Early FAFSA financial aid package arrived - is this normal timing for 2025-2026?

this is happening for some schools but not all. my sons top choice sent his aid package last week but the other 3 schools havent sent anything yet. i think it depends on how fast each financial aid office processes things once they get the FAFSA info

Financial aid counselor here - this is definitely earlier than typical for most schools, but some institutions are prioritizing early financial aid packages for their top applicants this cycle. The Department of Education has been working to get SAI scores to schools faster than in previous years. When schools receive your FAFSA data early, they can process packages sooner. It's worth noting that not all schools have the staffing capacity to turn around packages quickly, so don't be concerned if your daughter's other schools take until March or even April. Some selective institutions also hold financial aid packages until they finalize all admission decisions. As for what's in the package - remember to compare the full cost of attendance against the offered aid. Look specifically for: - Grants and scholarships (free money) - Work-study (earned money) - Loans (borrowed money) Don't hesitate to contact the financial aid office if you have questions about the offer!

My son got his from 2 schools already but the packages were TOTALLY different amounts even tho its the same FAFSA! One gave him a $23k scholarship and the other only gave him $8k. Makes no sense to me why they'd be so different

I've been trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid for WEEKS about our SAI calculation (which seems way too high) but can never get through. I keep getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Did anyone actually manage to talk to a human there? Our financial aid offers will all be based on this wrong number and I'm freaking out.

I wouldn't get too excited before you open it. My daughter got her "aid package" early from her top choice and it was literally just loans. NO actual aid at all! Just government loans we could take out. Our SAI was 16,800 but the school costs $54K per year and they offered ZERO in grants or scholarships. We're devastated because she had her heart set on that school. Just warning you to prepare yourself...

This is becoming more common for the 2025-2026 cycle. The Department of Education made significant improvements to their processing times after the delays from last year's FAFSA Simplification rollout. Schools with efficient financial aid offices can now turn around packages much faster than in previous years. One important note: Early packages sometimes contain estimated federal aid amounts if the school processed before receiving your official FAFSA data. Check if the letter mentions anything about estimates versus final offers. Also, if your income situation has changed since the tax year used for FAFSA (2023 taxes for 2025-2026 FAFSA), you can request a professional judgment review from the financial aid office.

To answer the follow-up questions I'm seeing: @profile7 - Yes, SAI (Student Aid Index) replaced EFC (Expected Family Contribution), but they work slightly differently. The SAI is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, but it is NOT necessarily what you'll pay. Your actual cost depends on the school's cost of attendance, your financial need, and what the school offers in aid. @profile6 - You can see your SAI score in your Student Aid Report (SAR). Log into studentaid.gov, go to your FAFSA application, and view your SAR. Your SAI should be clearly listed. @profile3 - Absolutely consider appealing if the package isn't sufficient. Prepare documentation of any special circumstances and competing offers. Many schools have formal appeal processes.