FAFSA SAI of 19077 - Are we only eligible for loans with this high number?

An SAI of 19077 doesn't necessarily mean you'll only get loans, though it does limit your federal grant options. Your daughter likely won't qualify for Pell Grants, but many schools have their own institutional aid that isn't solely based on your FAFSA SAI. Here's what you should do: 1. Wait for the full financial aid package from the school before assuming anything 2. Submit the CSS Profile if her school requires it (many private colleges use this for institutional aid) 3. Contact the financial aid office directly to explain your situation with multiple children attending college soon Many schools will adjust their institutional aid when multiple siblings will be in college, even if the FAFSA SAI doesn't fully reflect that yet. Don't jump straight to Parent PLUS loans until you see the complete offer.

We had similar SAI (around 21k) and my son still got $7k in institutional grants from his college plus work-study. FAFSA is just one piece of the equation. Definitely call the financial aid office!!!!!

The financial aid system is RIDICULOUS! How are families making under 100k supposed to pay 19k out of pocket?? That's 20% of your income! The whole system is designed to push people into debt. I bet your EFC last year was way lower before they changed to this new SAI formula. It's all a scam to make it seem like middle class families can afford more than they actually can. Sorry this happened to you.

hav u tried calling fafsa to see if there was maybe an error in the calc? sometimes they mess up numbers

I know exactly what you're going through. I tried calling FSA for two weeks straight to get clarification on our SAI calculation and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Regarding your actual question - our SAI was 18500 and my son still qualified for subsidized loans and work-study, plus his school gave him a $12k merit scholarship that wasn't based on need. Definitely reach out to the financial aid office at your daughter's school!

Financial aid professional here. A few important points to note: 1. Your SAI of 19077 doesn't mean you'll pay exactly that amount. Each school has its own methodology for determining institutional aid. 2. When your other children enroll in college, you can submit a special circumstances form to have your SAI recalculated. This is called a Professional Judgment review. 3. The $32k cost of attendance likely includes room, board, books, etc. The actual tuition may be lower. 4. Subsidized loans are possible with your SAI, though Pell Grants are unlikely. 5. ALWAYS appeal your initial financial aid offer, especially with your specific situation of multiple future college students. Take a deep breath - you still have options beyond just Parent PLUS loans.

Wat does SAI even mean? Is that different from EFC? My kid is applying next year and I'm so confused by all these changes

omg i just realized I mixed up SAI and COA in my last comment 🤦‍♀️ long day lol. but seriously tho check with each individual school about their institutional aid!! My son's bill ended up being half of what I expected based on our FAFSA results

Don't forget to look at outside scholarships too! My daughter got $3k from our local credit union and $2k from her dad's employer. Every bit helps when you're stuck in that middle-income trap where the govt thinks you can afford more than you actually can.

To answer your follow-up question: You should mention your future college students in any financial aid appeal you make now, but the official Professional Judgment review will have the most impact once they're actually enrolled. Still, schools may consider this information even now, especially if you can document that the other children will definitely be attending college soon (like if they're high school juniors/seniors). One more tip: If your daughter has strong academic credentials, look into schools that offer generous merit aid. Some less-competitive private schools often provide substantial discounts to attract strong students, regardless of financial need.

I'm in a very similar situation - SAI of 18,500 with twins starting college next year. What I've learned from going through this process is that the SAI is really just the starting point for financial aid conversations, not the final word. A few things that helped us: - Many schools will still offer work-study even with higher SAIs - Look into state grant programs - some have higher income limits than federal aid - Consider community college for gen eds if the costs become unmanageable (my neighbor's daughter did 2 years CC then transferred and saved over $40k) The anxiety is real when you see that number, but don't panic yet. Wait to see what the actual financial aid packages look like from her schools. And definitely have her apply to a few "safety" schools that offer good merit aid - sometimes they'll offer more money to attract students who might otherwise go elsewhere. You've got this! The system is frustrating but there are usually more options than it initially appears.

I completely understand that sinking feeling when you see a higher SAI than expected! I went through something similar last year with my oldest. A few additional thoughts that might help: 1. Don't overlook state schools - many have excellent programs at much lower costs, and some offer automatic merit scholarships based on GPA/test scores regardless of need. 2. If your daughter is considering any particular majors, look into field-specific scholarships. STEM fields, teaching, healthcare, etc. often have dedicated funding sources. 3. Some schools have "middle-income" assistance programs specifically for families like yours who don't qualify for need-based aid but can't afford full pay either. 4. Consider having your daughter take a gap year to work and save money, or to apply to additional schools with better merit aid. I know it's not ideal, but it could save thousands in the long run. The multiple kids in college situation is definitely tough with the new FAFSA changes, but as others have mentioned, schools can still make adjustments. Hang in there - you'll figure out a path that works for your family!