MPN for Federal Loans showing as 'unsatisfied requirement' at school - FAFSA complete but loans stuck

Yes, this is a common issue this year! The Department of Education updated their MPN processing system in June, and there's a significant backlog. For my daughter, it took 4 weeks for her MPN to be marked as satisfied in her school portal, even though the StudentAid.gov site showed it as complete immediately.\n\nMake sure you're looking at the correct MPN type - there's one for subsidized/unsubsidized loans and a different one for PLUS loans. Also, double-check that they completed the entrance counseling, which is a separate requirement from the MPN.\n\nIf you're certain everything was completed correctly, I recommend sending an email to the financial aid office with screenshots from StudentAid.gov showing the completed MPNs. This worked for us - they manually updated her status while waiting for the system to catch up.

Thank you! I'll definitely try emailing with screenshots. They definitely completed the right MPNs (the subsidized/unsubsidized one) and did the entrance counseling too - it shows as complete on StudentAid.gov but not in the school portal. It's reassuring to hear this might just be a processing delay!

I work in financial aid (different school) and can tell u this is happening EVERYWHERE rn!! The federal system that communicates MPN completion to schools is having major issues. Some are taking 3-4 weeks to show up in our system even tho students completed them. If studentaid.gov shows it as done, you should be fine! The school can override it manually if u provide proof. just keep calling!

That's such a relief to hear it's a known issue! Do you think this will delay when the loan money actually hits their accounts? That's what I'm most worried about - them not having funds for tuition when classes start.

As long as you get it resolved before disbursement date (usually 10 days before classes) you should be fine!! Most schools will still process everything if they have manual confirmation even if system hasn't caught up. Just keep documentation of everything!!

This happened to my son too! We were freaking out because his MPN wasn't showing up at his school after 2 weeks. I tried calling FSA for THREE DAYS and couldn't get through - constant busy signals or disconnects.\n\nI finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to Federal Student Aid. It's a service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nThe FSA agent confirmed the MPN was in their system and sent some kind of electronic notification to my son's school. The requirement was marked satisfied two days later. Might be worth trying if you can't get through on the phone.

Is that service legit? Seems sketchy to use a third party for financial aid stuff...

It's just a call-back service - they don't access any of your FAFSA info or financial details. They just hold your place in the phone queue and connect you directly with FSA when an agent is available. Saved me from being on hold for hours.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out if the email approach doesn't work. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to someone who can help!

This MPN issue is frustrating but solvable. Here's what you need to know:\n\n1. There's an electronic reporting delay between StudentAid.gov and individual schools this year. This is a known issue affecting thousands of students.\n\n2. Each school handles this differently. Some will accept screenshots from StudentAid.gov as proof of completion. Others require you to contact Federal Student Aid directly for intervention.\n\n3. The MPN itself is valid for 10 years, so once properly completed, your children won't need to redo it next year.\n\n4. This processing delay won't affect loan eligibility, but it could delay disbursement if not resolved.\n\n5. Document everything: take screenshots of completed MPNs on StudentAid.gov, save confirmation emails, and record the dates of all communications.\n\nIf sending screenshots doesn't work, try scheduling a virtual appointment with financial aid rather than calling. Many schools offer this option now and it's often easier than getting through by phone.

Thank you for the detailed explanation! I didn't realize the MPN is valid for 10 years - that's good to know for future semesters. I'll check if their schools offer virtual appointments - that's a great idea.

ur lucky ur kids even got their SAI scores! my daughter applied in january and still hasnt gotten her score. the whole system is a mess this year. goodluck getting anyone on the phone, ive tried 50+ times!!!!!

