OP, we are in a similar situation so we’re looking at our public flagship or other schools in the $50-$65k range. We will pay using a mix of 529 and out of pocket money. We are filling out the fafsa just in case we need loans to bridge small costs. It’s also required we fill it out in our state.

You sound really nice, OP. But your kid is a senior this year and you are just now realizing that $200,000 won’t cover 4 years of private college? You sound like you have been out of touch.Why do you think half the parents in NOVA are doing all they can to get their kid into UVA?

My kid got a ton of merit from a bunch of schools (Case, CU-Boulder, Vermont, Elon, Pitt, Miami-Ohio, Utah)....make sure you target the right schools!
You can probably get enough to stretch that 200k for all 4 years!

Not all will give your kid merit!

Use individual college Net Price Calculators.

Have the budget talk with your kid now. Don't bother with applying to unaffordable schools unless there's a possibility of merit scholarships at that school.

I am a parent of a HS senior this year and I understand that the window for FAFSA opens on Oct 1, 2025.

Our HHI (married filing jointly if it matters) is about $300k-$350k and so I don't expect us to get much in the way of financial aid. But I've been told that we should still fill out FAFSA and apply.

My child will likely go to a private college with a list price around $90k for tuition and housing, which is mind boggling to me. We've saved up $200k in a 529 which will pay for about 2 years, which is also mind boggling to me.

As I try to wrap my brain around college costs, I have some questions:

1) What should I expect from filling out the FAFSA or put another way, what are the benefits of filling it out if we are not going to qualify for financial aid?
2) Are there grants that my child should apply for?
3) What are the best loan options (lowest interest rate and longest repayment terms) for years 3 and 4?
4) Should I, as the parent, take out the loan or have my child take out the loan - which is the most beneficial?
5) Is it true that once you take out the loan, you immediately have to start paying the loan, even though the kid is in school? I haven't been following the details of the Big Beautiful Bill but I understand there were some changes to loans so you have to start paying for it immediately as opposed to after you graduate.
6) Should I take out partial loans in years 1 and 2 so that I can let the 529 grow because the stock market is doing great? I know, I know, this is risky.

I'm open and welcome to any other advice for those who have been there and done that.

Thank you in advance DCUM!