FAFSA just saved us $87,000 for college - why are tuition costs so insane?

First, congrats on getting your financial aid package! That's a huge relief, I know. The cost of higher education has outpaced inflation for decades. When I went to college in the early 2000s, the same state university likely cost 1/3 what your daughter is paying now. Couple things to consider: 1. Make sure you understand exactly what aid is grants vs loans. Sometimes the financial aid letters make loans look like "free money" when you'll actually be paying it back. 2. Your daughter should apply for additional private scholarships each year. Even small $500-1000 awards add up. 3. Consider if she can knock out some gen-ed requirements at community college during summer breaks to reduce overall credits needed. The system is definitely broken, but maximizing your FAFSA benefits each year will help. Remember to submit a new application every year and report any changes in financial circumstances that might lower your SAI further.

the whole system is a SCAM. my son got his "financial aid" package and it was ALL LOANS. we make too much for grants but not enough to actually pay for college without going into massive debt. fafsa is a joke for middle class families. and don't get me started on the parent plus loans they try to push on us. WHY should I go into debt for 20+ years just so my kid can get a degree that might not even get him a good job?? the whole system needs to be torn down and rebuilt

Same boat here! Just got our daughter's package yesterday and we're looking at about $29k/year after FAFSA and her scholarships. We've been saving since she was born and still only have enough for maybe 2 years. College costs have gotten completely detached from reality. I hate that I'm grateful for "only" having to pay $116k over four years when that's still more than our mortgage.

Financial aid advisor here. Congratulations on receiving your package! A few points to consider: 1. Your FAFSA application will need to be renewed annually. Your SAI could change each year based on income fluctuations. 2. After first year, your daughter can potentially qualify for departmental scholarships within her major that aren't available to freshmen. 3. Work-study opportunities, if included in your package, offer valuable experience plus income that doesn't negatively impact next year's FAFSA calculation the way regular jobs might. Regarding why college costs have risen so dramatically: state funding for public universities has declined significantly (most state universities now receive less than 20% of their operating budget from state funds, compared to 70-80% in the 1970s). This has shifted costs directly to students. Additionally, administrative costs, expanded campus services, and infrastructure maintenance have all contributed to rising costs. For those struggling with the FAFSA process or looking to appeal aid decisions, speaking directly with a Federal Student Aid representative can be incredibly helpful, though reaching them can be challenging.

My son just started his sophomore year and we had to take out a Parent Plus loan on top of his federal loans because our savings ran out faster than expected. Already $42k in debt with 3 years to go. The FAFSA system seriously needs an overhaul...it doesn't account for real-life expenses like caring for elderly parents, medical costs, or regional cost of living differences. A family making $80k in rural Kansas is completely different from one making $80k in Los Angeles, but FAFSA treats them the same.

After spending hours on hold trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about our verification issue, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in under 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with was able to explain exactly why our SAI came back higher than expected and told me what documentation I needed to submit for an adjustment. Saved me so much frustration after spending literal days trying to get through on my own.

my daughter dropped out after 2 yrs because the debt wasn't worth it. now she's in trade school learning hvac and making more than her friends with bachelor's degrees lol. sometimes the best financial aid is skipping the traditional college path entirely

One additional note - if your financial situation changes at all during the academic year (job loss, major medical expenses, etc.), you can submit a Special Circumstances form through your daughter's financial aid office. This won't change the current FAFSA calculation, but many schools have institutional funds they can use to provide additional aid mid-year. Keep all documentation of any significant financial changes, as you'll need to provide evidence.

When we first got our son's financial aid package, I was so confused because they included $15,000 in Parent PLUS loans as part of the "aid" package! That's not aid - that's DEBT! We decided to only let him accept the direct student loans ($5,500) and grants. We're cash-flowing the rest by selling our second car, taking on extra consulting work, and having him live at home to commute. It's not ideal but I refuse to take on debt at 52 years old that I'll be paying off in retirement. Has anyone successfully appealed their SAI calculation? We had some unusual medical expenses last year that weren't reflected in our tax return.

Wow, congratulations on that aid package! $87k in savings is absolutely life-changing. I totally understand the mixed feelings though - being grateful but also frustrated that we have to feel grateful for "only" paying six figures for education. We're in the thick of this process too with our twin daughters who are high school seniors. After running the FAFSA estimator, I'm already having panic attacks about potentially paying for two kids at once. Even with aid, we're looking at potentially $60k+ per year combined if they both go to our state university. Quick question - did your daughter's merit scholarships come directly from the university or were they external scholarships she applied for separately? We're trying to figure out our scholarship strategy and wondering if we should focus more on school-specific awards or cast a wider net with outside scholarships. The fact that your daughter's grandparents paid $2,500/year in the 70s really puts this in perspective. Even adjusting for inflation, that would be maybe $15k today - still WAY less than current costs. Something is seriously broken when education costs have outpaced inflation by this much.