FAFSA shock: $17k per semester out-of-pocket with minimal loans - where did we go wrong?

woah thats crazy high! did u apply for scholarships too? FAFSA isnt the only way to get money. my family makes like 90k and we still had to pay like 12k out of pocket at state school so yours seems way worse

With an SAI of 38000, you're unfortunately in a difficult spot where you make too much to qualify for significant need-based aid but not enough to easily afford the full cost. This is incredibly common these days. A few things to consider: 1. Did you look at the full aid package details? Sometimes schools bundle merit scholarships separately from FAFSA-based aid. 2. The $1750/semester is likely the max subsidized loan amount for a first-year student. Your daughter should also qualify for unsubsidized loans up to $2750/semester (for a total of $4500/semester in federal direct loans). 3. Parent PLUS loans can cover the full cost of attendance minus other aid, but remember they're in your name and have higher interest rates. 4. Have you compared other schools? Some private institutions with higher sticker prices might offer better institutional grants/scholarships than state schools.

I WENT THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING LAST YEAR!! It's completely ridiculous how they expect middle class families to just have $30k+ lying around! My son's SAI was around 42000 and we got basically NOTHING from his top choice. We ended up having to do a combo of: - Parent PLUS loans (which I HATE but felt forced into) - He took a part-time job - We appealed the financial aid package - Grandparents pitched in some The system is BROKEN when families making $100-150k get essentially the same aid as millionaires! It's like they want us to either go broke or have our kids skip college altogether!!

Its super frustrating but this doesnt sound unusual for your income level with the new FAFSA. Have you looked into doing a professional judgment appeal? Some schools will reconsider if you can show circumstances the FAFSA doesnt account for like having 2 kids in college (which FAFSA used to factor in but doesnt anymore with the new formula). also our financial aid office explained that an SAI of 38000 means they expect your family can contribute $38,000 per year total (not per semester). so if the total cost of attendance is like $55k per year, theyd expect you to pay $38k and then financial aid would cover the $17k difference. but with state schools having lower costs, theres less gap to fill with aid.

I work with college financial planning, and I see this situation frequently. A few important points: 1. The new FAFSA formula is resulting in higher SAIs for many middle-income families compared to the old EFC system. 2. Your SAI of 38000 does mean the formula expects your family to contribute $38,000 per academic year (not per semester). 3. State schools often have less institutional aid to supplement federal aid compared to private colleges. 4. Your daughter should be eligible for $5,500 total in federal direct loans for her first year ($1,750 subsidized + $3,750 unsubsidized). The school may not have included the unsubsidized portion in their initial offer. For immediate next steps: 1. Call the financial aid office to request a full breakdown of costs and available aid options. 2. Ask specifically about institutional scholarships she might qualify for. 3. Wait to compare all financial aid packages before making decisions. 4. If you have special circumstances (two in college, recent income changes, medical expenses), prepare documentation for a professional judgment review.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid office to see if there's something wrong with how your FAFSA was processed? I spent days trying to get through to them about a similar issue last month - kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. The agent ended up finding an issue with how our income was calculated that significantly affected our SAI. Worth checking if something similar happened with yours.

my daughter had almost the same situation last year!!!! we were so shocked when we saw the package. what helped us was: - we appealed to the financial aid office and showed them that another school gave us more money - she took extra loans (i think the unsubsidized ones someone mentioned) - she found an on-campus job that pays pretty good - we did parent plus loans for the rest also check if theres any payment plans so you dont have to pay the whole amount upfront. our school let us split it into 5 payments each semester which helped with cashflow

One other suggestion - if you're facing high out-of-pocket costs at all schools, consider having your daughter start at a community college for two years, then transfer. The cost savings can be substantial (often $20-30k total), and many state universities have guaranteed transfer programs with local community colleges. I know it's not the traditional four-year experience many families envision, but financially it can make a huge difference, especially with two children in college. Many students graduate with the same degree and zero debt using this approach.

btw did u check if she got any subsidized vs unsubsidized loans? sometimes they dont explan that very well in the letters. also make sure to fill out fasfa again next year cuz sometimes u get more aid after freshman year

