FAFSA gave us 71632 SAI - are we completely out of financial aid options?

same boat here. SAI 68500 and we got literally NOTHING for my son except unsubsidized loans. the system is rigged against middle class families!!

An SAI of 71632 typically means you won't qualify for need-based federal aid like Pell Grants or subsidized loans. However, don't lose hope completely: 1. Your daughter may still be eligible for merit-based scholarships from the school itself 2. Unsubsidized federal loans are available regardless of financial need (up to $5,500 for first-year dependents) 3. Consider submitting the CSS Profile if her school uses it - some institutions have their own aid formulas different from FAFSA 4. Parent PLUS loans are an option for covering remaining costs 5. Ask the financial aid office about special circumstances - sometimes they can adjust aid if your situation has changed since the tax year used

Has anyone tried calling FSA to see if they might have made a calculation error??? I don't completely understand how they calculate SAI but maybe there was a mistake? My cousin thought her SAI was final but then she called and apparently they hadn't included something about her parents' retirement or something.

Hi there, I work in a college financial aid office. While your federal options are limited with that SAI, I strongly recommend: 1. Contact each school's financial aid office directly about institutional aid opportunities 2. Absolutely complete the CSS Profile if any of her schools require it 3. Submit a Professional Judgment request if you've had major financial changes since 2023 (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) 4. Look into outside scholarships through sites like Fastweb and Scholly Don't give up! Many schools have significant non-federal aid budgets specifically for families in your situation who don't qualify for federal need-based aid but still need assistance affording college.

When contacting the financial aid office, ask specifically about: 1. Merit scholarships (based on GPA, test scores, etc.) 2. Institutional grants (school-specific funds) 3. Department-specific scholarships (if she's declared a major) 4. Any private donor scholarships they administer 5. Tuition payment plans to spread costs over the year Use phrases like "We've completed the FAFSA with an SAI of 71632 and are exploring all options to make attendance affordable." Also ask if they have an "expected family contribution" that differs from your federal SAI - some schools use their own formulas.

just wondering, what's your annual household income? our SAI was like 60000 with income around 185k. trying to figure out if the formula is consistent or if we got screwed somehow

Most people don't know this, but SAI doesn't GUARANTEE no aid. Each school has its own formula and some private schools have mega endowments that let them give aid to families with high SAIs. My daughter got $20k/year from Vanderbilt despite our high SAI because they wanted her so bad and have their own funds. Apply EVERYWHERE and see what offers come in!!!!

the whole system is BS. we make decent money but live in california where the cost of living is INSANE. our SAI was 65000 but we still live paycheck to paycheck. how are we supposed to pay for college???

One additional option to consider: some families in your situation look at starting at a community college for two years to complete general education requirements at a much lower cost, then transferring to the dream school to finish the degree. The diploma will still say "Dream University" but at potentially half the cost.

I'm in a similar situation with my son - SAI of 69,000 and feeling overwhelmed. One thing that's helped us is creating a spreadsheet comparing the total 4-year costs of all his accepted schools, including potential aid packages. Some schools that seemed expensive initially actually came out cheaper after institutional aid. Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities and summer jobs - my older daughter managed to earn about $8K per year through campus work and internships, which helped offset some costs. It's definitely frustrating when you feel like you're in that "too rich for aid, too poor to afford it" middle ground, but there are still options out there!

I'm a newcomer here but facing the exact same situation! Our SAI came back at 74,000 and I literally had a panic attack when I saw it. After reading through all these responses though, I'm feeling a bit more hopeful. A few things I've learned from other parents in similar situations: 1) Some state schools have merit aid that kicks in automatically based on GPA/test scores regardless of need, 2) Private schools sometimes have more flexibility with their own funds, and 3) It's worth asking about sibling discounts if you have multiple kids who might attend college simultaneously. Also, I've heard that some schools will match or negotiate aid packages if you have competing offers from peer institutions. The whole process feels overwhelming, but it sounds like there are more options than just taking out massive loans. Definitely going to try the CSS Profile and direct contact approach mentioned above!