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After four years of hard work in high school, the moment of truth arrives as college acceptance letters begin to roll in. If you’re lucky enough to receive multiple offers, you’ve got a big decision to make.
Most final enrollment choices must be made by May 1st, widely known as College Decision Day. This is the deadline for prospective students who apply “regular decision” to confirm their enrollment and submit a nonrefundable deposit.
Making this choice can be difficult, with a number of factors to consider. Below are seven tips to help you and your family confidently navigate the decision-making process ahead of College Decision Day.
Key Points
• Stay organized by tracking key deadlines and keeping all acceptance/award letters in one place.
• Compare financial aid offers carefully, focusing on the net cost after grants and scholarships are applied.
• To accept a college offer, you must typically submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit by the deadline.
• If you are waitlisted, you may need to put down a deposit at a different school by May 1st as a backup plan.
• Understand your financing options, including the differences between federal student loans (which are undergoing changes for 2026) and private student loans.
1. Getting Organized
While the hard work of submitting college applications is done, high school seniors still have several important tasks and deadlines to manage to ensure a smooth transition to college.
Here are some deadlines to keep in mind and documents you’ll want to organize leading up to (and just after) Decision Day.
Key Deadlines (for 2026 Entry)
• FAFSA® submission: The federal deadline to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-2027 academic year is June 30, 2027. However, individual states and colleges have their own FAFSA deadlines, which are often much earlier than the federal deadline. It’s a good idea to submit the FAFSA as early as possible because many grants and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds run out.
• CSS Profile (if required): The deadline for submission varies by school but typically falls between January 1 and March 31 for regular decision students.
• College Decision Day: May 1, 2026 is the typical deadline to accept an admission offer and submit a deposit for fall 2026 enrollment.
• Housing applications: For incoming freshmen, housing applications are often due within a week after the May 1 decision deadline, or around May 8.
• Scholarship deadlines: Deadlines for scholarship applications occur all year round, but many fall between October and March.
• Federal aid offer appeals: If your family’s financial situation has changed since you submitted the FAFSA or if you believe your initial application did not accurately reflect your ability to pay, you can appeal your financial aid award. Deadlines vary by school but, ideally, you want to submit it shortly after receiving your aid package.
Staying organized with a calendar or a checklist will help you avoid missing any important deadlines.
Important Paperwork to Keep Track Of
Consider setting up a folder (physical or digital) for all of the following:
• Acceptance letters for each college you’re considering
• Financial aid award letters
• FAFSA submission confirmation
• CSS Profile submission confirmation (if applicable)
• Scholarship award letters
• Communications with admissions/financial aid offices (e.g., emails, notes from calls)
• Enrollment deposit receipts (once you’ve chosen a school)
• Housing application confirmations (once you’ve chosen a school)
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Make no payments on SoFi private student loans for six months after graduation.
2. Comparing Financial Aid Offers
College can be expensive. Before you commit to a school, you’ll want to compare any financial aid offers you’ve received.
When you receive a financial aid award letter, it will outline how much aid is in grants and scholarships (which you don’t have to repay) versus federal student loans (which you do have to repay). The letter will also typically include the school’s cost of attendance. By subtracting the grant and scholarship amounts on your aid offer from the cost of attendance amount, you can come up with the school’s net cost. This is the amount you will have to pay out of your pocket using savings, earnings from work, and/or student loans.
Looking at the net costs for the colleges you are considering allows you to compare costs apples to apples and see which school best fits your budget.
3. Reserving Your Spot
Once you receive an offer letter, you can respond at any point — you don’t need to wait until College Decision Day. To secure your spot, you’ll usually need to pay an enrollment deposit.
What You Need to Know About Enrollment Deposits
• This fee is typically nonrefundable.
• Paying the deposit holds your spot in the incoming class.
• Deposit amounts typically range from $100 to $1,000, depending on the school.
• Try to avoid paying deposits to multiple schools (known as “double-depositing ”) just to buy extra time — this is generally frowned upon and can harm other students on waitlists.
4. Mulling Over the Waitlist
Being waitlisted by a college means you are not accepted or rejected, but are on a hold list for potential admission if spots open up after other accepted students decline their offers. You generally won’t hear back about a waitlist decision until after the national May 1 deadline. In some cases, students don’t find out until soon before the fall semester.
If you’re waitlisted, you typically need to accept or reject the waitlist offer. You generally only want to accept a waitlist offer if the school is truly your top choice. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to remove yourself from the list so other students can be considered.
If you accept a waitlist offer, consider how long you’re willing to wait and come up with a backup plan. That typically means putting down an enrollment deposit at another college you have been accepted to by College Decision Day. This ensures you have a place to go if you don’t get off the waitlist, even if you lose the deposit later.
5. When Decision Day Arrives
Ideally, you’ll make your final decision before May 1. Waiting until the last minute offers very little wiggle room if something goes wrong, like a technical glitch.
To accept a college admission offer, you’ll need to use the method specified by the school, which often involves logging into your student portal and paying a nonrefundable enrollment deposit.
You’re not required to formally decline a college acceptance — not accepting by May 1 is considered a rejection. However, it’s more respectful to decline. You can typically do this by logging in to the school’s online system and rejecting the admission offer. The sooner you reject an offer, the sooner the college can offer the spot to another student on the school’s acceptance waitlist.
