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Fayetteville, GA, parents are sounding the alarm. Across the state line, Volusia County, FL, families are discovering a hidden reality that has quietly shifted for the 2025–2026 financial aid season: seemingly innocent “college assets” can now disqualify students from critical funding. This is not a hypothetical loophole—it’s a structural change that has been implemented with minimal notice, leaving families across the Southeast exposed. The quiet rollout means students and parents may already be sitting on financial landmines they never anticipated.
According to 2026 FAFSA regulations, any savings account, trust fund, or custodial account in the student’s name counts against need-based aid eligibility—even if the funds were earmarked for basic educational expenses.
