How Having Multiple Children in College Affects Financial Aid
By Admissions Narrative · · MIT Alumni Admissions Interviewer
Key Takeaways
Having two children in college simultaneously can significantly reduce each student's SAI under the new FAFSA
Pre-2024 FAFSA rules divided parent contribution between siblings; the 2024 redesign changed this
Some schools still apply institutional aid adjustments when multiple children are enrolled simultaneously
Families with two college students should notify financial aid offices and model scenarios carefully
The timing of siblings' enrollment is worth considering in high school planning
Having two or more children enrolled in college simultaneously can significantly affect financial aid under both FAFSA and CSS Profile calculations. The 2024 FAFSA redesign changed how sibling enrollment affects the Student Aid Index. Under some schools' institutional aid formulas (CSS Profile), having multiple college students still triggers adjustments. Families in this situation should model different enrollment timing scenarios and contact financial aid offices proactively.
The financial aid implications of having two children in college simultaneously are significant and changed with the 2024 FAFSA redesign.
The Pre-2024 Rule (How It Used to Work)
Under the old EFC formula, the parent contribution was divided by the number of children enrolled in college simultaneously — so a family with two college students had roughly half the EFC attributed to each child, meaning both were eligible for more aid. This was a meaningful benefit that encouraged families to consider overlapping enrollment.
The 2024 FAFSA Change
The 2024–25 FAFSA redesign eliminated the sibling enrollment divider from the SAI calculation. Now, the SAI is calculated the same whether one or two children are enrolled. This was a significant change that reduced the financial aid benefit of simultaneous enrollment for many families.
CSS Profile Schools: Still Adjusting
Many schools that use the CSS Profile for institutional aid continue to apply their own sibling enrollment adjustments — reducing each student's expected contribution when multiple children are in college. This is applied through schools' professional judgment processes rather than automatically through the FAFSA. Contact each school's financial aid office to understand their specific policy.
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Does having a sibling in college help with financial aid?
Under the 2024 FAFSA redesign, less than before — the automatic SAI division was eliminated. However, many CSS Profile schools still make institutional adjustments when multiple children are enrolled simultaneously. Contact financial aid offices at your target schools to understand their specific policies.
Sources & References
U.S. Department of Education FAFSA 2024–25 sibling enrollment documentation
NASFAA multiple enrollment guidance
College Board CSS Profile sibling enrollment guide