FAFSA provides grants or loans? Confused about 2025-2026 financial aid options

FAFSA is definitely for BOTH free money (grants/scholarships) AND loans! I just went through this for my daughter. It's the starting point for almost all financial aid. When you submit the FAFSA, it calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) - that's what replaced the EFC you remember. Schools use your SAI to determine what aid you qualify for. With your income level as a single parent, you might qualify for Pell Grants which you don't pay back. The max Pell is around $7,500 now I think. You'll also see federal loan options in your aid package, but you don't have to accept those if you don't want to. The 2025-2026 FAFSA opens October 1st, and I'd recommend applying as early as possible since some aid is first-come, first-served.

its not realy just about free $$. my kid got some ok grants but most of it was loans. the pell grant is nice but it only covered like 1/4 of tuition at state school. dont get ur hopes up 2 much

The FAFSA process can seem confusing, but here's how it works: 1. You fill out the FAFSA application (opened October 1st for the 2025-2026 year) 2. The system calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) 3. Schools you list on your FAFSA receive your information 4. Each school creates a financial aid package based on your SAI 5. You receive award letters showing grants, scholarships, and loan options With your income level ($43k) as a single parent, you would likely qualify for: - Federal Pell Grant (up to $7,395 for 2025-2026) - Potential state grants (varies by state) - Institutional scholarships (varies by school) - Work-study opportunities - Federal student loans (if needed) I recommend also checking with your state's higher education agency for state-specific grants for adult learners. Many states have special programs for parents returning to school.

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) number will be the same for all schools you list on the FAFSA. However, each school has its own financial aid budget and policies, so they may offer different aid packages based on that same SAI. Some schools have more institutional aid available or special scholarships for adult learners or single parents. To maximize your aid, I'd recommend: 1. Apply to multiple schools to compare aid packages 2. Contact the financial aid offices directly - sometimes they have discretionary funds 3. Ask specifically about scholarships for returning adult students or single parents 4. Don't forget to apply for external scholarships too And one last tip - if you have trouble reaching the Federal Student Aid helpline (which is common during peak season), I recently used a service called Claimyr that helped me skip the wait times. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me hours of frustration when I had questions about my parent contribution section.

I went back to school last year at 37 and let me tell you the FAFSA process gave me NIGHTMARES!!! They kept asking for verification documents, then said my application was incomplete, then put me on hold FOREVER every time I called. I almost gave up!!! But once I finally got through the process, I qualified for almost $12,000 in grants that I DON'T have to pay back!!! So while it's a PAIN, it's 10000% worth it. Just be prepared for the bureaucracy. I cried at least twice lol.

@OP yeah verification is THE WORST. They selected me for "income verification" and I had to submit tax transcripts even though I used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool!!! Then they wanted proof of my mortgage payments?? Make sure you save EVERYTHING - tax docs, pay stubs, bank statements, housing payment receipts, etc. And respond super fast to any verification requests or it delays your whole aid package. Good luck!!

Just to clarify a few points about the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 year: 1. The SAI calculation now looks at more than just income - it also considers family size, number of college students in your household, and assets. As a single parent, this may work in your favor. 2. The federal loan limits for independent students (which you would be as an adult) are higher than for dependent students. For juniors and seniors, you can borrow up to $12,500 per year in Direct Loans, with $5,500 of that being subsidized (no interest while in school) if you demonstrate financial need. 3. Many schools have additional application requirements beyond FAFSA for their institutional aid. Some might require the CSS Profile or their own financial aid form. Always check with each school's financial aid office. 4. Apply as early as possible after October 1st. Some aid is first-come, first-served, especially at the state level.

@OP Based on what you've shared (single parent, $43k income), you're very likely to qualify for the full Pell Grant or close to it. The income threshold for maximum Pell is around $45k for a family of 2, so you're right in that range. The full Pell Grant for 2025-2026 should be around $7,400-$7,500. Just remember that Pell is prorated based on enrollment status. So if you're going part-time (which many returning adult students do), you'll get a portion of the full amount. For example, if you take 6 credits (half-time), you'd get about half the Pell amount.

i filled out fafsa last year and they gave me the run around for WEEKS trying to get ahold of someone on the phone!!! had a question about my dads tax info (im 22 and they still wanted his info even tho i dont live with him???) and kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for like 2 hours. so annoying

Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely apply as soon as the 2025-2026 FAFSA opens in October, and I'll make sure to have all my documents ready in case I get selected for verification. It sounds like with my situation as a single parent with $43k income, I should qualify for some Pell Grant funding, which is really encouraging. I'll also check with Michigan's higher education agency about state grants and look into each school's institutional aid options. This has been incredibly helpful!