FAFSA SAI of 20616 but school wants 34k - is this normal gap?

Unfortunately, this is pretty common. The SAI (previously called EFC) is just a number that determines your eligibility for federal aid, not a guarantee of what you'll actually pay. Schools aren't required to meet your full financial need and many don't. The difference between your SAI and what the school expects you to pay is called the "gap" and it can be substantial at many schools.

same boat!!! my SAI was 18k but after all the financial "aid" im still looking at 32k a year 😭 and they had the nerve to congratulate me on my "generous" aid package

You CAN appeal the financial aid offer! It's called a Professional Judgment Review. Write a formal letter to the financial aid office explaining why you need more aid. Include any changes in circumstances not reflected on your FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc). They can adjust your package.

My kid is at State U and we had a similar issue. The SAI doesn't account for regional cost of living differences or the fact that you might have other expenses like caring for elderly parents or whatever. Its just a formula. Call the financial aid office and ask to talk to a counselor directly. Sometimes they have institutional funds they can use.

To directly answer your question: Yes, it's unfortunately very normal for there to be a gap between your SAI and the actual cost. The SAI primarily determines eligibility for federal Pell Grants and subsidized loans, not your total college cost. Some key points to understand: 1. Only a small number of (mostly elite private) schools promise to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need 2. Public universities often have significant gaps due to reduced state funding 3. The SAI formula assumes families will use savings, current income, AND borrow to meet college costs 4. Some schools intentionally "gap" students as a enrollment management strategy

You should absolutely try to appeal. When you do: 1. Be very specific about your financial constraints 2. Provide documentation of any special circumstances 3. Compare with other offers if you have them 4. Be polite but persistent 5. Talk to the financial aid office directly, not just via email I recommend being prepared before calling financial aid - they're notoriously difficult to reach by phone this time of year. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) last month to get through to my son's financial aid office after trying for days. They got me connected in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for hours before. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

Another strategy is to ask about additional scholarship opportunities. Many schools have departmental scholarships, alumni scholarships, or specific scholarships for your intended major that aren't automatically included in your initial package. Ask about work-study options too. Every bit helps reduce that gap!

To everyone saying "just appeal" - I tried that with my daughter's school and they literally said "this is our final offer" without even considering our circumstances. Some schools just don't care. We ended up having her attend community college for 2 years then transfer. Saved about $50k total.

My nephew got an extra $5k/yr just by sending a nice email asking for reconsideration. No special circumstances or anything! Just asked! Some schools have more flexibility than others tho.

One important distinction: schools with large endowments (usually private) often have more institutional aid available than public universities. Public universities are more constrained by state funding formulas and have less discretionary money for aid appeals. If you're looking at a public university with a large gap, you might want to also apply to some private colleges known for generous aid to have comparison offers for negotiation.

i ended up picking my safety school because they gave me way more $$$. not my dream school but i'll graduate with wayyyyy less debt. sometimes you gotta be practical even if it sucks

After you appeal, make sure to ask about payment plans too. Many schools offer monthly payment options that can make the out-of-pocket portion more manageable than paying each semester. And always be careful about loans - federal loans have better protections than private ones.

Update: I called the financial aid office today and got a counselor who was actually helpful! She said they might be able to convert one of the unsubsidized loans to a grant based on our circumstances, and suggested I submit a formal appeal letter detailing our specific financial constraints. She also mentioned they have some departmental scholarships I could apply for as a biology major. It's still going to be a stretch financially, but potentially more manageable if the appeal works. Thanks everyone for your advice!