Is FAFSA processing applications in batches by submission month for 2025-2026?

The Federal Student Aid office doesn't officially process FAFSA forms strictly by month, but there are processing waves that can make it seem that way. Several factors affect processing time: 1. Verification selection (random reviews that slow processing) 2. Data inconsistencies that require manual review 3. Special circumstances requiring additional documentation 4. System backlogs during peak periods If your sister applied in February but already received her SAI while your January application is still processing, it's likely yours was selected for additional review or has some flag that's causing the delay. I recommend logging into studentaid.gov to check if there are any notifications about missing information.

mine took 9 weeks!! applied Dec 15 and didnt get processed until mid-feb... meanwhile my roommate applied in January and hers took 2 weeks. makes NO sense but i dont think its actually by month, just super random

There's definitely no month-by-month processing! I work in our college's financial aid office, and what I've observed is that applications with zero issues get processed quickly regardless of submission date. If there are any red flags, inconsistencies between tax info and what's reported, or if you're selected for verification (which is random for about 30% of applicants), then processing takes much longer. You mentioned your sister got processed faster despite applying later - was her financial situation less complicated than yours? Did she have fewer income sources or a simpler tax situation? These factors make a huge difference in processing time.

I had a HORRIBLE time with FAFSA processing this year!!!! Submitted in November 2024 and STILL didn't get my SAI until March!!! Called like 20 times and could never get through to anyone. The whole system is completely BROKEN and they don't care at all about students waiting for financial aid decisions. They probably are processing by month or some other ridiculous system that makes no sense!!!!

The processing isn't strictly by month, but there are different priority processing windows for each FAFSA cycle. Here's how it typically works: - Applications with the earliest FAFSAs (October-December) get priority processing but also face the highest verification selection rates (approximately 30-35%) - January-March applications typically have slightly lower verification rates (around 25-30%) - Applications submitted after March face increasing delays as the system gets backlogged What's likely happening in your case is either: 1. Your application was selected for verification 2. There's a data mismatch between your reported information and IRS records 3. There's a special circumstance flag on your application I recommend checking your Student Aid Index (SAI) status on studentaid.gov and looking specifically for any messages or tasks in your action center.

just call them!!! thats what i did and turns out they were waiting on something from me but the email went to spam lol. wasted 6 weeks waiting for nothing

Based on your follow-up comments about having multiple jobs and divorced parents, I'm almost certain your application is going through additional verification steps. This isn't necessarily bad - it's just part of ensuring aid is distributed accurately. If your housing deposit is due soon, I'd recommend: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office directly - they can sometimes access more information about your FAFSA status than you can see 2. Ask if they offer any temporary aid determinations for students with pending FAFSAs 3. See if they have a housing deposit deferment program for students awaiting financial aid decisions Many schools have processes in place specifically for students in your situation.

After reading through your comments, it definitely sounds like your application is under additional review due to your more complex financial situation. When I worked in financial aid, applications with multiple income sources and divorced parents almost always took longer to process. One important point: if your application has been selected for verification, you should have received a notification. Since you haven't, it's possible there's a communication issue. Double-check your spam folder and make sure your contact information is updated in your FSA profile. If you haven't been able to get through on the phone, I'd try early morning (right when they open) or use Claimyr (claimyr.com) which can help get you through to an agent faster. Getting direct confirmation from FSA about what's happening with your application will give you peace of mind and potentially help resolve the issue sooner.