FAFSA SAI score of 8675309 - what does this mean for financial aid eligibility?
Just got my daughter's FAFSA results back and her SAI score is 8675309. I'm completely lost as to what this means for her college prospects. Is this good? Bad? Middle of the road? The financial aid website is useless, and I can't find a straightforward explanation anywhere. She's applied to 6 schools ranging from state universities to a couple of private colleges. Will this score disqualify her from need-based aid completely? She's worked so hard and I'm worried we won't be able to afford any of her options. Has anyone navigated this process recently who can explain what this SAI number actually means for us?
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Malik Thompson
Thats tommy tutone's number lol. 867-5309. ur jokin right? no way thats a real SAI score its way too high
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Emma Anderson
•Omg you're right! I think I typed it wrong from the paper! Let me double-check...
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Isabella Ferreira
Hi there! I've gone through this confusing process twice with my kids. The SAI (Student Aid Index) is basically what the government thinks your family can afford to pay for college each year. A score of 8675309 would be... extraordinary. The highest I've ever heard of is around 60,000. Are you sure you're reading it correctly? Most scores fall between 0-20,000, with 0 meaning maximum need-based aid eligibility.
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Emma Anderson
•Thank you for explaining! I'm going to double check the paperwork when I get home. I might have misread or mistyped it. That would explain why it seemed so unusual.
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CosmicVoyager
Financial aid counselor here. There's definitely a mistake somewhere. The maximum SAI score possible is 999,999 - and that's extremely rare. A score of 8675309 isn't possible in the system. Either there was a typo when you entered it, or you're misreading something on your SAR (Student Aid Report). I'd recommend logging into studentaid.gov and checking the official SAI there. The SAI determines eligibility for need-based aid like Pell Grants, work-study, and subsidized loans.
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Emma Anderson
•Thank you for the professional insight! I'll check the studentaid.gov site tonight. I've been trying to call the Federal Student Aid office all day but can't get through to a human.
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Ravi Kapoor
I had the same panic attack last year! Turned out I was looking at the FAFSA confirmation number, not the SAI! 🤦♀️ Check your SAR (Student Aid Report) carefully - the SAI should be clearly labeled. And just FYI, lower numbers are better for aid purposes. A zero SAI would qualify for maximum need-based aid including Pell Grants.
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Emma Anderson
•That must be what happened! I bet I was looking at some confirmation code or reference number instead of the actual SAI. Thank you for sharing your experience - makes me feel less technologically challenged! 😅
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Freya Nielsen
When I was trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid last month for my son's verification issue, I spent DAYS trying to get through. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me so much frustration. They can explain exactly what your daughter's real SAI means and what aid she might qualify for.
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Omar Mahmoud
•does that thing actually work? ive been on hold with fafsa for like 2 hrs daily this week 😫
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Chloe Harris
Just an FYI - even if your daughter's SAI is high, don't panic! Many private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA and can offer institutional aid even when federal aid isn't available. My daughter had a high SAI but still got merit scholarships and some institutional need-based aid from several schools. Also, don't forget to look into state aid programs - many have different formulas than federal programs.
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Emma Anderson
•Thank you for the encouragement! She did complete the CSS Profile for two of the private schools. I hadn't thought about state programs though - will definitely look into those options too.
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Emma Anderson
UPDATE: I'm so embarrassed! You all were right - I was looking at the confirmation number, not the actual SAI! Her real SAI is 9,834, which from what I understand means she'll be eligible for some aid but not the maximum amount. I appreciate everyone's help and patience with my confusion. I'm going to look into the CSS Profile results and state aid options as suggested.
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Isabella Ferreira
•That's great news! An SAI of 9,834 is actually quite reasonable. She should qualify for some need-based aid depending on the cost of attendance at each school. And definitely don't forget to compare all financial aid packages carefully when they come in - sometimes the most expensive schools on paper offer the best actual deals!
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CosmicVoyager
•An SAI of 9,834 puts your daughter in a good position for aid at many institutions. She'll likely qualify for subsidized loans and possibly work-study. Depending on the school's cost of attendance, she might get institutional grants too. Make sure to submit any additional documentation schools request for their financial aid process - many have supplemental forms beyond FAFSA and CSS Profile.
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Ravi Kapoor
Haha the 867-5309 reference got me singing that old Tommy Tutone song! But I'm glad you figured out your actual SAI! When you get your aid packages, don't be afraid to appeal them if your financial situation has changed at all since you submitted the FAFSA. I successfully appealed my daughter's package when my hours were cut at work. Just contact the financial aid office directly at each school.
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Emma Anderson
•I've had that song stuck in my head since I realized my mistake! 😂 Thank you for the tip about appeals - my husband's medical expenses have actually increased since we filed, so that's good to know we might have some negotiation room.
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Lucas Bey
So glad you got this sorted out! Just wanted to add - when comparing financial aid packages, make sure you're looking at the net price (total cost minus all aid) rather than just the aid amounts. Sometimes a more expensive school ends up being cheaper after aid. Also, keep an eye out for renewable scholarship requirements - some merit aid has GPA requirements to maintain eligibility all four years. Your daughter sounds like she's worked hard, so I'm sure she'll have great options!
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Jessica Nolan
•This is such helpful advice! I never thought about comparing net prices instead of just aid amounts - that makes so much sense. And the renewable scholarship requirements are definitely something I need to ask about. She's maintained a 3.8 GPA through high school, so hopefully that will help with both merit aid and keeping any scholarships she receives. Thank you for taking the time to share these insights!
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Drake
Don't feel embarrassed at all! The FAFSA process is incredibly confusing and you're definitely not the first parent to mix up numbers on those forms. An SAI of 9,834 is actually in a pretty good sweet spot - not so low that you're struggling financially, but low enough that your daughter should qualify for meaningful aid. I'd also recommend having her apply for outside scholarships if she hasn't already - sites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com have tons of options, and even small $500-1000 scholarships can really add up. Best of luck with the aid packages!
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