When will universities send financial aid packages after FAFSA processing?

I work in financial aid at a mid-sized university (won't say which one). Most schools are REALLY behind this year because of all the FAFSA delays and system changes. We're telling students to expect 3-4 weeks from when we receive your ISIR data, but honestly, that's optimistic. The Department of Education keeps sending updates and corrections to ISIRs too, which complicates things. If you're waiting on multiple schools, expect different timelines - some might get packages out in 2 weeks, others might take 6+ weeks depending on their staffing and systems.

got mine already from state university!! only took 10 days after fafsa processed but its probably cause im a returning student and they already had most of my info on file

My daughter's financial aid package from her top choice finally came yesterday - 31 days after her FAFSA was processed. The SAI number was WAY higher than we expected based on our income, and now we're scrambling to figure out how we'll afford it. The other 3 schools are still silent. This new FAFSA system is a complete disaster compared to previous years when we went through this with our older son. The inconsistency is maddening.

just call them!!! i was waiting forEVER (like 5 weeks) and getting super stressed, then i called and they said they needed additional verification docs from me but the email got lost somehow. two days after i sent the stuff they needed i had my package. sometimes they're just waiting on something and wont tell u unless u ask

Based on what I'm seeing this year, the timeline varies dramatically by institution type: - Community colleges: 2-3 weeks after ISIR receipt - State universities: 3-5 weeks after ISIR receipt - Private colleges: 2-6 weeks after ISIR receipt What's causing additional delays this year: 1. The FAFSA simplification implementation problems 2. Many schools got ISIRs much later than normal 3. Financial aid offices are dealing with unprecedented volume of appeals and questions 4. Some schools are waiting to package aid for all admitted students at once If you're facing upcoming deposit deadlines, you should absolutely contact each financial aid office directly.

I tried calling my financial aid offices and spent HOURS on hold. Most never picked up. This whole system is broken. We're expected to commit to schools without knowing if we can even afford them!

I was having the same problem with endless hold times and never getting through to anyone at my daughter's schools. Someone on another thread recommended using Claimyr.com to connect with financial aid offices - it calls on your behalf and then connects you when an actual human answers. Saved me hours of waiting on hold. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Might be worth trying if you're calling multiple schools.

One more important point: If you're facing an enrollment deposit deadline at a school but haven't received your financial aid package yet, contact the admissions office (not just financial aid) and request an extension on your deposit deadline. Many schools are granting extensions this year due to the FAFSA delays. Get this request in writing via email so you have documentation.

I'm in the exact same boat! My FAFSA was processed around the same time as yours (March 20th) and I'm still waiting on packages from 6 schools. The uncertainty is killing me because I need to make a decision by May 1st. What's really frustrating is that some schools have been completely radio silent while others at least sent acknowledgment emails saying they received my ISIR. I've been checking my student portals obsessively but nothing yet. Reading through these comments is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (this could take months). Definitely going to start making calls this week before my anxiety gets worse!