FAFSA SAI vs CSS Profile - Could final tuition be lower than $40k quote?

in my experience the css profile schools don't usually lower their costs after the fact... they already factored in both when they gave u that 40k number. CSS profile actually looks at more assets than FAFSA does (like home equity and stuff) so thats probably why theres that gap between your SAI and their number

Actually, there is definitely a chance the final cost could be lower! Schools that use CSS Profile typically have their own institutional methodology for awarding aid, and they may have only provided a preliminary estimate based on limited information. Now that they'll have your official FAFSA data with the verified SAI, they could very well adjust your aid package. A few important things to know: 1. Many CSS Profile schools have additional institutional grants and scholarships not reflected in initial estimates 2. The $40k estimate might be before federal aid is applied (Pell Grants, work-study, subsidized loans) 3. Merit scholarships are often calculated separately from need-based aid I'd strongly recommend scheduling a meeting with a financial aid counselor to discuss your specific situation. They can often find additional aid sources once they have your complete financial picture.

OMG the EXACT same thing happened to my son last year!!! Our SAI was about $31k but the school wanted like $45k per year and we were FREAKING OUT. We ended up getting it down to about $37k after talking to financial aid like 5 times. Some advice - document EVERYTHING about your finances because they will ask for it all. Also we had to fill out some special circumstances form because my husband had a medical issue that year... idk if you have anything like that?

As someone who works in college financial aid, I can offer some perspective. The $40k estimate from a CSS Profile school likely already incorporates both methodologies, but there are still several possible scenarios where your final cost could decrease: 1. If your FAFSA SAI verification revealed a lower family contribution than initially estimated 2. If your student qualifies for departmental scholarships within their major (many aren't calculated until later) 3. If the school has a preferential packaging policy for students they're especially interested in enrolling However, I should note that the typical gap between FAFSA SAI and actual cost at CSS Profile schools often ranges from $8K-15K, so your $10,517 gap is actually quite standard. This is because CSS Profile schools use home equity, small business assets, and non-custodial parent income in their calculations. I recommend requesting a financial aid appeal based specifically on your official SAI number. About 30% of appeals result in some additional funding.

claimyr.com saved me so much frustration when I needed to talk to someone about my daughters financial aid package. The schools fin aid office was useless but I needed to speak with someone at Federal Student Aid directly about our SAI calculation. Spent 2 days trying to get through those impossible phone lines. Friend told me about this service that gets you through to an actual person at FSA in like 10 mins. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - totally worth it to actually talk to someone knowledgeable who can explain how your SAI is being calculated and what options you have.

the $40K is probably firm. CSS Profile schools are notoriously rigid with their calculations. They consider so many more assets than FAFSA does - retirement accounts, home equity, business value, etc. The truth is if you have significant assets beyond just income, CSS Profile will ALWAYS give you a higher expected contribution than FAFSA. Your options are: 1. Appeal and hope for mercy (rarely works) 2. Consider cheaper schools (the smart move) 3. Take out massive Parent PLUS loans (DON'T DO THIS) The whole system is designed to extract as much money as possible from families who have saved responsibly. It's infuriating.

me and my wife went thru this with our twins last yr. one school came back with a way better package AFTER we got our fafsa stuff in. the other one didnt budge at all. depends on the school i guess. good luck!!!

did u send in all ur tax docs yet? cuz sometimes they need 2 VERIFY ur fafsa before they finalize anything. our daughters school said the same $$ amount at first and then wanted like ALL our tax forms and w2s and stuff for verification before they would finalize :/

I'd like to add some additional advice based on the comments: 1. Be prepared for verification - about 35% of FAFSA filers are selected, and CSS Profile schools often conduct their own verification regardless. 2. When appealing, use the term "Professional Judgment Request" rather than "appeal" - this is the official term financial aid offices use. 3. If your student has strong academic credentials, specifically inquire about merit scholarship reconsideration - these are often handled by a different department than need-based aid. 4. Remember that the financial aid package may include federal student loans (up to $5,500 for first-year students) which are technically "aid" but still require repayment. 5. Most importantly - get everything in writing. Financial aid conversations by phone should always be followed up with an email summarizing what was discussed and any promises made.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my son! His FAFSA SAI was around $28k but the CSS Profile school initially quoted us $42k. After submitting all our official FAFSA documents and having a detailed conversation with their financial aid office, we managed to get it down to about $35k. Here's what helped us: - We discovered the initial estimate didn't include some federal aid components - The school had additional need-based grants that weren't factored into the preliminary quote - We qualified for a small work-study program that reduced our out-of-pocket costs Don't lose hope! The key is being proactive and persistent with the financial aid office. Email them now requesting a meeting to discuss how your official SAI might impact your final package. Also ask specifically about any institutional grants or work-study opportunities that might not have been included in that $40k estimate. The worst they can say is no, but in our experience, most schools want to help families make attendance financially feasible when possible. Good luck!

