Confused about SAI score - is this really what I'm expected to pay for college?

The SAI (Student Aid Index) isn't necessarily the exact amount you'll pay out of pocket. It's a number colleges use to determine your financial need. Your actual cost will depend on each school's total cost of attendance minus any grants, scholarships, and other aid you receive. Many schools will work with your family's specific situation, especially with medical expenses. Don't give up hope yet!

SAI is NOT what u pay!!!! Schools use it diferently. My SAI was $22k but i only paid like $8k after scholarships + grants. apply EVERYWHERE and compare financial aid packages!!

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is simply a number that helps schools determine your financial need. The calculation to determine what aid you'll receive typically works like this: Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need Your financial need is what institutions use to award need-based aid like Pell Grants, work-study, and subsidized loans. However, each school has different resources and approaches to meeting that need. Some schools might offer grants to cover most of your need, while others might offer more loans. Also, if your family has unusual circumstances like high medical expenses, you should absolutely file a special circumstances appeal with each financial aid office. Those medical bills aren't fully captured in the standard FAFSA formula.

When i got my SAI last year it was way higher than we could afford too... college is just expensive now no matter what anyone says about "financial aid"... ended up going to community college instead

The whole FAFSA system is designed to extract the maximum possible payment from families. Your SAI is basically what the government thinks you can pay based on some ridiculous formula created decades ago that doesn't account for real life expenses. They expect families to drain savings, take out equity loans on homes, max credit cards, etc. The system is fundamentally broken. That said, your $14,872 SAI doesn't mean every school will charge you that. Some schools with good endowments might go well below your SAI. But state schools and less-wealthy private colleges will probably expect close to that amount (or more through loans).

Has anyone else been trying to call Federal Student Aid to ask questions about their SAI calculation? I've been trying for days and can't get through. So frustrating!

One important thing to remember is that your SAI is just one part of the equation. Every school has their own method for awarding institutional aid (scholarships and grants directly from the college). For example, if your dream school costs $32k and your SAI is $14,872: - Federal calculation says your need is $17,128 - You might get a Pell Grant if you qualify (up to $7,395 for 2025-2026) - The school might offer institutional grants or scholarships - You might qualify for state grants - Work-study could provide another $1,500-3,000 After all these sources of aid, your actual out-of-pocket cost could be much lower than your SAI. But you won't know until you receive your financial aid award letters from each school.

To answer your question about medical expenses for a special circumstances appeal - yes, you should gather documentation. Typically you'll need: 1. A detailed letter explaining the situation 2. Copies of major medical bills 3. Documentation of ongoing medical expenses 4. Insurance statements showing what wasn't covered 5. Any documentation of reduced work hours/income due to medical issues Each school handles these appeals differently, but having thorough documentation ready will help. Once you receive your financial aid offers, contact each school's financial aid office about their special circumstances process.

also apply for like a MILLION outside scholarships!!! my freind got her SAI down by getting random scholarships from her mom's work, local businesses, even got $2500 from an essay contest thing. google "scholarships for [your major/interests/background]" and apply to EVERYTHING

my brother's SAI was way to high for are family 2 and he ended up having to take out loads of loans... sucks but thats just how it is sometimes

Hey Sasha! I just went through this same confusion last year and I totally get how overwhelming it feels. Your SAI isn't a bill - it's more like a starting point for schools to figure out your aid package. I had a similar SAI ($16k) with parents making around $70k, and I was panicking too. But here's what actually happened: my state school ended up costing me only $9k out of pocket after grants and scholarships, and a private school I applied to brought it down to $11k with their institutional aid. The key is applying to multiple schools and comparing their actual offers, not just looking at the SAI number. Also, definitely pursue that special circumstances appeal for your mom's medical bills - it made a $3k difference in my aid package. Don't give up on your dream school yet! Wait to see what they actually offer before making any decisions.

@Sasha, I know this feels overwhelming right now, but try not to panic! Your SAI is definitely not what you'll actually pay. I'm a financial aid counselor and I see this confusion all the time. Here's the reality: schools use your SAI to calculate need, but what you actually pay depends on each school's financial aid policies and available funds. With your family income of $68k and high medical expenses, you'll likely qualify for significant need-based aid. Make sure to apply to a mix of schools - some with generous aid reputations and some safety schools. State schools often have good aid for in-state students, and some private schools have excellent need-based grant programs. Most importantly, when you get your aid packages, don't just accept the first offer - you can appeal and negotiate, especially with documentation of those medical expenses. I've seen students with similar profiles end up paying $5k-8k out of pocket at schools that cost $30k+. Keep your chin up!

Hey Sasha! I totally understand your panic - I went through the exact same thing two years ago when my SAI came back higher than what my family could realistically afford. Here's what I wish someone had told me then: your SAI is NOT your final bill! It's just a number that helps schools calculate how much aid to offer you. My situation was similar - family income around $65k, SAI of $12,500, and I was freaking out because my target schools cost $28k-35k. But here's what actually happened: after all the grants, scholarships, and aid packages, I ended up paying between $6k-10k out of pocket at different schools. The variation was huge! A few practical tips: 1) Apply to schools known for good financial aid (look up their "net price calculators" online), 2) Don't forget about state schools - they often have great aid for residents, 3) Cast a wide net with applications so you have options to compare, and 4) DEFINITELY file that special circumstances appeal for your mom's medical bills. Most schools send award letters between March-May, so you'll know your real costs soon. Don't give up on your dream school yet - wait to see what they offer! The difference between schools can be thousands of dollars in aid.