That's terrible! Have you tried submitting a case through the FSA feedback center? I've heard that sometimes helps with stalled applications.

i did submit feedback but they just sent some generic email saying to be patient. meanwhile tuition is due in 2 weeks!!! this system is rigged against families i swear

Let me clarify some misinformation in this thread. The MPN and Entrance Counseling are two separate federal requirements that must both be satisfied before loan disbursement.\n\nThe MPN is the legal document promising repayment. Entrance Counseling is the educational module about loan terms. Both must be completed on StudentAid.gov, but they communicate to schools through different channels.\n\nIf your students completed both on StudentAid.gov but only the MPN is showing as unsatisfied at the school, it could be that:\n\n1. The school hasn't received the electronic notification from the federal system (most likely)\n2. The MPNs were completed under incorrect student FSA IDs\n3. The wrong type of MPN was completed\n\nFor fastest resolution:\n1. Email the financial aid office with screenshots\n2. Ask specifically for a manual override based on proof of completion\n3. Request confirmation that this won't delay disbursement\n\nIf the school claims they can't manually override this requirement (some claim this), that's incorrect. Schools absolutely have the authority to manually mark federal requirements as satisfied with proper documentation.

Thank you for this detailed explanation! I just double-checked and they definitely completed both the Entrance Counseling and the correct MPN (for subsidized/unsubsidized loans). I'll email the financial aid office today with the screenshots and specifically request the manual override. Really appreciate the clear guidance!

You're welcome! One more tip: in your email subject line, include both

This whole FAFSA system is BROKEN!!! My daughter finished her MPN in MAY and her school only just now recognized it. We had to make THREE trips to the financial aid office in person with printouts before they fixed it. The financial aid officer told us they've had hundreds of students with the same issue this year.\n\nThe real problem is that the Education Department's data system got \

Unfortunately one school is 3 hours away and the other is out of state, so going in person isn't really an option. But I agree the system seems completely broken this year! So frustrating that something as important as education funding is this dysfunctional.

wait im confused... isn't the mpn different from the fafsa? my counselor told me fafsa is for grants and mpn is for loans?? did i do something wrong?

You're partially correct but mixing up some concepts. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the main application that determines eligibility for ALL federal aid - grants, loans, and work-study.\n\nThe MPN (Master Promissory Note) is only for loans and is a separate step you complete AFTER being approved for loans through your FAFSA. \n\nSo you need to:\n1. Submit FAFSA\n2. Get aid package from school with loan offers\n3. Accept loans through your school portal\n4. Complete MPN on StudentAid.gov\n5. Complete Entrance Counseling on StudentAid.gov\n\nIf you only wanted grants like Pell Grants, you wouldn't need to do steps 3-5.

ohhhh ok that makes sense! i didn't accept any loans so i guess that's why i never had to do the mpn thing. thanks for explaining!

UPDATE: I emailed the financial aid offices with screenshots from StudentAid.gov showing both MPNs were completed. One school responded within hours and manually updated their status to satisfied! The other school hasn't responded yet, but I'm hopeful.\n\nThank you all for your help and reassurance that this is a common issue. It's frustrating but at least it seems solvable!

That's great news! For the school that hasn't responded, try calling early in the morning (right when they open) - that's usually when wait times are shortest. So glad you got it partly resolved!

