FAFSA SAI jumped with only one student in college - is this calculation error or normal?

The increase you're seeing is most likely correct. The FAFSA formula weighs heavily on the number of family members attending college simultaneously. With two students, your income was essentially being split between both. Now with just one, all family contribution is directed toward that single student. It's not a glitch - this is actually how the formula is designed to work.\n\nAs for transfers, most colleges are aware of the FAFSA delays and have adjusted their policies. Contact the financial aid offices directly - most have implemented alternative processes for transfers caught in this situation. They might allow you to submit proof that you've completed the FAFSA even if you haven't been able to add their school code yet.

Thanks for explaining. I can't believe how much difference one student makes! Is there any way to appeal this or get the calculation reviewed? With the new system, I'm still not 100% convinced there isn't some kind of error given all the FAFSA problems this year.

ur not alone!! my sai went up by like 8k!!!! and nothing changed except my brother graduated last yr so now its just me in college. the whole system is RIGGED against middle class families!! they expect us to just magically find extra money?? the new fafsa is totally broken

While it feels unfair, this isn't actually a bug or a problem with the new FAFSA. The expected family contribution has always been divided by the number of college students in a household. When that number decreases, the remaining student(s) see higher SAI numbers. This is by design, not a glitch.

For your transfer question: My daughter was in a similar situation (transfer student) and we contacted all the schools directly. Most have updated their policies because of the FAFSA delays and have alternate processes. None denied her consideration, but they did require documentation showing we had completed the FAFSA even though we couldn't select their school yet. Each school had a slightly different approach, so definitely contact each financial aid office directly.

That's a relief! Did they ask for anything specific to prove you'd completed the FAFSA? A screenshot of the confirmation page maybe?

Yes, we provided screenshots of the confirmation page and our SAI. One school also asked for a copy of our SAR (Student Aid Report) once we received it. Another just wanted the confirmation number. Best to ask each school exactly what they need - they've all been pretty understanding about the situation.

The multiple students in college factor is HUGE in the FAFSA calculation. When I worked in financial aid, I'd see families get completely different packages when a sibling graduated or entered college. It's absolutely normal to see a big SAI jump when going from 2 students to 1. \n\nThe calculation basically assumes that your family's ability to pay for college is divided among the number of students you have enrolled. So with two students, they might calculate that you can afford to pay $10K per student (total $20K). But when only one is enrolled, they assume you can direct that entire $20K toward the one student.\n\nIf your income or assets increased at all, even by a small amount, that compounds with the reduction in students.

That explanation makes sense mathematically, but it's still shocking how dramatic the difference is. Our family budget doesn't suddenly have tons more money available just because one kid graduated. Does this mean my younger child will get much less aid than their sibling did?

Unfortunately, yes - your younger child will likely receive less need-based aid than when both were enrolled. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the financial aid system for many families. Schools with good institutional aid may recognize this and offer additional non-federal aid, but the federal calculation doesn't account for this reality of family finances. It's absolutely worth reaching out to each school's financial aid office to explain your situation once you receive aid offers.

so i had the same problem with my sai and called the FAFSA ppl but was on hold for 3+ hours and then got disconnected!!! tried again 2 more times with the same result. finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in like 20 mins. they confirmed my SAI was calculated correctly even tho it went up a ton. they explained exactly which part of my info caused it. check out this video to see how it works https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

I've never heard of this service before. Did they actually help resolve anything or just confirm what everyone else is saying? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

they didn't change my SAI cuz apparently it was calculated right 🙄 but at least they explained exactly why it jumped so much (in my case it was combo of less students + my mom's retirement account which i didn't know counts). better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected! the fafsa phone system is completely useless otherwise

I went through this exact thing last year! Had 2 kids in school then down to 1 and our SAI almost doubled. I was CONVINCED it was an error and spent weeks trying to get it fixed. After multiple calls to FSA, turned out it was calculated correctly - that's just how the formula works. Super frustrating but not a glitch.\n\nAbout the transfer question - my son transferred mid-year and the schools gave him a temporary pass on having FAFSA completed because of all the system issues. He had to sign some form promising to complete it ASAP when able to add the school code.

Regarding your concern about the SAI increase: This is actually working as designed, but it can definitely be shocking. The formula expects your family to contribute roughly the same total amount regardless of how many students you have, but that amount gets divided by the number of students. So when you go from 2 to 1 student, that single student bears the full weight of the family contribution rather than half.\n\nFor example, if your expected family contribution was $20,000 with two students, each would have an SAI of approximately $10,000. With one student, the full $20,000 is assigned to that student.\n\nFor transfers: Most institutions are implementing contingency plans due to the FAFSA processing delays. Contact each school's financial aid office directly to explain your situation. Many are accepting screenshots of completed FAFSAs or confirmation emails as temporary proof until you can officially add their school code.

but that's so unfair!!!! why should the youngest kid get less aid just bc their siblings already finished???

It's not necessarily about fairness, but rather how the federal formula assesses a family's ability to pay. The system assumes your family's financial situation remains relatively constant, but with fewer students to support, more resources can be directed to each remaining student. This doesn't mean your youngest won't receive aid - just that the need-based calculation will be different. Remember that merit scholarships aren't affected by this calculation, so focusing on those opportunities becomes even more important.

my cousins nephew had this happen and he called the school directly and they said to just write a letter explaining that the FAFSA system is messed up and they gave him an extension. idk about the SAI thing tho, taxes confuse me lol

Thanks everyone for the explanations. Still feels incredibly unfair, but at least I understand what's happening now. I'm going to contact each transfer school directly about their FAFSA policies, and maybe try that Claimyr service to speak with someone at FSA about whether there's any way to appeal the SAI calculation. I appreciate all the advice!

One last tip: When you contact schools, ask specifically about their

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process (my oldest is a high school senior), and reading through this thread is honestly terrifying! We're planning to have two kids in college at the same time for a few years, but then it'll drop to one. I had no idea the SAI could jump so dramatically when the number of students changes. Is there anything families can do to prepare for this financially, or are we just at the mercy of the formula? Also, should we be timing our kids' college years differently to maximize aid? This seems like such a huge factor that nobody talks about during college planning!

This is such valuable information for families to know ahead of time! I wish someone had explained this to us when our first child started college. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - consider looking into schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need and have strong endowments. These schools often have more flexibility in their institutional aid formulas and may not penalize families as harshly for the sibling graduation scenario. Also, some private schools have sibling discounts or family grants that can help bridge the gap when your aid drops. It's worth asking about these programs during the application process. The FAFSA formula is just one piece of the puzzle - don't let it discourage you from pursuing the best educational opportunities for your kids!