Hey Sasha! I completely understand your panic - I had the exact same reaction when I first saw my SAI last year. It felt like this impossibly high number that would crush my college dreams. But here's the thing that nobody explains clearly: your SAI is NOT what you'll actually pay out of pocket! Think of it more like this - if your dream school costs $32k and your SAI is $14,872, that means you have a "financial need" of about $17k. Schools will try to meet that need through grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. The actual amount YOU pay depends entirely on each school's financial aid policies. I ended up at a school that costs $29k per year, my SAI was $13,500, but I only pay about $7k out of pocket after all aid. The rest came from federal grants, state grants, and the school's own scholarship money. Your family's medical expenses are exactly the kind of thing special circumstances appeals are for - that's not fully captured in the standard FAFSA formula. Start gathering those medical bills now because you'll want to submit appeals to every school that accepts you. Don't give up on your dreams yet! Wait to see what the schools actually offer before making any decisions. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Hey Sasha! I completely understand your panic about the SAI - I had the exact same reaction when I got mine. Your $14,872 SAI definitely does NOT mean you'll pay that much out of pocket! Here's what helped me understand it better: your SAI is like a starting point that schools use to calculate how much aid you need. So if your dream school costs $32k and your SAI is $14,872, your "financial need" is about $17k. Schools then try to meet that need with grants, scholarships, work-study, and sometimes loans. The actual amount you pay varies HUGELY between schools. Some might give you enough grants to bring your cost down to $8k, others might only get it down to $12k. That's why applying to multiple schools and comparing their actual aid offers is so important. With your family income of $68k and those medical bills, you should qualify for good need-based aid. Plus, those medical expenses are perfect for a special circumstances appeal - definitely pursue that at every school! The standard FAFSA formula doesn't capture unusual medical costs very well. Don't give up on your dreams yet - wait to see what schools actually offer before making any decisions. You might be surprised at how affordable some options become!

Hey Sasha! I can totally relate to your panic - when I first saw my SAI number, I thought it was game over for my college dreams too. But here's the thing everyone's trying to tell you that I wish someone had explained to me more clearly: your SAI is basically just a number that helps determine how much aid you QUALIFY for, not what you'll actually pay. Think of it this way - colleges look at their total cost, subtract your SAI, and that gap is what they try to fill with aid. So your $32k school minus your $14,872 SAI equals about $17k in potential aid. Different schools will fill that gap differently - some might give you $15k in grants (meaning you pay about $17k total), others might give you $12k in grants plus work-study and loans. The key is that most families don't actually end up paying their full SAI amount. With your parents' income and those medical bills, you're likely looking at much less out of pocket than you think. I'd definitely recommend running the net price calculators on each school's website - they'll give you a more realistic estimate of what you might actually pay. And yes, absolutely pursue that special circumstances appeal! Medical debt is exactly what those are designed for. Don't give up hope yet - wait to see what your actual aid offers look like!

Hey Sasha! I know you're getting tons of great advice here, but I wanted to add one more perspective that might help ease your worries. I'm a parent who went through this process with my daughter last year, and I remember feeling exactly the same way when we saw her SAI. Here's what I learned: the FAFSA is just the beginning, not the end. Your $14,872 SAI with a $68k family income actually puts you in a good position for need-based aid, especially with those medical expenses. My daughter's SAI was similar, and she ended up with aid packages ranging from schools wanting $6k out of pocket to others wanting $13k - huge variation! A few parent tips: 1) Start organizing those medical bills NOW - we had to scramble to find everything, 2) Don't be afraid to call financial aid offices with questions - they're usually very helpful, 3) Consider having your parents fill out the CSS Profile if any schools require it (captures more financial nuances), and 4) Apply for EVERYTHING - merit scholarships, local scholarships, employer scholarships. The most important thing is to stay positive and keep your options open. The number of success stories in this thread should tell you that your situation is far from hopeless. You've got this! 💪

Hey Sasha! I just wanted to jump in and say that reading through all these responses has been so encouraging - it's clear you've gotten amazing advice from people who really understand what you're going through! As someone who also panicked about my SAI last year, I can tell you that the anxiety you're feeling right now is totally normal, but it's also premature. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to make sure you're looking at schools' "average net price" data when researching - this shows what families in different income brackets actually end up paying after aid, not the sticker price. For families making $60-75k like yours, many schools end up costing way less than you'd expect. Also, don't forget about your state's grant programs! Depending on where you live, there might be additional state aid available that works on top of federal aid. Some states have really generous programs for families in your income range. You're going to be amazed at how different your actual aid offers are from what you're imagining right now. Hang in there - the hardest part is this waiting period before you know what schools will actually offer you! 🤞

Hey Sasha! I can totally understand your panic - that SAI number is SO misleading when you first see it! I went through the exact same thing two years ago and thought my college dreams were over. But here's the reality: your SAI is NOT your bill - it's just a starting point for schools to calculate your aid. With your family's income of $68k and those medical expenses, you're actually in a really good position for need-based aid. I had a similar situation (SAI of $16k, parents making $72k) and ended up paying only $8,500 out of pocket at a school that costs $31k per year after all grants and aid kicked in. The key is applying to multiple schools because their aid offers will vary wildly. Some gave me packages where I'd pay $12k, others brought it down to $6k. Also, those medical bills are PERFECT for special circumstances appeals - that's exactly what they're designed for and can make a huge difference in your final aid package. Don't give up on your dream school yet! Wait to see what they actually offer before making any decisions. Run their net price calculator online for a more realistic estimate than your SAI. You've got this! 💪