I'm in a similar boat with my daughter and wanted to share what I've learned from talking to other parents who've been through this process. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is timing - many schools do a final review of aid packages in late April/early May as they get a clearer picture of their enrollment numbers and remaining budget for institutional aid. Also, since you mentioned your daughter got into her dream school, make sure to communicate that enthusiasm appropriately in your communications with financial aid. Schools want to enroll students who genuinely want to be there, and sometimes that can work in your favor during aid reconsideration. One practical tip: when you email the financial aid office, include your daughter's student ID, your FAFSA SAI amount ($29,483), and the preliminary estimate ($40k) right in the subject line. Something like "Professional Judgment Request - Student ID [X] - SAI $29,483 vs Est. $40k." This immediately signals to them that you're informed and serious about the process. Best of luck! The fact that there's such a significant gap between your SAI and their estimate suggests there's definitely room for discussion.

I'm new to this community but going through something very similar! My daughter's FAFSA SAI came in at $31,200 but her top choice school (also uses CSS Profile) initially quoted us $38,500. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the "Professional Judgment Request" terminology and the late April/early May timing for final reviews. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our high school guidance counselor: if your daughter has any unique circumstances or achievements that might not be fully captured in the financial aid forms (like being first-generation college, significant community service, or overcoming personal challenges), make sure to highlight these in your communication with the financial aid office. Some schools have special funds designated for students with compelling stories beyond just financial need. Also, I noticed someone mentioned documenting everything - I started keeping a spreadsheet with dates, who I talked to, what was discussed, and any follow-up actions needed. It's already proven helpful in staying organized as we navigate this process with multiple schools. Thank you to everyone sharing your experiences - it's making this stressful process feel much more manageable!

I'm new here but wanted to chime in with some hope! We just went through this exact scenario with my son. His FAFSA SAI was $27,800 but the CSS Profile school initially wanted $41,500. I was panicking because that's our whole annual income after taxes! Long story short - after his official FAFSA was processed and we had a really detailed conversation with their financial aid office, they brought it down to $32,000. Still a stretch for us, but much more manageable. What really helped was asking them to walk through their calculation step by step. Turns out they had made some assumptions about our home value that weren't accurate, and they also hadn't factored in a work-study program he qualified for. The financial aid counselor was actually super patient and helpful once we got past the initial "computer says no" response. My advice: definitely push for that meeting, come prepared with all your documentation, and don't be afraid to ask questions about every line item in their calculation. Sometimes there are legitimate errors or oversights that can be corrected. The gap between your SAI and their estimate definitely suggests there's room for discussion!

As someone who just went through this process last year with my daughter, I wanted to share some encouragement and practical tips! Our situation was remarkably similar - FAFSA SAI of $26,500 but the CSS Profile school initially quoted us $39,200. Here's what I learned: that preliminary estimate is often just that - preliminary. Many schools don't finalize aid packages until they have ALL your official documentation, and there's definitely room for adjustment. We ended up getting our final cost down to about $33,800 after everything was processed. A few specific strategies that worked for us: 1. We scheduled a phone appointment (not just a drop-in call) with a senior financial aid counselor 2. Prepared a one-page summary comparing our FAFSA SAI to their estimate with specific questions about the gap 3. Asked explicitly about any merit scholarships or departmental awards that might not have been included yet The key was being professional but persistent. Don't let anyone tell you "that's just how it is" without getting a detailed explanation. Your $10k+ gap is significant enough that it warrants a thorough review. Also, make sure to ask about payment plan options - even if they can't reduce the total cost, spreading it over monthly payments instead of semester payments can help with cash flow. You've got this! The fact that your daughter got into her dream school is amazing, and there are definitely ways to make the finances work.

I'm new to this community but going through almost the exact same situation! Our FAFSA SAI came in at $30,200 and the CSS Profile school initially quoted us $42,000. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea there was so much room for negotiation and that the preliminary estimates could be adjusted. A few things I'm taking away from everyone's experiences: 1. The terminology matters - using "Professional Judgment Request" instead of "appeal" 2. Being specific about the SAI vs estimate gap in communications 3. Asking for line-by-line breakdowns of their calculations 4. Checking for merit scholarships that might be processed separately One question for those who've successfully reduced their costs: how long did the process typically take from your initial request to getting a final revised offer? I'm trying to plan around the enrollment deposit deadline and want to make sure we have enough time for a thorough review. Also, has anyone had experience with engineering programs specifically? My daughter was accepted into their biomedical engineering program, and I'm wondering if STEM programs sometimes have additional funding sources that might not be reflected in initial estimates. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread has been invaluable in helping me understand that our situation isn't hopeless and there are concrete steps we can take!