Remember that the free market will adjust to whatever changes happen. If federal loan forgiveness becomes more restricted, private companies will step in with alternative solutions. Competition will force colleges to lower prices if federal funding dries up. It's basic economics - less

This perspective ignores how the higher education market actually works. When state funding for public universities declined over the past 20 years, tuition didn't decrease - it increased dramatically to make up the difference. Private loans typically have higher interest rates and fewer protections than federal ones. The idea that market forces alone will solve accessibility issues in higher education isn't supported by historical evidence or current economic research.

OMG I have twins too and FAFSA is the WORST for multiple kids! SO much duplicated effort. Why can't they just let us fill out ONE form for the family and then apply it to both kids???? I spent literally HOURS doing basically the same form twice. Such a waste of time!!!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much more confident now. My husband will complete the contributor section for our daughter's application, and we'll make sure to list both twins as college students. We'll be careful to use the exact same financial information when we do our son's FAFSA next week. I appreciate all the advice from fellow parents who've been through this before!

I just wanted to follow up - were you able to find your SAI or speak with someone at Federal Student Aid? Sometimes the system displays differently depending on your specific application circumstances. Also, make sure you're looking at the 2025-2026 FAFSA confirmation page, not a previous year's application.

An SAI of 2750 is generally considered to be in the low-to-moderate range, which is good news for your financial aid prospects. The lower your SAI, the more need-based aid you may qualify for. Many Pell Grant recipients have SAIs below 6000, so you might be eligible depending on your enrollment status and the cost of attendance at your chosen schools. Each school will use this number differently in their aid calculations, so you'll need to wait for your financial aid packages to see exactly what you qualify for. Congratulations on getting this resolved!

One more thing to check - make sure your school has your correct banking information for direct deposit. Some schools default to paper checks if your banking info isn't in their system, which adds another week or two to the process.

Update us when you get your refund! Knowing when it finally came through could help other students estimate their timelines.

For those still waiting, here's what you can do: 1. Download and save your FAFSA confirmation page with submission date as documentation 2. Email your school's financial aid office with this confirmation and explain the processing delay 3. Ask your school about provisional financial aid packages based on estimated information 4. If you need to speak with FSA directly about your specific application status, be prepared with your FSA ID, confirmation number, and any reference numbers from previous communications Most schools are aware of the widespread processing delays and many have adjusted their internal deadlines accordingly. Don't panic - just keep documentation of your timely submission.

UPDATE: My application was JUST processed this morning! Literally just got the email. For anyone still waiting - hang in there, they are still working through the backlog. Thanks everyone for your help and advice through this stressful situation!