Does an 80K SAI mean paying 80K per child when multiple siblings attend college?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) of 80K doesn't mean you'll pay that amount for each child. The SAI is divided among all your dependent children attending college simultaneously. So with triplets, each school would use roughly $26,667 (80K ÷ 3) as the contribution amount when calculating their individual aid packages. This is actually where having multiple children in college DOES help - your expected contribution gets split. Each school will then look at their cost of attendance minus this portion of your SAI to determine need-based aid eligibility for each child. Keep in mind that your actual out-of-pocket costs will vary by school, as each institution has different policies on meeting demonstrated need. Some may offer substantial institutional grants to cover the gap, while others might primarily offer loans.

not to scare u but just bcause the SAI splits doesnt mean youll get enough aid... when my twins went to college our SAI was like 40k and we still had to pay almost 35k for EACH kid at their state schools. federal aid is only part of it. schools can still charge whatever they want even if fafsa says one thing

THIS is why the whole system is broken!! My sister's family had 2 in college with an SAI of 35K and they still got hit with bills of 30K+ per kid. The FAFSA formula is GARBAGE and doesn't account for actual living expenses, regional cost differences, or existing debt. And good luck trying to get anyone from FSA to actually explain how they calculated your number - I spent 3 WEEKS trying to reach someone last year.

To add some clarity here - your SAI of 80K with triplets means each school will see about $26,667 as your expected contribution for that student. However, this is only relevant for federal aid programs (like Pell Grants and subsidized loans). For institutional aid (the grants and scholarships from the actual colleges), many schools use their own formulas. Some will respect the FAFSA's multiple-student division, but others might not give it the same weight. Here's what you should do: 1. Contact each school's financial aid office directly to discuss your specific situation with triplets 2. Ask if they offer any special consideration for multiple students 3. Compare aid packages carefully - the sticker price might be less important than the net cost after institutional grants 4. Look into schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need (though these are typically more selective) Remember that merit scholarships are separate from need-based aid, so encourage your triplets to apply for those as well!

omg we had twins start last year and our SAI was 45k... let me tell u it was a NIGHTMARE!!! one school gave decent aid and the other basically nothing even tho they saw the same FAFSA. ended up having to choose schools based on aid not fit. so frustrating!!

I'm going through this right now with my twins! What helped us was applying to schools that are known for giving good institutional aid to supplement the federal stuff. Places like Grinnell, Swarthmore, and Vanderbilt have awesome aid packages if your kids can get in. State schools were actually MORE expensive for us than some private schools because of how the institutional aid worked out. Make sure your triplets apply to a wide range of schools and don't just assume public = cheaper!

One more important point - when multiple children are in college, you should also look into the CSS Profile. While the FAFSA is used for federal aid and many state aid programs, about 200 mostly private colleges use the CSS Profile for distributing their institutional aid. The CSS Profile does factor in multiple family members in college, sometimes more generously than FAFSA. The CSS Profile is more detailed than FAFSA and considers assets differently, so your expected family contribution might be different. There's a fee to submit it, but fee waivers are available for eligible families. With triplets, you're in a unique situation that most financial aid offices will want to work with you on. Don't hesitate to request special circumstance reviews if the initial aid offers aren't sufficient.

just a heads up that even with the SAI being split if ur household income is 190k most schools r gonna expect u to pay a LOT. we make less than that and got basically no grants just loan offers. the system is totally rigged against middle class families with multiple kids. start looking at merit scholarships ASAP!!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to add some perspective here. Yes, your SAI divides among your triplets (~$26,667 each), but here's what most families don't realize: schools are NOT required to meet your full demonstrated need. They can offer you loans to cover the gap. However, with triplets, you actually have significant leverage. Call each school's financial aid office and explain your situation. Many will work with you on professional judgment adjustments or special circumstances reviews. Some schools have specific policies for families with multiple students. Also consider this strategy: if one school gives a better package, use it to negotiate with others. Schools want good students and will sometimes match or improve offers, especially for families with multiple children who could potentially bring in more tuition revenue. The key is being proactive and not just accepting the first aid offer. Your situation is exactly why financial aid offices exist - to help make education affordable for families facing unique circumstances.

