FAFSA calculated my SAI over 40k - did I mess up somewhere?

An SAI of 40k doesn't necessarily mean you made a mistake. The FAFSA calculation takes into account several factors beyond just income: 1. Your parents' adjusted gross income 2. Assets (excluding primary residence and retirement accounts) 3. Number of family members in college 4. Size of your household With a household income of $115k, an SAI of 40k isn't unusual, especially if your family has some investments or savings outside of retirement accounts. Even a moderate savings account can significantly increase your SAI. Regarding aid - an SAI of 40k doesn't automatically disqualify you from all financial aid. You might not be eligible for need-based aid like Pell Grants, but you should still qualify for federal student loans and possibly some merit-based scholarships that don't consider financial need.

same thing happened to me last yr, SAI was like 38k and we only make $105k!!! the system is rigged against middle class families, its SO unfair 😠 Rich ppl get tax breaks and poor ppl get grants and the rest of us get NOTHING

I had the same issue! My SAI was really high too. You should definitely double-check that you entered all your information correctly. Some common mistakes that can inflate your SAI: 1. Did you correctly report the number of people in your household attending college? Having multiple students should lower your SAI. 2. Check if you accidentally included retirement accounts as investments - 401k, IRA, etc. should NOT be reported as assets on FAFSA. 3. Make sure you didn't accidentally add an extra zero somewhere when entering income or asset values. 4. Verify you used adjusted gross income (AGI) from the right line on your tax return. If everything is correct, you can always contact your school's financial aid office to see if you qualify for any institutional aid or an appeal based on special circumstances. Good luck!

If u wanna check ur numbers, go back to ur FAFSA and look at the summary page that shows all the data u entered. Focus on the asset section - cash/savings/investments is where most ppl mess up. Just FYI the formula counts like 12% of parent assets toward SAI but it hits student assets at 20%!! So if u had money in YOUR name vs parents that could be it too.

An important point that others haven't mentioned: your SAI isn't the same as your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI is used by schools to determine your eligibility for need-based aid, but each school has their own formula for how they use that number. With an SAI of 40k, you likely won't qualify for federal grants, but many schools have their own institutional aid that you might still be eligible for. Some prestigious private schools with large endowments provide substantial aid to families making well over $100k. I'd recommend reaching out directly to the financial aid offices at your target schools to discuss your situation. They can give you a better idea of what aid package you might receive despite your SAI.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center to verify your application was processed correctly? I tried for DAYS and kept getting busy signals or disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and got me connected to an actual human at FSA who reviewed my application with me. They spotted an error in how my parent's business income was reported that was inflating our SAI by like $8k! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

One more thing to consider - check if you accidentally included your parents' retirement accounts in the asset section. The FAFSA instructions specifically say NOT to include: - 401k or 403b accounts - Traditional or Roth IRAs - Pension funds - Annuities If you included any of these, you should submit a correction ASAP. I've seen people with SAIs $10-15k higher than they should be just because they reported retirement assets that shouldn't have been counted.

To address your question about whether you'll get zero aid - an SAI of 40k doesn't automatically mean you'll get nothing. Here's what you might still qualify for: 1. Federal Direct Loans (these are available regardless of need) 2. Work-study at some schools 3. Merit scholarships (these are based on academic performance, not financial need) 4. Institutional aid at some private colleges that have their own formulas Don't get discouraged. Complete the process and see what aid packages you're offered. Each school uses the SAI differently, and some may have more resources to offer than others.

The $115k family income puts u right in that tough middle zone where u make too much for a lot of need-based aid but not enough to easily pay full price. When I was applying, my family was in a similar situation and I focused on schools known for giving good merit aid - made a HUGE difference in my final cost.

Hey Oliver! I went through something similar last year and it's totally stressful. One thing that really helped me was using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you haven't already - it pulls your tax info directly so there's no chance of typos in income numbers. Also, definitely look into whether your state has any need-based aid programs. Some states have higher income thresholds than federal aid. And don't forget about CSS Profile schools if you're applying to any - they sometimes have different formulas that might work better for your family's situation. The appeal process others mentioned is real! My friend's family had medical expenses that weren't reflected in their taxes and the school adjusted their aid package. Worth exploring if your dad's hour reduction is significant. Hang in there - the SAI is just one piece of the puzzle and you might be surprised by what schools offer you!

Hey Oliver! I see you're getting some great advice here. Just wanted to add that you should definitely double-check if any of that $35k investment account was accidentally reported as YOUR asset instead of your parents' asset. The FAFSA treats student assets much harsher (20% assessment rate) compared to parent assets (around 5.6% after allowances). Also, since your brother is in college too, make sure you both listed each other correctly in the "number of college students in household" section - this is a huge factor that can significantly lower your SAI. One last thing - if your family has a small business or farm, those asset reporting rules are different and can be tricky. Definitely worth reviewing if that applies to you! The financial aid process is super confusing but don't give up. Even with a higher SAI, many schools still offer institutional aid or merit scholarships that can make a big difference in your final cost.

Oliver, I just went through this exact same situation! My SAI came back at $38k with similar family income and I was panicking too. Here's what I learned: First, definitely use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to re-verify all your tax info - I found a small error in my parents' AGI that made a difference. Second, that $35k investment account is likely a big factor. Parent assets get assessed at about 5.64% after allowances, so that alone could be adding $1,500-2,000 to your SAI. Just make sure it's correctly reported as parent assets, not student assets. The good news is I ended up getting decent aid packages despite my high SAI! Several schools offered merit scholarships that weren't need-based, and one state school gave me in-state tuition even though I'm out-of-state because of my stats. Don't lose hope - the SAI is just the starting point. Focus on schools where your grades/scores are strong and apply to a good mix. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you're offered! Also definitely pursue that appeal for your dad's reduced hours. Schools are usually pretty understanding about recent changes in employment.

Hey Oliver! I'm new here but went through this exact same panic last year when my SAI came back at $42k with a family income around $120k. That sinking feeling is so real! A few things that might help you feel better about the situation: 1. **Double-check your asset reporting** - Like others mentioned, make sure you didn't accidentally include retirement accounts. Also verify that investment account is listed under parent assets, not student assets (massive difference in how it's assessed). 2. **The "middle class squeeze" is real** - Your income puts you in that frustrating zone where you're not poor enough for need-based aid but not wealthy enough to comfortably pay full price. You're definitely not alone in this. 3. **High SAI ≠ no aid** - I ended up with decent packages from several schools despite my high SAI. Merit scholarships, institutional aid, and even some state programs don't use the same formulas as federal aid. 4. **Appeal process works** - Definitely pursue that appeal for your dad's reduced hours. I had a friend whose family appealed due to job loss and got their aid package adjusted significantly. The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part, but hang in there! Focus on schools where your stats shine and cast a wide net. You might be surprised by what comes through!