Can we do a FAFSA 'trial run' before my wife applies to college? Worth it?

Yes, you absolutely can complete a FAFSA as a "what-if" scenario! It's actually a smart financial planning move. You'll get your Student Aid Index (SAI) which will give you a rough idea of federal aid eligibility. Just list a school she's considering and complete the application fully. The calculation uses your prior-prior year tax info (so for 2025-2026, they'd use your 2023 taxes). Keep in mind the SAI is just part of the picture - each school has its own aid budget and methodology. Also, many schools require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA for institutional aid consideration, especially for adult students.

Waste of time imo. The numbers change all the time. My sister did this last year and the actual amount she got was WAY different. The schools decide most of it anyway not the fafsa. Just apply when shes ready.

I actually did exactly this two years ago when I was thinking about going back for my master's! Just make sure you select schools that your wife might actually apply to, because they'll receive her FAFSA information. But here's what I learned - the FAFSA by itself only tells you about federal aid (loans, Pell Grant if you qualify). The big variable is school-specific scholarships and grants. Also keep in mind that as a married couple, they'll look at both your incomes together. At $87k combined, you probably won't qualify for Pell Grants but would likely get access to federal loans. If she's going into nursing specifically, check if the schools have nursing-specific scholarships or if your state has any loan forgiveness programs for nursing graduates who work in underserved areas! That made a huge difference for my cousin.

YES DO IT!!! Its better to know what ur getting into I WISH I HAD DONE THIS! I just started my degree last fall and got WAY less aid than I thought I would. I had to scramble to figure out how to pay and almsot had to drop out!!! The financial aid office was NO HELP AT ALL they just kept telling me to take out private loans which have crazy interest rates. DO THE TEST RUN.

One thing no ones mentioned - if shes going part time vs full time that makes a huge difference in aid amounts. Also her age (32) means shes independent so your combined income matters. The FAFSA itself is free so theres no harm in filling it out to get a general idea.

I work in financial aid and can tell you that completing a "test" FAFSA is absolutely worth doing. It will provide you with your official Student Aid Index (previously called EFC), which is the key figure schools use to determine need-based aid. At your income level, you'll likely qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loans at minimum, possibly some subsidized loans depending on your full financial picture. One important note: When you submit a FAFSA, the schools you list WILL receive that information. So either only list schools she's seriously considering, or after getting your SAI, go back and remove those schools from your FAFSA if she decides not to apply. Also, if she's considering part-time enrollment to maintain her job, remember that she needs to be enrolled at least half-time (usually 6 credits) to receive federal loans. Some schools also offer payment plans that can help manage cash flow.

I tried calling the Federal Student Aid hotline to ask similar questions last month and spent 3 HOURS on hold before getting disconnected. Then tried again the next day and waited another 2 hours. Never got through to anyone. Complete waste of time.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Sounds like doing a trial FAFSA is definitely worth it to get a ballpark figure. I'll be careful about which schools we list and may remove them after getting the SAI if she decides to wait. Definitely going to look into nursing-specific scholarships too - that's a great suggestion. One more question - with the recent FAFSA changes, is the application process easier than it used to be? I remember it being pretty complicated when I did mine years ago.

Dont make the same mistake I did thinkin FAFSA = free $$$. Most of what they offer is LOANS u gotta pay back! Only the Pell Grant is free money and at ur income u probably wont get that. Just be prepared that "financial aid" mostly means "we'll let u borrow money" lol

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.