FAFSA results only show loans and no Pell Grant - is our aid package complete?

When a school says they're "processing" your file, it typically means they're still determining the full financial aid package. The $5,500 is almost certainly just the Federal Direct Loan that nearly all undergraduate students qualify for regardless of financial need. Private schools have their own institutional aid that's separate from federal programs like Pell. You should reach out directly to the financial aid office to ask when you can expect the COMPLETE financial aid package, including any potential merit scholarships or institutional grants. Don't make any decisions until you have the full picture!

been there!! my kid got the exact same thing at first - just the loans showed up and nothing else. we panicked too but then 2 weeks later got an email with the ACTUAL package that had grants and scholarships too. dont give up hope yet!!

The $5500 is just the standard federal direct loan amount for first year dependent students. That has NOTHING to do with your actual EFC/SAI or need-based aid. All freshmen get offered that regardless of income. Private schools take longer to put together their institutional aid packages because they have more complicated formulas than just the federal methodology. They might be waiting on CSS Profile info too if they require that. Did you complete the CSS Profile? Many private colleges use that IN ADDITION to FAFSA for their institutional aid decisions.

Private schools are THE WORST about stringing families along!!! They do this on purpose to keep you interested while they figure out how little aid they can give you and still get you to attend. My daughter went through this exact thing and we ended up at our state school which was actually a much better financial decision in the end.

Financial aid counselor here. What you're seeing is just the federal aid portion, and specifically just the loans that almost everyone qualifies for regardless of need. The full financial aid package from a private institution typically includes: 1. Federal grants (Pell, SEOG) if you qualify based on your SAI 2. Federal loans (the $5,500 you mentioned) 3. Institutional grants and scholarships (this is the big one at private schools) 4. Federal work-study if eligible When they say "processing," they're likely still determining your institutional aid, which at many private colleges makes up the bulk of the financial support for middle-income families. This can include need-based institutional grants and merit scholarships. I'd recommend calling the financial aid office directly on Monday. Ask specifically about the timeline for receiving your COMPLETE aid package including institutional funds, and explain your situation with the state school deposit deadline approaching.

Have you tried calling the school's financial aid office? You might need to explain your situation about needing to decide quickly because of your in-state deposit deadline. Sometimes they can expedite processing your full package when there's a competing deadline.

whats your daughters SAI score? if its above like 6000 or something she prolly wont get pell grant anyway

Did your daughter get accepted to both schools? Sometimes colleges won't finalize aid packages for students who are on waitlists or whose admission status isn't fully resolved.

One important note - many private colleges will match or improve their offers if you show them the financial aid package from your state school. Once you get the state university's full offer, you can use that as leverage with the private college. Just be sure to get everything in writing and follow up persistently. Also, don't forget to check if your student qualifies for any departmental scholarships from their intended major. Sometimes these aren't automatically included in the initial aid package and require separate applications.