FAFSA SAI score of 43762 - what does this mean for financial aid?

That SAI is on the higher side, which means you'll likely qualify for fewer need-based grants. The lower your SAI, the more need-based aid you typically receive. At 43762, you'll probably be offered mostly loans, though you should still qualify for unsubsidized federal loans regardless of need. Don't panic though - your sister being in college should have been factored into your SAI calculation through the Multiple Children in College adjustment.

my SAI was 52000 and i basicaly got nothing lol just loans. but did u check with ur specific college? some schools have their own scholarships that dont use FAFSA

Have you considered applying for outside scholarships? That SAI probably means limited federal grants, but there are TONS of private scholarships out there. I was in a similar situation last yr.

I went through this exact thing last year. Called FSA like 20 times to understand why my SAI was so high when we couldn't actually afford that much for college. The normal number was USELESS - busy signals and disconnects every time. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to them - they have this service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. Saved me hours! They have a demo video too: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When I finally got through, the agent explained that assets were counted heavily in my calculation, which was pushing up my SAI. We were able to submit an appeal with additional context about our financial situation.

SAI scores are BS anyway, the whole system is rigged against middle class families. My parents make decent money but live in an expensive area and the FAFSA doesn't care about COST OF LIVING differences!! They expect my parents to contribute like 30k a year which is INSANE.

Have you checked if you qualify for merit scholarships at your school? With the SAI that high (43762), you probably won't get much need-based aid, but many schools offer scholarships based on GPA/test scores instead of financial need. Also, don't forget to look into work-study programs - they won't show up in your initial aid offer but you can often request to be considered for them separately.

To give you a clear explanation: Your SAI (Student Aid Index) of 43762 means the federal calculation estimates your family can contribute approximately $43,762 annually toward your education costs. This doesn't mean your family must pay exactly this amount, but it's used to determine your eligibility for need-based aid by comparing it to your school's Cost of Attendance (COA). Your need-based aid eligibility is calculated as: COA - SAI = Need With a higher SAI like yours, you'll likely receive limited need-based grants such as the Federal Pell Grant. However, you're still eligible for: 1. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans (not need-based) 2. Parent PLUS loans (credit check required) 3. Merit-based scholarships from your institution 4. Private scholarships 5. Work-study opportunities (if your school offers them) You mentioned your sister is also in college - if this information was correctly reported on your FAFSA, it should have already reduced your SAI somewhat through the multiple-in-college adjustment.

Did you check if your FAFSA information is accurate? Sometimes even small errors can dramatically affect your SAI calculation. Make sure your parents' retirement accounts weren't incorrectly reported as regular assets, and double-check that your sibling in college was properly indicated. These mistakes happen all the time.

I'm in a similar situation with my SAI being higher than expected! One thing that helped me was creating a comprehensive list of all our family's financial obligations that might not be obvious from the FAFSA - things like caring for elderly grandparents, medical expenses, or other dependents. Even if these don't directly change your SAI, having this information ready can be really helpful when you meet with your school's financial aid office for a professional judgment review. Also, definitely double-check that retirement accounts weren't mistakenly reported as assets - that's a super common error that can inflate your SAI significantly. Don't give up hope yet - there are still options to explore!

Hey Dylan, I totally get how stressful this is! An SAI of 43,762 is definitely on the higher side, but don't lose hope. Since your sister is in college too, that should have helped lower your SAI somewhat already. A few things to consider: First, definitely double-check your FAFSA for errors - retirement accounts are a common mistake that can inflate your SAI. Second, even with limited need-based aid, you'll still qualify for unsubsidized federal loans and potentially Parent PLUS loans. Third, and this is important - many schools have institutional aid that doesn't follow federal formulas. Schedule a meeting with your financial aid office ASAP to discuss your family's actual financial situation. They might have discretion to offer additional help or put you on a payment plan. Also look into merit scholarships at your school based on your academics. The SAI is just one piece of the puzzle - don't give up!