FAFSA SAI of -1500 but only got 13k aid for 34k state school - impossible gap for retiree parent

sadly, that's how it works now. negative SAI doesn't guarantee full coverage - just means u qualify for max Pell. each school decides what other aid they give. state schools have less money for grants than private schools sometimes. my daughter had -2300 SAI and got better packages from expensive private colleges than cheaper state ones!!

Have you tried appealing the financial aid offer? With a negative SAI and your specific circumstances, you have solid grounds for an appeal. Contact the financial aid office directly and explain your situation - focus on your fixed income, your son's specialized program needs (ASL interpreter programs are limited), and the fact that community college isn't an option for this career path. Many schools have additional institutional aid they can offer after an appeal, especially for students with strong needs in specialized programs. If you approach them with documentation of your financial situation and emphasize the necessity of this specific program, they may find additional funds.

I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter's SAI of -1800. Here's what we learned: 1. Negative SAI qualifies you for maximum Pell, but that's the only GUARANTEED part of the aid package 2. State schools often have less institutional aid available compared to private colleges 3. The federal formula expects students to take out the maximum federal student loans ($5,500 for freshmen) 4. The remaining gap is something the school KNOWS exists but doesn't have funding to fill The system is fundamentally broken. You might want to have your son look at private colleges with good deaf education/ASL interpreter programs - they sometimes have more institutional aid for high-need students. Gallaudet University in particular has exceptional programs for this field and might offer more substantial aid packages.

I work in financial aid and wanted to clarify a few things about negative SAI: 1. Your son DOES qualify for additional aid beyond Pell, but state schools have limited institutional funds 2. The federal methodology assumes student loans will cover part of the gap ($5,500 for freshmen) 3. The calculation also assumes a student contribution from summer work (~$3,000) That still leaves a significant gap, which is a major flaw in our system. For specialized programs like ASL interpretation, check if your state has vocational rehabilitation services that might provide additional funding. Also, there are specific scholarships for students entering interpreter programs - the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) offers several.

my cousin had the EXACT SAME THING for special ed program!!! -900 SAI, only got like 12k for a 30k program. ended up having to take max loans and work 30hrs a week. system is totally rigged against us. colleges dont care if u can actually afford it they just want butts in seats lol

After spending 3 days trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about a similar issue, I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call FSA for you and hold your place in line, then call you when an agent is ready. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. The FSA agent I spoke with explained there's a specific appeal process for special circumstances like being on fixed income that most financial aid offices don't tell you about. Got my daughter's aid package increased by $7k after submitting the right documentation.

You might consider having your son establish independent status on FAFSA through a dependency override. With your disability income situation and his specialized program needs, you might have a case. If he's considered independent, your income won't factor into his aid calculation at all. The process requires documentation and a compelling case, but I've seen it work for students in similar situations. The school's financial aid office would need to approve this, and you'd need to demonstrate unusual circumstances that make parental support impossible.

THIS IS WHY THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! SAI means STUDENT AID INDEX and is supposed to show what you can pay but then they ignore it completely!! They know EXACTLY what you can afford (-1500 means you can pay NOTHING) and then leave a $20k gap anyway?? I've been through this with 3 kids now and it's gotten worse each time. The financial aid system is completely broken. Negative SAI should mean FULL COVERAGE of costs, period.

After reading through all the comments, I'd suggest taking these specific steps: 1. Have your son accept the current aid package to hold his spot but don't pay any deposits yet 2. File a Special Circumstances form (different from regular appeal) documenting your fixed income situation 3. Contact your state's Vocational Rehabilitation Services about funding for ASL interpreter training 4. Look for program-specific scholarships from organizations like RID and NAD (National Association of the Deaf) 5. Consider having your son take the minimum federal loans ($5,500) to reduce the gap Despite the frustrating system, there are ways to piece together funding, especially for specialized programs like ASL interpretation that address critical workforce shortages.