose parents have medical disabilities or hardships. Check with local community foundations, your employer, religious organizations, etc. My daughter got a $3000 scholarship from a local rotary club that specifically helps families dealing with medical crises. The financial aid office should be able to point you toward some resources!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - dealing with a work injury AND trying to navigate financial aid is incredibly stressful. As someone who's been through a similar situation, I want to encourage you that Professional Judgment appeals really do work when you have legitimate circumstances like yours. A few additional tips based on my experience: 1. When documenting your medical expenses, don't forget to include related costs like mileage to appointments, medical equipment, prescription copays, and any modifications you've had to make to your home due to your injury. 2. Get a letter from your workers comp attorney (if you have one) documenting the disputed claims and timeline - this helps show the financial aid office that the denials aren't due to lack of medical necessity. 3. If your husband is working extra shifts, get documentation from his employer showing the increase in hours/income - this demonstrates your family is already doing everything possible to address the financial shortfall. 4. Contact your son's school's financial aid office directly and ask to speak with someone who handles Professional Judgment appeals. Many schools have specific staff who specialize in these cases and can walk you through their exact requirements. Don't give up! I've seen families get their SAI reduced significantly through these appeals. Your son's education is worth fighting for, and schools want to help students in genuine need stay enrolled.

Excellent troubleshooting! This is exactly why verifying all the basics is so important with the new FAFSA system. Those

Glad you got it working! Just wanted to add that for anyone still struggling with this - if you're close to your school's priority deadline and the parent invitation still isn't working after trying all these fixes, you can submit your FAFSA without the parent information first, then add your parent as a contributor later. It's not ideal but at least you'll meet the deadline. Your school's financial aid office can help you update it once the technical issues are resolved. Better to have an incomplete FAFSA submitted on time than miss the deadline entirely!