How long after FAFSA processing should we wait for financial aid package from college?

We waited almost 3 weeks after our SAI was available, and that was with me calling the fin aid office TWICE! It's ridiculous how long this can take. Hang in there but definitely start calling them!

Financial aid offices are absolutely swamped right now with the FAFSA delays this year. From my experience working in admissions (before I retired), the typical processing time is 7-10 business days after they receive your SAI. However, many schools are running 2-3 weeks behind this cycle because of all the FAFSA issues. Regarding your loan question - yes, the financial aid package will break down exactly what types of loans are being offered. You'll see separate entries for Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS loans if applicable. They'll also indicate any grants, scholarships, or work-study eligibility. This breakdown is crucial for comparing offers between schools. I strongly recommend contacting each financial aid office directly. Be polite but persistent - explain that you're waiting on their package to make your final decision before the May 1 deadline.

my daughter got her aid package like 4 days after we sent the SAI to the school. but her friend at another college is still waiting after 3 weeks!! i think it totally depends on the school and how organized they are

Call them IMMEDIATELY. Don't wait another day. The May 1st deadline is FEDERAL and they know it. Financial aid offices are using the FAFSA disaster as an excuse to be slower than ever this year. My son nearly lost his spot because we couldn't make a decision without the aid package and they took FOREVER. When you finally get the package, they should show EVERYTHING - loans broken down by type (sub, unsub, PLUS), any grants, work study, scholarships, and the direct costs vs. indirect costs. If they don't show this level of detail, that's a RED FLAG about how that college operates!!! Don't be afraid to ask for an extension on the May 1 deadline if you don't have ALL your financial aid packages by next week. Many schools will grant it because of the FAFSA mess this year.

I work at a university financial aid office, and I can give you some insight into what's happening on our end. This year has been exceptionally challenging with the FAFSA modernization causing significant delays. Typically, once we receive a student's SAI, we aim to generate a financial aid package within 10-14 business days. However, many schools are currently operating on a 15-20 business day timeline due to the backlog. Some institutions prioritize students who have already committed to attending. Regarding your loan question - yes, the financial aid package will itemize everything. You'll see each loan type listed separately with annual interest rates and terms. The package should include: - Federal Direct Subsidized Loans (if eligible) - Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans - Parent PLUS Loan eligibility (requires separate application) - Any institutional scholarships or grants - Federal grants like Pell or SEOG (if eligible) - Work-study opportunities (if eligible) I strongly recommend calling each financial aid office directly. Many schools understand the compressed timeline this year and may be able to expedite your package if you explain you're waiting to make a decision.

I've been trying to call my son's financial aid office for DAYS with no luck getting through. Either I'm on hold forever or the call drops. So frustrating trying to get answers about his package before the deadline! Has anyone else had this problem?

CALL THEM NOW AND REQUEST AN EXTENSION ON YOUR MAY 1 DEADLINE!!!! My daughter's top choice school wouldn't generate her package until we put down a DEPOSIT first!!! Total BS since how can we commit without knowing the cost?? We had to threaten to file a complaint with the Department of Education before they finally sent the package. The whole system is BROKEN.

Update: I called three schools this morning. Two said they're still processing but hope to have packages out "soon" (whatever that means). The third school was much more helpful and said they'd expedite our daughter's package and should have it to us by Friday. They also said they're granting automatic extensions to the May 1st deadline this year because of all the FAFSA delays. I'm going to call the other schools back tomorrow and specifically ask about deadline extensions. Thanks everyone for the advice to be more proactive!

my cousin works in financial aid at a state school and she said they're basically working 12 hour days trying to get all the packages done. the new fafsa system is giving them all kinds of problems on their end too. maybe try calling early in the morning when the lines aren't so busy?

For anyone in this situation, many colleges have now publicly announced extensions to their May 1 deposit deadlines because of the FAFSA delays. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has a list of schools offering extensions on their website. When you call the financial aid office, be sure to ask these specific questions: 1. "What is your current processing timeline for financial aid packages after receiving a student's SAI?" 2. "Do you offer an extension to the May 1st decision deadline if we don't receive our aid package in time to make an informed decision?" 3. "Can my student's package be expedited since we're waiting on this information to make our final decision?" 4. "Will we receive a complete breakdown of all potential aid, including specific loan types and terms?" Asking these direct questions will typically get you more concrete answers than general inquiries about status.