FAFSA processed but still waiting on award letters - is 8 weeks normal?

chill. schools work on diffrent timelines. some are fasst others take FOREVER especially if ur not a priority student (like with merit or sports

Each institution processes financial aid packages on their own timeline. Eight weeks is within normal range, especially for the 2025-2026 cycle where many schools are still adapting to the new FAFSA format and SAI calculations. Some factors that affect timing: 1. Your application completion date (earlier = faster usually) 2. Whether you're a new or returning student (returning often get packages later) 3. If you required verification (which you did) 4. The school's individual processing capacity I recommend checking each school's financial aid portal rather than just waiting for emails or letters. Many schools post awards online before sending official notifications. If you don't have portal access, now is the time to set that up. If it's been more than 8 weeks for specific schools, a polite call to their financial aid office is reasonable. Just ask if they need any additional information from you to complete your package.

FAFSA is such a nightmare this cycle!!! I'm in the same boat. Applied in November, got verified (they questioned my mom's retirement account??), finally processed in January, and it's now been 9 weeks with only 2 out of 6 schools sending packages. The deadline pressure is insane!

This whole system is BROKEN. My daughter's been waiting 11 weeks for award letters from half her schools, and when we FINALLY got through to one of them yesterday, they said they "hadn't received her FAFSA data" even though it shows the school code on her FAFSA confirmation! How is that even possible?? Then they had the nerve to tell us she might not get as much aid because she's "late in their process" - WHEN IT'S THEIR ERROR! The financial aid system is designed to frustrate families into giving up. Don't let them win!

Here's what you need to know about financial aid award letter timelines for the 2025-2026 cycle: 1. Average processing time after FAFSA completion: 4-10 weeks 2. Schools with rolling admissions: Generally faster (3-6 weeks) 3. Highly selective schools: Often send all aid packages at once, closer to decision deadlines 4. Public universities: Typically take longer than private schools due to state funding approval processes If you're approaching a May 1 decision deadline, contact both the financial aid AND admissions offices. Many schools have formal extension request processes for students awaiting financial aid information. You can also request an estimated aid package based on your SAI score. Don't forget to check your spam/junk folders, as automated financial aid notifications are frequently filtered there. And make sure the schools have your correct email address on file.

Has anyone actually successfully used the FAFSA helpline? I've tried calling 3 times and waited 1+ hours each time with no answer. Is there a better number or time to call?

check ur credit card statements too! my brother almost missed his housing deposit deadline bc the award letter came by mail not email and he never opened it lol

Update on 2025-2026 award letter timelines: I work in financial aid at a community college, and we've received guidance that many institutions are facing 2-3 week additional delays due to issues with the SAI calculation system. The Department of Education has acknowledged these delays and is working to expedite processing. If you're facing a decision deadline, most schools are being flexible this year given the widespread delays. Document all your communication attempts with financial aid offices (dates, names of who you spoke with) in case you need to reference them later.

I'm in the exact same situation! My FAFSA was processed 7 weeks ago and I've only heard from 2 out of 6 schools. The waiting is so stressful, especially with decision deadlines approaching. I've been checking portals obsessively but most just say "under review" or "processing." It's really reassuring to see I'm not the only one dealing with these delays. Has anyone had success calling schools directly to get timeline estimates? I'm worried about being pushy but also need to plan for housing deposits and everything.

I totally feel your pain! I'm a junior going through this process with my older sister right now and watching her stress about the same thing. Her FAFSA was processed 6 weeks ago and she's still waiting on 3 schools. What helped us was creating a spreadsheet to track everything - school names, when we submitted, portal login info, phone numbers for financial aid offices, and status updates. It makes you feel more in control when everything feels so chaotic. Also, we learned that some schools have different "waves" of aid distribution - like they send out merit-based aid first, then need-based, then appeals. Might be worth asking about when you call! Don't give up - this year really does seem worse than usual with all the FAFSA changes.

I'm going through the exact same thing and it's such a relief to find this thread! My FAFSA was processed 9 weeks ago and I'm still waiting on 3 out of 4 schools. The anxiety is overwhelming with May 1st deadlines coming up. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - I had no idea about checking spam folders or that some schools still send physical mail! I'm definitely going to call the schools tomorrow morning with my student ID ready, and I love the spreadsheet idea to track everything. It's frustrating that this whole process feels so unpredictable, but at least we're all in this together. Has anyone found that certain types of schools (public vs private, large vs small) tend to be faster or slower with their timelines?

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! My FAFSA was processed 7 weeks ago and I'm still waiting on award letters from 3 out of my 5 schools. What's been driving me crazy is that one school sent their package within 2 weeks, but the others are radio silent. I called two of them last week and got completely different responses - one said they're "processing in the order received" and should have something soon, while the other admitted they're running 3-4 weeks behind their normal timeline due to the new FAFSA system. I've been checking portals daily (sometimes multiple times a day, not gonna lie), and like others mentioned, most just show generic "under review" messages. The uncertainty is the worst part because you can't plan anything! Housing deadlines, deposit dates, work-study applications - everything is on hold. One thing that helped my stress a bit was when a financial aid counselor told me that this year they're seeing extension requests for decision deadlines increase by like 40% compared to normal years, so schools are generally being more flexible. Still doesn't make the waiting any easier though! Solidarity with everyone going through this mess.