FAFSA's SAI of 6000 vs $15k out-of-pocket costs - is this normal?
I'm completely confused about my daughter's financial aid package. Her SAI (Student Aid Index) came back at around 6000, but when we got her financial aid offer today from her college (COA $47,000), they're saying our out-of-pocket costs will be $15,000 after school scholarships and federal loans. That's a $9,000 difference between what I thought the SAI indicated we could afford and what we're actually being asked to pay! I know logically that SAI isn't supposed to be a direct estimate of what we'll pay, but I wasn't prepared for such a huge gap. Can someone help me understand what's happening? Are we missing something obvious about how financial aid calculations work? Is this normal or should I be calling the financial aid office?
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Mae Bennett
Have you checked if your daughter qualifies for any state grants? Most people focus on federal aid and school scholarships but forget about state-specific programs that can help bridge that gap. Each state has different options - some based on need, others on merit or specific majors like teaching or nursing.
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Pedro Sawyer
•That's a great idea! We're in Wisconsin - I'll check what state programs might be available. Thank you for the suggestion.
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Arjun Kurti
That gap between your SAI and actual costs is unfortunately pretty common! The SAI is just one factor schools use - they also consider their own institutional methodology and available funding. A few things to try: 1) Definitely call the financial aid office to ask for a breakdown of how they calculated your package, 2) Ask if there are any additional scholarships you can apply for, 3) See if they can reconsider if your family's financial situation has changed recently. Many schools are willing to work with families, especially if you can demonstrate need beyond what the FAFSA captured. Don't be afraid to advocate for your daughter!
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Dylan Baskin
•This is really helpful advice! I'm new to this whole process and had no idea that schools use their own methodology on top of the FAFSA. The gap felt so overwhelming at first, but knowing it's common makes me feel better about calling the financial aid office. I'll definitely ask for that breakdown and see what other options might be available. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly!
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Harper Thompson
I went through this exact same situation last year with my son! His SAI was around $5,500 but we ended up paying about $13,000 out of pocket. What I learned is that the SAI is more like a starting point for federal aid eligibility rather than what you'll actually pay. Schools often have limited institutional aid to go around, so they can't always meet full demonstrated need. One thing that really helped us was submitting a financial aid appeal with documentation of any special circumstances - things like medical expenses, job loss, or caring for elderly parents that might not show up clearly on the FAFSA. We ended up getting an additional $2,000 in grants after the appeal. Also, don't forget to look into work-study opportunities and see if your daughter can take on a small campus job to help cover some costs!
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