How long does FAFSA take to process after submission? Average wait time driving me crazy!
I finally submitted my FAFSA application last Thursday after gathering all my tax docs and getting my parents' information (which took FOREVER btw). The confirmation page said it was successfully submitted, but now I'm just wondering how long until I actually get my SAI score? The financial aid deadline for my top choice school is coming up in 3 weeks and I'm getting nervous. What's the average turnaround time once everything has been properly submitted? Does anyone know if there are delays this year for the 2025-2026 application cycle? My friends are all saying different things - one got his in 3 days, another has been waiting for weeks!
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Ethan Taylor
mine took 5 days to process last month but my roomate's took almost 3 weeks so i think it varies alot
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Aisha Khan
•That's such a big difference! Did your roommate have any complications with their application or was it just random?
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Yuki Ito
The official processing time is 3-5 business days for a clean FAFSA submission, but that's assuming there aren't any verification flags or data matching issues. If your application gets selected for verification or if there's a mismatch between your reported information and federal databases (IRS, Social Security, etc.), it can take 2-3 weeks or longer. Since you mentioned your school's deadline is in 3 weeks, you should be fine, but I'd recommend checking your status on studentaid.gov every couple of days. Look specifically for any requests for additional information - that's usually what causes delays.
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you! I'll keep checking the portal. Is there any way to tell if I've been flagged for verification before they notify me?
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Carmen Lopez
dont stress it!!! mine went thru in like 4 days this year but last year took like 2 weeks. most scools will work w/ u if FAFSA is slow
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Andre Dupont
HAHAHA welcome to the waiting game!!! I submitted mine on October 6th and STILL waiting for processing to complete. Called FSA 8 TIMES and either got disconnected or was on hold for 2+ hours before giving up. The system is COMPLETELY BROKEN this year with the new changes. Don't believe the "3-5 days" nonsense - that's only if everything magically goes perfectly.
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QuantumQuasar
•Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an FSA agent? I was in the same boat, constantly disconnected when trying to check on my application status. I found this service claimyr.com that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is about to answer. Saved me hours of hold time frustration. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Got through to a real person in about 45 minutes while I was in class instead of waiting on hold all day.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Financial aid advisor here. The processing time varies significantly based on several factors: 1. Clean submissions with no data conflicts typically process in 3-7 business days 2. Applications with income/household discrepancies may take 7-14 business days 3. Those selected for verification can take 2-4 weeks or longer For the 2025-2026 cycle, we are seeing average processing times of about 8-10 business days even for clean applications due to high volume. If your school deadline is 3 weeks away, I recommend: 1. Check your Student Aid Report (SAR) on studentaid.gov for any processing codes that indicate issues 2. Contact your school's financial aid office to let them know you've submitted and are waiting for processing 3. Many schools will work with you if you can prove you submitted before their deadline, even if processing is delayed The most common delays we're seeing are related to parent contributor information and tax filing status discrepancies.
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Aisha Khan
•This is super helpful, thank you! I just checked and my SAR shows code 099, which says "Information was processed successfully." Does that mean I'm in the clear and just waiting for my SAI score, or could I still get flagged for verification later?
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Jamal Wilson
my cousin works in financial aid and she told me they're SWAMPED right now with the new FAFSA changes. said people are waiting wayyyy longer than usual.
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Yuki Ito
If your SAR shows code 099 without any other processing codes, that's good news! It means your application has been processed successfully, and you should see your SAI calculation soon. You could still be selected for verification later (about 30% of applications are), but that would be initiated by your specific college, not the federal processor at this point. One recommendation - download and save a PDF copy of your submitted FAFSA and confirmation page. If there are any delays that might affect your school's deadline, having documentation of your submission date can be helpful when speaking with your school's financial aid office.
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you so much! I just downloaded everything. My SAI finally came through this morning - 7 business days after submission. That was more stressful than it needed to be! For anyone else waiting, just be patient and keep checking the portal.
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