Should I list both in-state and out-of-state schools on FAFSA application?

Absolutely include BOTH schools on the FAFSA! The number of schools you list doesn't affect your aid eligibility at all. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation remains the same regardless of how many schools receive your FAFSA information. Each school will use your FAFSA data to create their own financial aid package based on their specific funding and policies. In fact, I recommend adding up to 10 schools (the maximum allowed) if she's considering that many. You can always add/remove schools later through your studentaid.gov account after submission too.

add them all!!!! i put like 7 schools on mine lol. the fasfa lets u send ur info to all of them at once which saves time. each school decides what aid u get not the fasfa itself

List every school she's considering. The FAFSA will send your information to all of them, and then each school will create their own financial aid package based on: 1. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) 2. Their available institutional funds 3. Their specific aid policies 4. State-specific grants that might apply Something important to understand: In-state schools will almost always be significantly cheaper overall, even after financial aid packages. Out-of-state schools typically have higher sticker prices AND fewer institutional grants available for non-residents. Make sure to compare the final net cost between schools, not just the initial aid offers.

When I did my daughters FAFSA we listed 4 schools and honestly it was a good thing we did because her top choice ended up giving her the WORST aid package! The in-state school gave her way more money in the end so she went there instead. You never know how it will work out!!

The best strategy is to list ALL possible schools your daughter might attend. Here's why this matters strategically: 1. Some state grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so getting your FAFSA to in-state schools early can improve your chances 2. Some institutions have earlier priority deadlines for their own institutional aid 3. Out-of-state public universities often have significantly less aid for non-residents 4. Private universities sometimes offer more generous aid packages to compete with in-state tuition rates By submitting to both in-state and out-of-state options, you'll be able to compare ACTUAL costs rather than estimated ones. Many families are surprised to find their out-of-state "dream school" might cost $25,000+ more per year even after all aid is applied.

i had to call the financial aid office about 50 times when i was doing FAFSA stuff last year and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through!!! spent like 4 hrs on hold and then got disconnected each time. so frustrating!!

my kid wanted the fancy out of state school too but when we saw the price difference... YIKES!! almost 32k MORE per year even after all the financial aid!! we ended up at our state school and honestly she loves it now. sometimes kids dont understand the real cost till they see the numbers

One additional strategic consideration: If you're submitting the CSS Profile for any private schools in addition to the FAFSA, the institutional methodology used by the CSS Profile schools might result in very different aid packages than FAFSA-only schools. The CSS Profile looks at more assets and income details than the FAFSA does. So if some of your out-of-state options are private schools requiring the CSS Profile, be prepared for a more complex financial evaluation process. Just another reason to apply to multiple schools and compare the final offers.

btw once you submit the FAFSA you can still add more schools later if she decides to apply to more places! you just log into studentaid.gov and add them. i added 3 more schools after i already submitted mine

After you've submitted your FAFSA and received aid packages from each school, I highly recommend creating a side-by-side comparison spreadsheet. Look at: 1. Direct costs (tuition, fees, room & board) 2. Grants and scholarships (money you don't repay) 3. Work-study opportunities 4. Loans offered (federal vs. private) 5. Remaining gap you must cover out-of-pocket This clear comparison helps many families make the most financially sound decision. Remember that loans must be repaid with interest, so minimal debt is generally preferable for most students.

As someone who went through this exact same situation with my son last year, I can't stress enough how important it is to cast a wide net! We listed 8 schools on his FAFSA - a mix of in-state public, out-of-state public, and private schools. What really surprised us was that one of the private schools actually ended up being CHEAPER than the out-of-state public option after their generous merit aid package. We almost didn't apply there because of the high sticker price, but their institutional aid made it very competitive. My advice: List every school she's seriously considering, submit early (some aid is first-come-first-served), and don't make any assumptions about cost until you see the actual aid packages. The FAFSA submission is free, so there's literally no downside to including more options. Good luck!

Definitely list both! I made this same decision with my daughter two years ago and I'm so glad we included multiple schools. The FAFSA lets you list up to 10 schools at no extra cost, and it won't hurt your aid eligibility at all. Here's what I learned: each school creates their own aid package independently using your FAFSA data, so more options = more opportunities to find the best deal. We were shocked when her "safety" in-state school offered significantly more merit aid than we expected, while her dream out-of-state school's package was disappointing. Also, don't forget that you can always remove schools from the list later if she decides not to apply somewhere, but adding them after submission takes extra steps. Better to include them all upfront! The key is to submit early since some state and institutional aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.