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely shocking how the "middle class squeeze" hits families like yours the hardest. Your situation is unfortunately becoming very common with the new FAFSA formula. A few things that might help beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Check if your state has any need-based grants you haven't applied for yet - some have separate applications beyond FAFSA. 2. Look into employer tuition benefits if either you or your spouse work for larger companies - many offer education assistance programs. 3. Consider having your daughter take a gap year to work and save money while you research more affordable options or wait to see if aid improves when both kids are in college. 4. Some schools have emergency aid funds or additional institutional scholarships that become available later in the process. Don't give up hope yet - wait to see all your offers and then negotiate aggressively. Schools know families are struggling and many are willing to work with you, especially if you have competing offers. The sticker shock is real, but there are usually more options than that first aid letter shows.

This is exactly what happened to us two years ago! The "middle class penalty" is so real - we made just enough to get almost no aid but nowhere near enough to actually afford $30k+ per year. Here's what we learned after going through this nightmare: 1. That $1,750 is definitely just the subsidized portion - your daughter should qualify for about $3,750 more in unsubsidized federal loans as a freshman. Schools sometimes don't auto-include these in initial packages. 2. DEFINITELY appeal to every school once you have all offers. We got an extra $4,000/year from our daughter's top choice just by showing them a better offer from another school. 3. Look into your state's 529 plan tax benefits if you haven't already - some states give tax deductions for contributions even if you use the money the same year. 4. Check if any of the schools offer work-study programs that weren't included in the initial package. The whole system feels designed to force middle-class families into massive debt. Hang in there and don't make any decisions until you see all your options - it really can get better once you start advocating for yourself!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this financial aid shock - it's unfortunately becoming way too common with the new FAFSA changes. Your situation sounds exactly like what many middle-class families are facing right now. A few things that might help as you navigate this: 1. Definitely call about those unsubsidized loans - as others mentioned, first-year students can typically borrow up to $5,500 total ($1,750 subsidized + $3,750 unsubsidized), so there should be more loan options available. 2. When comparing offers from other schools, remember that private colleges sometimes have more institutional aid to offer, even with higher sticker prices. Don't count them out until you see their packages. 3. Document everything for potential appeals - having two kids in college simultaneously is a legitimate hardship that schools should consider, even though the new FAFSA formula doesn't account for it automatically. 4. Look into your state's grant programs - many have separate applications and deadlines beyond the FAFSA. The middle-class squeeze is real, but don't lose hope yet. Wait for all your offers, then advocate hard for your family. Many schools have additional funds they can tap into if you make a compelling case. You've got this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful and I'm in a very similar situation! My daughter's SAI came back at 41,000 with our household income around $125k, and we're looking at similar out-of-pocket costs. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our financial advisor - if you have any unusual expenses like medical bills, elder care costs, or recent job loss/income reduction that wasn't reflected in your tax year, definitely document those for professional judgment appeals. Schools can sometimes adjust your aid based on circumstances the FAFSA formula doesn't capture. Also, I've been researching external scholarship opportunities through sites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com - even small $500-1000 scholarships can add up and every bit helps when you're facing these kinds of costs. @Jade Lopez - definitely wait to see all your packages before making any decisions. The variation between schools can be huge, even among similar institutions. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this sticker shock - it's unfortunately becoming the norm for middle-income families with the new FAFSA changes. Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating but sadly typical. A few thoughts based on what others have shared and my own research: 1. That missing unsubsidized loan amount is a red flag - definitely call tomorrow about the additional ~$3,750 in federal loans your daughter should qualify for as a freshman. 2. Start documenting everything now for appeals, especially the fact that you'll have two kids in college next year. Even though the new FAFSA doesn't automatically factor this in, schools can still consider it through professional judgment. 3. Don't overlook payment plan options - many schools offer 10-month payment plans that can help with cash flow even if they don't reduce the total cost. 4. Consider asking about work-study opportunities or on-campus jobs that might not have been included in the initial package. The "middle-class penalty" is so real - you're caught between making too much for significant need-based aid but not enough to comfortably afford these astronomical costs. Hang in there until you see all your offers, then advocate hard. Many families have had success with appeals and negotiations!