Gaining Access to Old iCloud

I'm sure someone has asked this before but I'm trying to recover old photos from my previous iCloud account. I cannot remember the password for the account and it's connected to my old .edu account I no longer have access to.

I've started the initial process through iforgot.apple but it keeps saying it will send information to the email I can't access.

Has anyone in a similar situation have any luck with this and if so do you mind sharing your process?

Thank you!!