Can my son decline a semester's FAFSA loan disbursement after accepting the full year award?

Yes, your son can absolutely decline a portion of his loan even after accepting the full year award! He just needs to contact his school's financial aid office before the spring disbursement happens. Most schools have a form called a "Loan Adjustment Request" or "Loan Modification Form" he can fill out specifying he wants to reduce or cancel the spring portion. The key is to do this BEFORE the disbursement processes.

ya my brother did this last yr. its not a big deal just tell the finaid ppl. they made him fill out a form but it was super easy

Same thing happened with my daughter but the opposite problem. We DECLINED the full year loan initially but then needed it for spring semester only. The financial aid office was impossible to reach by phone!!! I spent HOURS on hold and getting disconnected. So frustrating when you're trying to help your kid and the system makes it impossible!!! 😡

A few important points on this: 1. Yes, he can decline the spring portion, but timing matters. Each school has different deadlines, typically 2-3 weeks before disbursement. 2. If the loan has already been applied to his student account for spring, but classes haven't started, he can still return it within 120 days without interest or fees. 3. Make sure he completes the loan adjustment request (sometimes called loan change form) that specifies exactly which semester and which loan type he's modifying. 4. Keep documentation of all submissions in case there's a processing error. This is actually a smart financial move - never take loans you don't need!

has ur son tried logging into his student portal? at my school u can actually decline or reduce loans online without even talking to anyone. might be worth checking that first before trying to contact the office

I tried to do this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE getting anyone on the phone. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at my financial aid office. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

Just be careful about the timing! My daughter tried to decline her spring loan last year but missed the deadline by 3 days. They disbursed it anyway and then she had to go through this whole complicated process to return it. And even tho she returned it right away she still got charged some fees. So annoying! Make sure your son acts quickly!!!!!

btw u should know that declining the loan might effect his finantial aid package. like sometimes they have to offr u loans before they give grants idk why but thats wat hapend to my roomate

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your helpful advice! My son checked his student portal and there WAS an option to adjust his loan amount for spring semester. He was able to reduce it to just what he needs for books and supplies instead of the full amount. No phone calls needed! For anyone with similar questions, definitely check your school's online portal first before trying to call the financial aid office.

So glad to hear this worked out! Your son's approach is really smart - checking the portal first saved you both a lot of headache. For future reference, most schools have really improved their online systems over the past few years, so the student portal is usually the fastest way to handle loan adjustments, grade changes, and other routine requests. The financial aid offices are so overwhelmed that self-service options are often your best bet. Thanks for sharing the update - it'll definitely help other parents and students who find this thread!

This is such a helpful thread! As a parent just starting to navigate the FAFSA process with my daughter who's a high school senior, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences. The fact that students can adjust their loan amounts through the portal is something I never would have known to look for. It's also reassuring to see how supportive this community is - everyone jumped in with practical advice and real experiences. I'm definitely going to remember the 120-day return rule and the importance of only borrowing what's actually needed. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here!

This entire thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a college sophomore myself and had no idea you could make loan adjustments through the student portal. I've been taking the full loan amount each semester without really thinking about whether I needed it all. After reading about the smart decision Zoe's son made, I'm definitely going to check my portal and see if I can reduce my spring loan too. It's eye-opening to realize how much control we actually have over our borrowing - I always thought once you accepted, you were stuck with the full amount. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice!

This thread is such a great example of why community support matters! As a financial aid counselor at a community college, I see students and families struggle with these exact questions all the time. A few additional tips for anyone reading this: 1) Most schools also have a "return to Title IV" calculator on their websites that can help you understand the implications of returning loans, 2) If you're having trouble reaching your financial aid office by phone, try visiting in person during their walk-in hours - it's often faster, and 3) Keep screenshots or printouts of any online changes you make as proof in case there are processing delays. It's wonderful to see Zoe's son taking such a responsible approach to borrowing - that mindset will serve him well throughout college and beyond!