How long do colleges take to process FAFSA?

I'm anxious about my financial aid situation. Once I submit the FAFSA, how long typically does it take for colleges to process it and notify me?

The timeline for processing FAFSA results can vary somewhat from college to college. In general, it usually takes about 1 business day for FAFSA results to be sent to schools once it has been processed, which can take an additional 3-5 days from the day you submitted it. That said, it can take each college a little bit more time, typically an additional week or two, to actually process the results themselves and calculate your financial aid package.

However, most colleges won't notify students about financial aid until they have been admitted. If you are applying under regular decision deadlines, aid notifications typically go out in the late March to early April timeframe alongside admission decisions. If you are applying early action or early decision, you may receive information about financial aid in December or January.

Of course, these timelines are general estimates and the exact timing can vary by institution or be impacted by other factors, such as when you submitted the FAFSA or the overall volume of applications the financial aid office is handling. If you're feeling anxious, one the best things you can do is reach out directly to the financial aid office at the schools you've applied to, as they can provide the most accurate information regarding their specific processes and timelines.