Excellent! This is a perfect example of how you can navigate system delays with the right documentation. For future reference, save copies of all these communications in case similar issues arise with loan disbursements. The current processing delays are affecting multiple parts of the federal aid system.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar MPN issue for my son - completed 5 weeks ago but still showing as unsatisfied. I was starting to panic thinking we did something wrong. The email approach with screenshots sounds like the best strategy. Quick question for those who've resolved this - did you include both the MPN completion confirmation AND the entrance counseling screenshot in your email, or just the MPN? Want to make sure I send everything they need in one message to avoid back-and-forth delays.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! My daughter completed her MPN 6 weeks ago and it's still showing as unsatisfied at her school. What's even more frustrating is that I called the Federal Student Aid helpline and they confirmed her MPN is definitely in their system and complete, but somehow it's not communicating to the school's portal. I tried the email approach with screenshots like others suggested, but my daughter's school replied saying they "can't manually override federal requirements" - which contradicts what Steven Adams said about schools having that authority. Has anyone else run into schools that refuse to do manual overrides? At this point I'm considering escalating to the school's financial aid director because classes start in 2 weeks and we're running out of time! The whole system feels completely broken this year. These delays are causing so much unnecessary stress for families just trying to get their kids educated.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually a financial aid counselor at a mid-sized state university, and I wanted to add some insider perspective on what's happening behind the scenes. The MPN processing delays are absolutely real and widespread this year. Our office has been getting 20-30 calls daily about this exact issue since early July. The federal reporting system that sends MPN completion data to schools has been unreliable since the Department of Education's system updates in June. For families dealing with schools that claim they "can't" do manual overrides - that's simply not true. Every school has the ability to manually satisfy federal loan requirements when provided with proper documentation from StudentAid.gov. We do it multiple times per day. If a school is refusing, ask to speak with a supervisor or the financial aid director. Here's what we recommend for fastest resolution: 1. Email screenshots of BOTH the completed MPN and entrance counseling from StudentAid.gov 2. Include the student's FSA ID and school ID number 3. Request confirmation that loans will disburse on schedule once manually updated 4. If initially refused, escalate immediately - don't wait The good news is that once this is resolved manually, it typically doesn't happen again for subsequent semesters since the MPN is valid for 10 years. Hang in there - this is a temporary system issue that will get sorted out!

As someone who just went through this exact situation with my son last month, I can confirm everything others have said about the MPN processing delays. What ultimately worked for us was being very persistent and organized in our approach. Here's what I learned: when emailing the financial aid office, be very specific in your subject line - something like "URGENT: MPN Manual Override Request - [Student Name] - [Student ID]". This helps your email get prioritized since they're probably drowning in similar requests. Also, if you have to call, try calling at exactly 8 AM when they open. I got through on the first try that way after days of busy signals. The key is having your FSA screenshots ready to email immediately while you have someone on the phone - they can often update the system in real-time if you provide the documentation during the call. The stress is real, but this is definitely solvable! Your twins' loans will come through once you get past this administrative hurdle. The financial aid counselor who commented above is absolutely right - schools can and should do manual overrides for this known system issue.

This thread is so timely for me! I'm a first-year college student and just completed my MPN last week, but now I'm worried it might get stuck in this processing backlog too. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like the key is being proactive with documentation rather than just waiting and hoping it processes automatically. I'm definitely going to take screenshots of my completed MPN and entrance counseling from StudentAid.gov right now while everything is fresh, just in case my school's portal doesn't update in the next few weeks. The advice about calling at 8 AM sharp and having a specific email subject line is gold - I'm saving this whole thread as a reference guide! It's honestly ridiculous that students and families have to become experts at navigating broken federal systems just to access education funding, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their strategies and solutions. Knowing this is a widespread issue and not individual mistakes makes it way less stressful.

As a newcomer here, I'm finding this thread incredibly valuable! I'm currently dealing with the same MPN processing delays for my daughter - completed over a month ago but still showing as unsatisfied at her school. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been so reassuring. What strikes me most is how this seems to be a widespread system issue that the Department of Education should be communicating more clearly to families. Instead, we're all left scrambling and thinking we did something wrong. The practical advice here about early morning calls, specific email subject lines, and having screenshots ready is exactly what I needed. I'm definitely going to try the email approach with documentation first, and if that doesn't work, I'll escalate using the strategies mentioned. It's unfortunate that getting an education requires becoming an expert at navigating broken federal systems, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share solutions and support each other through these frustrating processes. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's made what felt like an impossible situation seem much more manageable!

