FAFSA formula change made my daughter's dream school completely unaffordable!

We're in the same boat! My son's SAI came in at $14,800 when last year our EFC was only $8,600. We're also middle income ($88K) and I feel completely blindsided. The college financial aid office told us the new formula eliminated many of the deductions that used to benefit families with multiple students in college. So much for "simplification" helping families!

The FAFSA Simplification Act DID change how multiple students in college are counted. Previously, having multiple students gave a significant reduction to your EFC (dividing it essentially), but the new SAI formula reduced this benefit substantially. The formula now applies a smaller adjustment factor rather than the division method. You should definitely file an appeal with the financial aid office based on: 1. Special circumstances not reflected in your FAFSA 2. Comparative financial aid offers from other institutions (if you have them) 3. Documentation of any changes in income or expenses since you filed Many schools have discretionary funds they can use to adjust awards when the formula creates hardships. Ask specifically for a "professional judgment review.

same thing for us but we actually benefited!! only have 1 kid in college and our SAI went down by $5k compared to what our EFC would have been. i think the new formula really helps single-student families but hurts multiple-student families which is SO unfair

Financial aid counselor here. The FAFSA changes did significantly reduce the benefit for multiple students in college, which is hitting many middle-income families hard. However, there are still options: 1. File a formal appeal for professional judgment review at the financial aid office. Bring documentation of all expenses related to supporting your other college student. 2. Look into Parent PLUS loans to cover the gap, though be cautious about taking on too much debt. 3. Ask about school-specific scholarships that aren't tied to federal methodology. 4. Have your daughter consider starting at a more affordable school and transferring later. The new formula was designed to be simpler, but "simpler" doesn't always mean "better" for everyone.

Try calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center!! I was on hold for HOURS & kept getting disconnected when trying to understand why our SAI was so different from our previous EFC. so frustrating!!!

This is why the whole colege system is rigged!!! They promise to make it more affordable then actually make it worse and expect us to just accept it. My daughter gave up on her dream school cuz of this exact issue. FAFSA is a JOKE.

One thing that's important to understand: your SAI (Student Aid Index) isn't directly comparable to the old EFC (Expected Family Contribution). They use different calculations, and colleges are also adjusting how they use these numbers to determine aid packages. If your daughter's school is particularly important to her, request a meeting with the financial aid director (not just a counselor). Come prepared with: 1. Documentation of all expenses for both college students 2. Comparison of how the formula change specifically impacted your family 3. A specific request for additional institutional aid Many schools set aside funds specifically to address formula-change issues this year, knowing this transition would create problems.

UPDATE: We had a meeting with the financial aid office yesterday and presented documentation about both children's college expenses. They acknowledged the formula change impact and offered an additional $3,500 in institutional grant funds! Not everything we hoped for, but it makes the school potentially manageable with careful budgeting and my daughter picking up a part-time campus job. For anyone facing similar issues, definitely request a professional judgment review and come prepared with specific documentation. Don't just accept the initial offer!

That's excellent! This is exactly why I always encourage families to appeal. Many people don't realize that financial aid offices have discretionary funds specifically for situations like this. The formula changes this year created unique hardships that many institutions are willing to address with supplemental aid. One additional tip for others reading this thread: if your income for 2023 (which you reported on the 2025-2026 FAFSA) was unusually high compared to your current situation, you can also request professional judgment for income adjustments.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly eye-opening and concerning. I'm currently helping my younger sister navigate her college applications for next year, and reading about these FAFSA formula changes has me worried about what we might face. Our family situation is similar - middle income with potentially two students in college simultaneously. It sounds like we need to prepare for the possibility that our financial aid might be significantly less than what online calculators based on the old EFC formula suggest. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who provided concrete steps for appeals. I'm bookmarking this thread to reference when we get our aid packages. It's frustrating that families are having to fight for fair treatment, but I'm glad there are options available and that some of you have had success with the appeal process. @Jamal Carter - congratulations on getting that additional funding! Your persistence really paid off and gives the rest of us hope.