As a parent just starting to navigate this process myself, I can't thank everyone enough for these detailed explanations! I had the same panic when I saw our SAI and thought it meant per child. The fact that it divides among multiple students is such a relief to understand, even if the actual costs might still be challenging. What strikes me from reading all these responses is how much the individual school policies matter beyond just the FAFSA calculation. It sounds like we really need to cast a wide net with applications and not make assumptions about which schools will be most affordable until we see the actual aid packages. I'm definitely going to look into that CSS Profile that Emma mentioned, and the idea of using better offers to negotiate with other schools is brilliant. Has anyone had success with the negotiation approach? I'm curious how those conversations typically go.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact scenario last year with my twins! Your SAI of 80K dividing to roughly $26,667 per child is correct, but here's something crucial that wasn't mentioned yet: make sure each of your triplets lists ALL THREE siblings on their individual FAFSA applications in the "number of family members in college" section. I made the mistake initially of only having each twin list themselves plus the other twin (so 2 instead of 3), which threw off our calculations completely. The FAFSA system needs to see the full picture of all three students to properly divide that SAI. Also, start researching schools NOW that have good track records with multiple-child families. Some schools actually have specific scholarships or grants for families with multiple students enrolled simultaneously. Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve University both offered additional family discounts on top of regular aid when both my kids enrolled. One last tip: consider having your triplets apply to at least one school that offers guaranteed merit aid based on test scores/GPA. These awards aren't based on need at all, so they can significantly reduce costs regardless of your SAI. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation but with twins instead of triplets, and I wanted to share something that might help. When you're researching schools, pay special attention to their "net price calculators" on their websites - but here's the key: make sure you're entering the DIVIDED SAI amount (so ~$26,667 for each of your triplets) rather than the full $80K when you're calculating estimated costs for each child. I initially made the mistake of plugging in our full SAI for each twin and got completely misleading results that made schools look way more expensive than they actually were. Once I used the correct divided amount, the net price calculators gave much more realistic estimates. Also, if your triplets have different academic strengths or interests, don't feel like they all have to apply to the same schools. Sometimes having them at different institutions can actually work out better financially if one school offers amazing aid to one child while another school is better for a different child. The key is maximizing the total aid across all three rather than trying to keep them together if it means worse financial outcomes for the family. Just remember - you're not alone in this! Families with multiple college students are more common than you might think, and financial aid offices really do understand the challenges. Stay organized, be proactive, and don't be afraid to advocate for your family's needs.

As someone who's been through the financial aid process with multiple kids, I want to echo what others have said about being proactive with financial aid offices. Your triplets situation is actually quite unique and most schools will want to work with you. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is timing - don't wait until after you receive aid packages to start these conversations. Reach out to financial aid offices at your top choice schools NOW, explain your triplets situation, and ask about their policies for families with multiple students. Some schools have internal deadlines for special consideration requests that come before their regular aid award notifications. Also, document EVERYTHING. Keep records of all conversations, email exchanges, and any additional forms they ask you to complete. This will be crucial if you need to appeal decisions later or if there are any discrepancies between what schools tell you and what they actually offer. Finally, consider working with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in college funding strategies. With $190K income and three kids starting simultaneously, there might be additional strategies (like 529 plan distributions, tax planning around aid years, etc.) that could help optimize your overall situation. The cost of professional advice could easily pay for itself in this scenario. You've got this - having triplets in college is challenging but definitely manageable with the right approach!

I'm a newcomer here but going through something similar with my two kids (not triplets, but still multiple students). One thing I learned that might help is to also check if your state has any special programs for families with multiple college students. Some states offer additional grants or tax credits specifically for this situation that work independently of federal aid. Also, when you do start getting aid packages, create a spreadsheet to compare the TOTAL four-year costs for each child at each school, not just the first-year numbers. Sometimes a school might front-load aid in year one but reduce it in subsequent years, or vice versa. With triplets, you'll want to see the full picture of what you're committing to over the next four years. One more tip - if any of your triplets are considering different majors, look into whether certain programs at schools offer additional departmental scholarships. Sometimes the engineering department or business school will have separate funding that can stack on top of general institutional aid. The whole process is definitely overwhelming but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice from this community!