FAFSA will be delayed again for most families this year, but it is relatively easy to complete (IRS tax info automatically imports.) Follow developments on this thread: Phased rollout for 2025-26 FAFSA
CSS is much more detailed and costs money to file, and required by many schools that give relatively generous financial aid. Look to each school’s website to see what they require. Here’s a complete list (but verify on each school’s site because it’s not updated for 2025-26 yet.)
Hmmm. so we have a financial pre -read already, basically stating that unless we use some other numbers on our FAFSA (diff than what we used in the NPC) we can count on getting this amount of Aid. I am so skeptical because it seems pretty generous - though I do feel like 90K is a bit crazy for 1 year so really its a big discount of a crazy big number. Anyhow, I am wondering how this CSS fits into the process.
Some schools use the CSS instead of FAFSA. CSS has a lot more detail. My main take away when we filled it out (my older son was a recruited athlete and one school had us do the CSS for a financial aid pre-read, but we didn’t actually formally file it) was that I knew, almost instantly, we wouldn’t get aid. One of the things we had to fill out was the tax assessed value of our home, and how much we still owed in the mortgage. We bought the house in 2005 and the value has skyrocketed since then. I couldn’t afford my house now. But if I am using that as a metric of how much a family can afford to finance then the admissions people think I can pay for a lot. (This was proven true when we got the results of the financial aid pre read - “you do not qualify for need based aid. Further, even when your younger child gets to college you will still not qualify for need based aid.” At least they were honest and forthright!)
Is this school a CSS school? I would trust the school that is doing the financial pre-read, but if the school uses the CSS Profile there are typically some differences between that (which would be reflected in the NPC formula) and FAFSA…for example, treatment of home equity. Beyond that, there can be differences if the parents are divorced, own real estate beyond a primary home, and/or own a business.
If you have questions about the pre-read, or are in any of the situations above, I am sure the financial aid staff will help.
I guess this is what I’m most worried about then. A lot of the colleges on my D25’s list are CSS colleges. I’m just scared all the NPCs will be way off and our financial aid packages won’t be anywhere near as generous as we’re hoping.
According to their website, fees are waived for family AGIs under $100,000, if they got an SAT waiver, or if they are an orphan or ward of the court under 24. This will help some families quite a bit!
Are the NPCs in a fairly small-ish range (knowing there will be some differences based on factors discussed above)? Most of the generous FA schools have good/accurate NPCs, as long as the family’s financial situation is straightforward…eg., no divorce, or real estate holdings in addition to a primary home, no business that is providing a significant proportion of the family’s income. Make sure to increase the NPC’s 2024-25 gross COA by 4-5% to reflect likely 2025-26 gross COA.
Make sure to accurately enter all the info the NPC asks for, and take a screenshot of each school’s estimated COA. Some schools will do financial aid pre-reads for any student that asks…Whitman and Wooster both do, for example.
They are similar. I fear I’m entering information incorrectly though. I’m confused about some of the codes on my W-2 and where untaxed SSDI goes, especially for my daughter who is getting now, but won’t be as age 18. Although it does not make much of an impact on the bottom line. It’s just so confusing!
I don’t think untaxed SSDI is reported on FAFSA, is this still correct @kelsmom? There are some helpful FAFSA websites (note both are still set for 2024-25 though) and how-to videos:
CSS schools might vary, but AFAIK most want SSDI to be included in an untaxed benefit line item (that hopefully they ask for on their NPC.) You can always contact the school’s FA department and ask.
Wow! Some of you folks are so far ahead of us! Already in school for sr. year, applications in and haunting websites looking for progress updates, homecoming clothing purchased… We’re still a couple of weeks away from school starting!
I’d almost hope, for equity’s sake, that most colleges would wait until after Labor Day to start looking at applications, since that’s a traditional date for many schools to start back up again.
SSI I believe is not included in AGI, but SSDI is, as it is a work based benefit, not means based. Looking at the paper FAFSA form, there is no question that asks for the non-taxable SSDI income, but the taxable portion (if any) is included in AGI.
I had to deal with this on the FAFSA last year, as my dad has SSDI.
Does anyone know what income level would qualify for federal aid? We will have 2 in college next year and although we did not qualify for my oldest, wondering if it would be worth it to fill out the FAFSA this time around.
Multiples are not part of the formula for the simplified FAFSA SAI.
The SAI is an eligibility index number that each child’s school will use to calculate financial aid. Schools no longer consider the number of children who will be in college, career school, or trade school.
However, the amount of your income that is used to calculate each child’s SAI is lower than the previously used Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation.
I have such a pit in my stomach about this school year. The drama is already started, and I don’t want D25 to have to deal with it again. I can’t wait for the drama part to be over!
