One more important thing to check: does that $29,780 include EVERYTHING? Many schools advertise tuition only, but then have mandatory fees, housing requirements, meal plans, etc. that can add thousands more. Make sure you're looking at the TOTAL cost of attendance, not just tuition. If they're quoting you just tuition to match your aid, your actual costs will be much higher.

Based on your update about the additional costs beyond tuition, I'd recommend these steps: 1. Request a Cost of Attendance (COA) breakdown from every school you're considering 2. Subtract all grants and scholarships (money you don't repay) from each COA 3. This gives you your "net cost" at each institution 4. THEN look at loans to cover that net cost Also, ask each school about their tuition guarantee or caps - some schools guarantee your tuition won't increase for 4 years, while others might increase 5-8% annually. This makes a huge difference in your total cost. Finally, remember that your financial aid package can be negotiated, especially if you have better offers from comparable schools.

Wait is the FAFSA for 2025-2026 open already??? I thought it didn't open until December? I'm so confused about when we need to apply for next year's aid....

One additional tip that might help: Print out your Account Summary before and after setting up the payment plan. This creates a paper trail that can be invaluable if there are any discrepancies later. Also, don't forget that if you have excess financial aid (meaning your total aid exceeds your charges), you'll receive a refund which can be used for books, off-campus housing, etc. Virginia Tech typically processes refunds starting 10 days before the semester begins, but they can take up to 2 weeks to appear in your bank account if you've set up direct deposit.

That's exactly the kind of school-specific form I was talking about! Glad you got it sorted out. Those Title IV authorizations are important but often overlooked in the FAFSA process. Best of luck with your classes!

nice! u got this 👍

Have you guys looked at Parent PLUS loans? The interest rate is fixed at 8.05% right now which isnt amazing but atleast its federal and has some of those protections? Thats what we did when my kid's aid package wasnt enough

One more suggestion - check if your daughter's school has a payment plan option. Many colleges will let you spread payments over 10-12 months with only a small fee (like $50-100) rather than interest. We're using this for about half of what we owe and then taking smaller loans for the rest. Also, if your daughter can find a part-time job on campus through Federal Work-Study, that money doesn't count against future aid eligibility the way some scholarships can.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid this morning! It turns out there was a discrepancy between the tax information we entered and what the IRS had on file. The representative helped us correct it right on the call. She said we should see our SAI score within 3-5 business days. I've already contacted the school with the subscription service, and amazingly, they agreed to extend our refund deadline by two weeks due to the FAFSA issues! I'm so relieved we'll be able to make an informed decision now. Thank you all for your advice and support!

@user7 - Seriously, try the Claimyr service I mentioned. It's the only reason I got through after weeks of trying. The FAFSA situation this year is unprecedented, and normal methods of contact just aren't working.