Will colleges see my triplets on FAFSA despite new multiple-child rules being eliminated?

The colleges DO see that info but its up to them what they do with it. Some will some wont.

I work in a financial aid office, and yes, we can see how many family members are in college on your FAFSA. While the federal methodology no longer automatically adjusts your Student Aid Index (SAI) for multiple children in college, many institutions have created their own institutional methodologies to account for this situation. Here's what you should do: 1. Contact each school's financial aid office directly 2. Ask specifically about their "institutional methodology" for multiple children 3. Request a "special circumstances review" and mention the triplets situation 4. Submit any supplemental forms they require (many use the CSS Profile which DOES still consider multiple children) Many private colleges especially will have funds set aside to help families with multiple children in college simultaneously.

congrats on the triplets! my twins just graduated last year and let me tell you its ROUGH even with just 2 kids. good luck!!!

The colleges absolutely can see the information about your triplets on your FAFSA. The Federal Student Aid system still collects and shares this data with your selected schools, even though they removed the automatic benefit from the SAI formula. Each college now has complete discretion on how (or if) they'll use this information when crafting your financial aid packages. From my experience with twins (now juniors), each school handled it completely differently: - One private liberal arts college gave us a substantial "multiple children" grant automatically - One state university required a special petition to their financial aid committee, but eventually provided additional aid - One technical college wouldn't budge at all despite repeated appeals You should IMMEDIATELY contact all three financial aid offices, explain your situation, and ask what their specific policy is for multiple children in college. Many schools have created their own institutional policies to fill this gap left by the FAFSA changes. Be prepared to provide documentation proving all three are enrolled full-time.

This is complete BS what theyve done with the FAFSA!!!! Taking away the multiple children consideration is CRIMINAL!!! How do they expect normal families to afford multiple kids in college?! My twins are juniors and our expected contribution DOUBLED from last year because of this change. I've sent FIVE appeals and gotten nowhere. The system is RIGGED against middle class families!!!!

Hey there, I went through something similar with my twins last year. The FAFSA multiple children benefit elimination hit us hard too. Yes, colleges can see that information, but it's completely up to each individual school whether they do anything with it. What helped us tremendously was getting through to actual financial aid counselors at each school to discuss our situation. But as you probably know, reaching the FSA and most financial aid offices by phone is almost impossible these days with all the FAFSA changes and delays. I found this service called Claimyr that helped me finally get through to speak with actual humans at the financial aid offices. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through to actual financial aid counselors, I was able to explain our situation with multiple kids, and two of the three schools ended up offering additional institutional aid to help offset the FAFSA changes.

One more important thing to know - many private colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA, and the CSS Profile DOES still consider multiple children in college in their formula. Did any of your triplets' schools require the CSS Profile?

i have quadruplets so i feel your pain lol. we had to take out massive parent plus loans even with scholarships. good luck!

One more thing - make sure you complete a "Professional Judgment Request" (sometimes called a "Special Circumstances Form") at each school. This formally asks the financial aid office to review your situation outside the standard federal formula. With triplets, you have a strong case for additional institutional aid. Be prepared to provide documentation showing all three children's college enrollment status.

I'm new to this whole financial aid process and reading through this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I have twins who will be starting college in fall 2026, so I'm trying to get ahead of the game after seeing what happened with the FAFSA changes this year. Can someone clarify - when you all mention "institutional methodology," does that mean each college basically creates their own rules for how they handle multiple children situations? And is there any way to research which colleges are more generous with this before my kids even apply? I'd hate to have them fall in love with schools that won't help with the multiple child situation. Also, @Zainab Ahmed, since you work in financial aid - do you think the multiple children consideration will eventually come back to FAFSA, or are colleges going to have to handle this permanently on their own?

As someone who just went through this exact situation with my twins last year, I can confirm that colleges DO see the multiple children information from your FAFSA, but you absolutely need to be proactive about it. Don't assume they'll automatically help - you have to advocate for yourself. Here's what worked for us: I created a one-page "family circumstances summary" that I sent to each financial aid office along with enrollment verification for both kids. I explicitly asked each school about their institutional policy for multiple children and requested a special circumstances review. Out of 4 schools, 3 ended up providing additional institutional aid ranging from $3,000-$8,000 per child. The key is being persistent but polite, and getting your requests in writing. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you've submitted the CSS Profile wherever it's required - that form still accounts for multiple children in their calculations. With triplets, you have an even stronger case than we did with twins. Don't give up!

As a parent of twins who went through this process two years ago, I want to echo what others have said about being proactive. The colleges absolutely can see your triplets information on the FAFSA, but many financial aid offices are overwhelmed and won't automatically reach out to help. Here's my practical advice: Create a simple spreadsheet tracking each school's policy on multiple children. When you call (and definitely call, don't just email), ask these specific questions: 1. "What is your institutional policy for families with multiple children in college?" 2. "Do you have a special circumstances appeal process?" 3. "What documentation do you need from me?" 4. "When is the deadline for appeals?" Also, timing matters - submit any appeals or special circumstances requests as soon as possible after receiving your initial aid offers. Some schools have limited funds for these situations and it's first-come, first-served. With triplets, you're in an even more unique situation than most families. Don't be afraid to mention the financial strain this puts on your family - financial aid counselors are often parents themselves and understand the challenge. Good luck!