6. If You Miss the Deadline
If you miss the May 1 deadline, you risk losing your spot because the college may fill it with someone else. You may also lose your financial aid package. However, you aren’t necessarily out of luck. Your best move is to contact the college admissions department as soon as possible. If you have a valid excuse, they may allow you to still accept their offer. Be sure to explain any emergency, problem, or other issue that kept you from submitting your decision and deposit in time.
7. Financing a College Education
Once you’ve accepted a college offer, you’ll have a clear idea of how much it will cost. As you and your family figure out how you’ll pay for college, student loans may come into play.There are two types available:
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loans are made by the U.S. government and have terms and conditions that are set by law. Federal loans can be subsidized (meaning the government pays the interest while you are in school and during certain other periods) or unsubsidized (you must pay all of the interest that accrues). Subsidized loans are offered to eligible students who demonstrate financial need; unsubsidized loans are available to eligible students regardless of financial need.
Federal student loans generally do not require a credit check and come with relatively low, fixed interest rates.
Federal Student Loans: What’s Changed for 2026
Major changes to federal student loans were enacted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) in July 2025, primarily affecting new borrowers starting in July 2026. Here’s are some changes that will impact undergraduates:
• Fewer payment plans: OBBBA will reduce repayment options from the current seven plans down to two new plans. These include:
◦ The standard plan: Borrowers will be assigned a repayment window of between 10 and 25 years, depending on the size of their debt, and will need to make equal monthly payments. This is generally the best choice for those who want to pay off their loans quickly and minimize interest costs.
◦ The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): Borrowers who worry they won’t be able to make the fixed monthly payments on the standard plan, can choose the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). On RAP, payments range from 1% to 10% of a borrower’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), with forgiveness after 30 years of consistent payments.
• Lower borrowing limits for parents: Parents and caregivers who use parent PLUS loans to help students pay for college will see new loan limits. These loans will be capped at $20,000 a year and, in aggregate, at $65,000 per child.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find more-competitive rates on no-fees-required private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.
Private Student Loans
Private student loans are offered by private lenders like banks and credit unions to help cover educational and living expenses. They are typically used to bridge the funding gap when federal student aid (including federal student loans) and scholarships do not cover the total cost of attendance.
Unlike federal loans, private student loans are credit-based, meaning a borrower’s credit history is a key factor in approval and interest rates. Many students need a creditworthy cosigner to qualify.
Private lenders often allow borrowing up to the total cost of attendance (minus any financial aid), which can be higher than federal loan limits. However, private loans may have higher interest rates and generally lack the borrower protections available with federal loans, such as income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs.
The Takeaway
Choosing which college to attend is a major decision, and College Decision Day is the critical deadline. By staying organized, diligently comparing financial aid packages, and planning for how you will ultimately finance your education, you can navigate this stressful but exciting time successfully. Taking these preparation steps can help ensure you make the best choice for your academic future and financial well-being.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
What should I consider when comparing financial aid offers in 2026?
When comparing financial aid offers for 2026, the key is to look past the sticker price and focus on the net cost. This is the total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, and estimated personal expenses) minus any grant and scholarship money you receive. Grants and scholarships are essentially free money that does not need to be repaid, making them the most valuable part of your package. You’ll also want to closely examine the federal student loans offered, noting whether they are subsidized (the government pays the interest while you’re in school) or unsubsidized (you are responsible for all interest). If you’re eligible for work-study, that can also help you cover some of your costs.
What happens if I miss the College Decision Day deadline?
If you miss the College Decision Day deadline, you may lose your spot at your chosen school. Colleges often reallocate unclaimed offers to waitlisted students. Contact the admissions office immediately, as some may offer a short grace period. Missing the deadline can also impact your eligibility for financial aid and housing preferences.
Can I apply for more financial aid after receiving my college acceptance?
Yes, you can generally apply for more financial aid even after you’ve received your college acceptance and initial aid offer. The process is typically called a financial aid appeal. You’ll need to contact the college’s financial aid office to request this review. Generally, your odds of success are better if you can demonstrate a significant change in your family’s financial situation since submitting the FAFSA®, such as a job loss, unexpected medical expenses, or a parent’s divorce. You will need to provide documentation to support your appeal.
How can I appeal my financial aid offer?
To appeal your financial aid offer, contact your college’s financial aid office and ask about their appeal process. Typically, you need to submit a formal letter explaining your financial changes or special circumstances, such as job loss or medical expenses, and include documentation to support your case. Appeals are reviewed individually and may or may not increase your aid.
Are there any new student loan options for 2026?
Federal student loan options are undergoing significant changes for new borrowers starting in July 2026 due to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) enacted in July 2025. For undergraduates, changes include a reduction in repayment plans from seven to two: the Standard Plan (fixed payments over 10-25 years) and the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP (payments based on 1%-10% of adjusted gross income, with forgiveness after 30 years). Additionally, new annual and aggregate borrowing limits for Parent PLUS loans have been set at $20,000 and $65,000 per child. Private student loans remain an option, typically used to cover costs beyond what federal aid provides.
How do recent federal policy changes affect my student loans?
The federal policy changes enacted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) in July 2025 will significantly affect new federal student loan borrowers starting in July 2026. For undergraduates, the most impactful change is the consolidation of the seven existing repayment plans into just two: the Standard Plan, which assigns fixed monthly payments over a 10- to 25-year period based on debt size, and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), a new income-driven option where payments are set at 1% to 10% of the borrower’s adjusted gross income, leading to forgiveness after 30 years of consistent payments. In addition, parents using Parent PLUS loans to help finance their children’s education will face new limits, with annual borrowing capped at $20,000 and an aggregate limit of $65,000 per child.
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