FAFSA SAI of -1500 with $49K income - will I get any financial aid?

A negative SAI of -1500 is actually very good news! With that SAI, you'll likely qualify for the maximum Pell Grant (around $7,400 for the 2025-2026 year). The fact that you're a single parent with two dependents is a big factor in why your SAI is negative despite your income being around $49K. The FAFSA formula takes into account family size and number of college students in the household. Your $49K income isn't too high for aid with your family circumstances. You'll likely qualify for: - Full Pell Grant - Possibly state grants depending on your state - Subsidized loans (where the government pays the interest while you're in school) When your school processes your FAFSA, they'll put together a complete financial aid package that might include institutional aid as well.

congrats on the negative SAI! thats really good. my cousin had something similar last yr and got decent aid. but it also depends on what school ur going to? some schools give way more aid than others even with the same FAFSA results

With an SAI of -1500 and your income situation as a single parent of two, you're in good shape for federal aid. Your income of $49,282 isn't high enough to disqualify you from Pell Grants when family size is factored in. The federal Pell Grant for 2025-2026 has a maximum of approximately $7,400, and you'll likely qualify for the full amount with that negative SAI. Here's what you should expect from most schools with your numbers: 1. Maximum Pell Grant 2. Access to subsidized federal loans 3. Possible state grants (varies by state) 4. Likely work-study eligibility The total package will vary by school cost. Your Expected Family Contribution (now called the SAI) sets a baseline for aid calculations, but each institution has its own methodology for awarding institutional funds. Apply to multiple schools if possible to compare packages.

I had an SAI of -2000 last year but only got a partial Pell Grant because they said my assets were too high even though my income was lower than yours. It's SO FRUSTRATING how they calculate this stuff! Did you list any savings or property on your FAFSA? That can really mess things up even with a negative SAI. The whole system is designed to punish people who try to save money.

I've been dealing with FAFSA issues for months now and finally got my aid package sorted out. I had a similar SAI to yours and received good aid, but getting answers from Federal Student Aid was nearly impossible with constant busy signals and disconnections. After my 5th attempt trying to reach someone, a friend recommended I try Claimyr.com to get through to a FAFSA agent. It actually worked! They connected me to an agent within 20 minutes when I had been trying for days. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Just sharing because I know how frustrating the waiting game can be, especially when you have questions about your specific situation that only an official agent can answer.

negative SAI is good but dont count ur chickens yet! my daughter had negative SAI too and still didn't get enough aid to cover everything. the whole system is broken imo. apply for as many scholarships as u can too!!!

I want to clarify something important regarding negative SAI values and Pell Grants. For the 2025-2026 award year, a negative SAI does typically qualify you for the maximum Pell Grant, but the exact amount also depends on your cost of attendance and enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time). With two dependents and your income level, you're in a good position. The FAFSA Simplification Act actually expanded Pell eligibility for many families in your situation. Once your schools receive your FAFSA data, they'll calculate your official aid package. If you're selected for verification (which happens randomly to about 25% of applicants), you'll need to submit additional documentation to confirm your information. Don't worry if this happens - it's normal and doesn't mean you did anything wrong.

waitng for finaid is the WORST!!! i had an sai of like +3000 and still got some aid so you'll def get something with -1500. good luck!!

Hey Millie! I'm in a very similar situation - single mom with kids and just got back my SAI last week too. Mine was -1800 and I was just as confused about what it meant! Reading through all these responses is really helpful. One thing I learned from my financial aid counselor is that you should also look into your state's grant programs. Some states have really generous need-based grants that stack on top of federal aid. Also, don't forget about things like childcare grants if your school offers them - that was a game changer for me when I went back to school a few years ago. You're doing great by planning ahead and asking these questions early! The whole process is overwhelming but it sounds like you're going to get some good aid with that negative SAI. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