Should I start doctorate now to secure FAFSA loans before husband's income affects eligibility?
I'm in a serious FAFSA dilemma and don't know what to do! I qualified for graduate student loans on my 2024-2025 FAFSA application for my online master's program. But now I'm worried about next year because my spouse just got a major promotion, and our 2024 tax return is going to show significantly higher household income (jumping from about $78K to $115K combined). Here's my situation: I'm currently unemployed (left my job to focus on school), and my spouse doesn't contribute to my education expenses at all - we keep finances separate by agreement. I have an opportunity to enroll in a doctorate program starting this December using my current FAFSA eligibility, but it's honestly my backup choice. The program I REALLY want doesn't start until next June (2026), but by then I'll be under the 2025-2026 FAFSA rules with our new higher income. I'm stressed about potentially losing loan eligibility entirely because of my spouse's income, even though that money isn't available to me for education. Should I just take the December program to secure funding while I can? Or wait for my preferred program and risk not getting any financial aid? Has anyone dealt with high-earning spouse situations and FAFSA? Any advice would be so appreciated!
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Ashley Simian
One thing I didn't see mentioned yet - if you're worried about qualifying for enough loans for your preferred program, you might want to look into an income-driven repayment plan after graduation. Even with higher loan amounts, these plans cap your monthly payments at a percentage of your discretionary income, making repayment more manageable. Also, check if your preferred program qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you plan to work in the public sector or for a non-profit after graduation. This could be a huge factor in your long-term financial planning. Best of luck with your decision! Advanced degrees are worth it, but definitely choose the program that aligns with your career goals rather than making a decision based solely on immediate financial concerns.
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Miguel Harvey
•Thank you for bringing up the repayment options! I hadn't thought much about that aspect yet. I do plan to work in the education sector after graduation, so PSLF might be relevant for me. I'll research that more as I make my decision. After all this helpful advice, I'm leaning toward waiting for my preferred program. The funding options seem more flexible than I initially realized, and I don't want to spend years in a program that wasn't my first choice just because of timing.
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