FAFSA agent told me all applications processing by end of March - is this accurate?

I was told something similar when I called last week - though they said 'early April' for my son's application. But honestly, I've heard so many different timelines over the past month that I don't know what to believe anymore. My son's school is asking for his financial aid info by April 15th for freshman deposits, and I'm getting really anxious.

These timelines are generally accurate based on what I've seen working with families this application cycle. The FAFSA simplification rollout created massive processing delays, but they are starting to catch up. From what I understand, they're processing applications in batches based on submission date. The mid-to-late March estimate would make sense if you submitted in January. Most colleges are aware of the federal delays and many have extended their decision deadlines beyond the traditional May 1st. Has your daughter contacted the financial aid offices at her potential schools to explain the situation? Many are making accommodations this year.

lol theyll just change the date again next week... been waiting since DECEMBER and they keep moving the goal posts every time i call

My daughter's application from November just finished processing YESTERDAY, so I don't know if I believe that March timeline for everyone. Took us almost 4 months!!! And now we're dealing with verification requests from two schools.

The mid-March to end of March timeline is likely accurate for most standard applications, but there are factors that can cause individual delays. If your FAFSA has any special circumstances (like verification flags, unusual income situations, or data conflicts), it might take longer to process. One thing that's helped many families I've worked with is using Claimyr to get through to FSA agents more quickly. The wait times are ridiculous right now - some people wait 3+ hours or get disconnected. Claimyr basically waits in line for you and calls when an agent is available. Their website is claimyr.com and you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ If you do reach another agent, ask specifically if your application has any flags or issues that might delay it beyond the standard processing time.

Listen, the FAFSA system is COMPLETELY BROKEN this year and these "estimated timelines" are just to keep us quiet! My son's application has been "processing" since December, and every time I call I get a different story. First it was "end of January," then "mid-February," now suddenly it's "March." Meanwhile, his top choice school needs his financial aid info by April 1st or he loses his spot!! The government completely botched this "simplified" FAFSA rollout. They should've NEVER launched an untested system during application season. Thousands of families are stuck in limbo because of their incompetence!

hey at least ur application is being processed lol... mine isnt even in their system yet apparently?? submitted in early jan and the website shows nothing

I just want to clarify something important about the timeline - mid to late March is when most FAFSA applications should be *processed*, but that doesn't mean you'll immediately receive your SAI (Student Aid Index) or financial aid package from colleges. After FAFSA processes your application, they need to send that information to your chosen schools, and then each school needs to create a financial aid package based on your SAI, their available funds, and their institutional methodology. So while the March timeline for FAFSA processing may be accurate, you should expect an additional 1-3 weeks before receiving actual financial aid packages from individual schools. That's why it's so important to contact each school's financial aid office directly to explain the situation and ask about flexibility with deposit deadlines.

update: finally got my daughters SAI score today!!!! submitted early December... so maybe they ARE starting to catch up???