As someone new to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! My son completed his MPN three weeks ago and we're facing the exact same issue - showing as complete on StudentAid.gov but unsatisfied in his school portal. Reading through all the shared experiences here has been both eye-opening and reassuring. It's clear this is a systemic problem affecting thousands of families, not isolated cases of user error. The practical solutions everyone has shared - especially the early morning calling strategy, specific email subject lines, and having screenshots ready - are incredibly valuable. What really stands out to me is the confirmation from the financial aid counselor that schools absolutely CAN do manual overrides. That's crucial information for families dealing with schools that claim they can't help. I'm planning to email his financial aid office tomorrow with screenshots and will definitely escalate if needed. Thank you all for turning what felt like a crisis into a manageable challenge with clear action steps!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same MPN processing nightmare for my daughter. She completed her MPN and entrance counseling six weeks ago, and while StudentAid.gov shows everything as complete, her school portal still shows "MPN - Unsatisfied Requirement." What's been most frustrating is feeling like we're the only ones dealing with this issue, but reading through everyone's experiences has shown me this is clearly a widespread system problem. The practical advice shared here is invaluable - especially the confirmation from the financial aid counselor that schools absolutely CAN do manual overrides despite what some offices might claim. I'm planning to email her financial aid office today with screenshots from StudentAid.gov using the specific subject line format suggested (URGENT: MPN Manual Override Request - [Student Name] - [Student ID]). If that doesn't work, I'll try the early morning calling strategy and be prepared to escalate immediately rather than accepting "we can't help." Thank you all for sharing your solutions and making what felt like an impossible situation seem solvable. It's unfortunate that families have to become experts at navigating broken federal systems, but communities like this make such a difference when we're all struggling with the same issues!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with MPN processing delays - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently facing the same situation with my son's federal loans. He completed his MPN and entrance counseling 4 weeks ago, and while everything shows as complete on StudentAid.gov, his school portal still displays "MPN - Unsatisfied Requirement." Reading through all the solutions shared here has given me a clear action plan. I'm going to email the financial aid office today with screenshots from StudentAid.gov using the urgent subject line format that Abby Marshall suggested. It's reassuring to know from the financial aid counselor who commented that schools absolutely CAN do manual overrides, despite what some offices might initially claim. What really strikes me is how this widespread system issue isn't being communicated clearly by the Department of Education, leaving families to navigate these problems on their own. I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share practical solutions and support each other through these frustrating bureaucratic hurdles. I'll definitely update this thread once I get a response from the school - hopefully it will be as straightforward as some of the success stories shared here!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same MPN processing issue for my twin daughters. They both completed their MPNs and entrance counseling over 5 weeks ago, and while StudentAid.gov shows everything as complete, both schools still show "MPN - Unsatisfied Requirement" in their portals. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and educational. It's clear this is a widespread system problem affecting thousands of families, not individual mistakes. The practical solutions shared here - especially the early morning calling strategy, specific email subject line format, and having screenshots ready - are exactly what I needed to hear. I'm particularly grateful for the confirmation from the financial aid counselor that schools absolutely CAN do manual overrides. One of my daughters' schools initially told me they "couldn't override federal requirements," but now I know that's simply not true and I can escalate confidently. I'm planning to email both schools today using the "URGENT: MPN Manual Override Request" subject line format with complete documentation attached. If that doesn't work, I'll try the 8 AM calling strategy and be prepared to escalate immediately. Thank you all for turning what felt like an impossible crisis into a manageable problem with clear action steps!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful I found this thread! I'm currently experiencing the exact same MPN processing delays with my daughter - completed everything on StudentAid.gov 3 weeks ago but her school portal still shows it as unsatisfied. What's been most helpful is learning this is a widespread system issue, not something we did wrong. The practical advice here is invaluable - I had no idea schools could do manual overrides or that calling at 8 AM would be more effective. I'm definitely going to try the email approach first with screenshots and that specific urgent subject line format. It's frustrating that the Department of Education hasn't communicated about these delays more clearly, leaving families to figure it out ourselves. But I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share solutions and support each other. I'll update once I hear back from the school - hopefully it'll be another success story to add to this thread!