FAFSA shows 'processed' with SAI -1500 but no aid package received - how long is normal?

colleges send out financial aid packages on different timelines. some are super quick while others drag their feet forever! i also had a negative SAI (-1200) and it took anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 MONTHS depending on the school. def call the financial aid offices directly at each school she applied to and ask about their timeline. they can tell u if they received her FAFSA data already.

The timing varies by institution, but having a processed FAFSA with SAI data is just the first step. Each college has to: 1. Receive the FAFSA data from Federal Student Aid 2. Match it to your daughter's application in their system 3. Package her financial aid based on their specific policies and available funds 4. Send official aid offers (typically via student portal or email) A negative SAI (-1500) does indicate high financial need, which typically qualifies for substantial aid, including potential Pell Grant eligibility. I'd recommend: - Check her student portals for each college - sometimes aid packages appear there before notification emails - Contact each financial aid office directly (especially her top choice) - Ask specifically if they've received her FAFSA data and when aid packages will be released - Explain the upcoming deposit deadline and ask if there's an expedited review process

YOU NEED TO CALL RIGHT AWAY!!! Schools have different deadlines and they wont extend them just cause you didn't get your paperwork in on time! When my son applied last year, we had a similar SAI and one school never even sent us a package until we called MULTIPLE TIMES. Some schools literally wait for you to contact them!!! The financial aid system is DESIGNED to be confusing. Don't assume anything is happening automatically.

we had -1700 sai and my son got full pell grant plus state grants at 3 schools. the other 2 schools gave different amounts tho even with same sai. took about 4 weeks for first package and almost 6 for the last one. check your spam folder too cuz thats where 2 of ours went

Hey there! As someone who works with students on financial aid issues, I'd definitely recommend being proactive here. With a -1500 SAI, your daughter likely qualifies for significant aid, but schools don't always process everything in a timely manner. I had several students facing similar delays recently. One solution that worked extremely well was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to Federal Student Aid agents to verify that everything was properly transmitted to the schools. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ But most importantly, call each school's financial aid office directly. When you call, ask these specific questions: 1. "Have you received my daughter's FAFSA data?" 2. "When will aid packages be released?" 3. "Can you provide a preliminary estimate based on her SAI?" 4. "Is there any additional documentation needed?" Explain the approaching deposit deadline situation. Many schools can expedite the process if you explain the timing constraints.

Has she received her acceptance letters from all the schools? Some schools wait until they've sent official acceptance before they send financial aid packages. My daughter had the same situation last year.

To answer your question about the Pell Grant - yes, with an SAI of -1500, your daughter would likely qualify for the maximum Pell Grant for the 2025-2026 aid year (approximately $7,395). However, remember that the Pell Grant is just one component of the overall aid package. Each school will also consider their own institutional aid, state grants, work-study opportunities, and various loan options. This is why aid packages can vary significantly between schools despite having the same SAI. When you contact the financial aid offices, make sure to ask about their "preferred deadline" for accepting aid offers versus their "hard deadline." Many schools have some flexibility with the May 1st deadline, especially if there are valid reasons for delay in financial aid processing.

After you contact each school, make sure to document everything: - Who you spoke with (name and position) - Date and time of the conversation - What they told you about timelines - Any reference/confirmation numbers If you need to request deadline extensions, having this documentation will help tremendously. Also, if you speak with someone who isn't helpful, don't hesitate to politely ask to speak with a financial aid counselor or supervisor. Sometimes the front-line staff don't have authorization to expedite processes or provide detailed information about pending aid packages.

also check if ne of the schools require the CSS Profile form!!!! my daughtrs first choice needed both FAFSA and CSS and they wouldnt give ANY aid without both even though FAFSA was done! we almost missed out on 22k in aid bc of that stupid form

I'm in a very similar situation right now! My son's FAFSA processed about 2 weeks ago with an SAI of -1800, and we're also waiting on aid packages. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea schools could take so long after FAFSA processing. One thing I discovered is that some schools have a "to-do list" in their student portals that shows if they're still waiting for anything from you, even after FAFSA is processed. Might be worth checking those portals for any missing items that could be holding up the aid packaging process. Also, if it helps with timing - I called one school yesterday and they said they typically release aid packages in "waves" throughout March and April, so even schools that seem slow might still be on their normal timeline. But definitely agree with everyone saying to call directly rather than wait!