Got a 20000 SAI on my FAFSA - Will I qualify for any financial aid?

An SAI of 20000 isn't actually terrible - it's middle of the road. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is basically what the government thinks your family can contribute yearly toward your education. With a $20k SAI, you probably won't qualify for Pell Grants (those typically go to students with SAIs under 6000), but you're definitely still eligible for federal student loans and possibly some institutional aid depending on the school. Many California state schools have their own grant programs that reach higher SAI levels than federal programs do.

i had an SAI of 22500 last year and still got some financial aid. not pell grants but def subsidized loans and my school gave me a $3k grant. every school is different tho

SAI of 20000 DEFINITELY qualifies you for the Middle Class Scholarship if you're going to a UC or CSU in California! I have a similar SAI (19240) and got almost $5000 through MCS. You need to make sure you submitted your FAFSA before the March 2nd priority deadline though. Did you?

20000 is HORRIBLE tbh. I had a 12000 SAI and barely got anything. The whole system is rigged against the middle class. You're gonna end up with nothing but loans and graduate with crushing debt like the rest of us.

I'm in a similar situation with an SAI of 19500. Been trying to call the Federal Student Aid office for WEEKS to understand what this means for my financial aid package but can't get through - always disconnected after being on hold for 40+ minutes. Super frustrating when you need answers about your future!

Financial aid counselor here. Let me clarify some things about your SAI of 20000: 1. You won't qualify for federal Pell Grants (cutoff is around 6000) 2. You WILL qualify for federal Direct Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) 3. As others mentioned, California's Middle Class Scholarship could provide significant help 4. Each institution has its own aid formulas - some may offer institutional grants My advice: • Compare all financial aid award letters carefully • Consider appealing your aid if you have special circumstances not reflected in FAFSA • Apply for private scholarships (your SAI doesn't affect these) • If you have multiple college options, use aid packages as a negotiation tool An SAI of 20000 isn't ideal, but it definitely doesn't mean you'll get zero aid, especially in California's system.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I feel a lot better knowing the Middle Class Scholarship might help. I'll definitely be comparing all my aid packages carefully when they come in. Just to update - I got my first aid offer from Cal State Long Beach today and they offered me $3500 in grants plus access to $5500 in loans. Not amazing but better than nothing! Still waiting on three more schools.

when i was applying 2 years ago my friend had like SAI 22000 and still got decent money from cal states. its all about comparing offers. also my cousin worked in financial aid office and said they EXPECT you to appeal if u have special circumstance, they just dont tell students that!! its like a secret system lol.

Hey Landon! I'm in a really similar situation - my SAI came back at $18,500 and I was panicking at first too. But after reading through all these responses, I'm feeling way more optimistic! I had no idea about the Middle Class Scholarship program either. Just wanted to add that my older brother had an SAI around $21k a few years ago and ended up getting a really decent package from UC Santa Barbara - like $8k in grants plus loans. He said the key was applying to multiple schools and comparing offers. Also, don't forget to check if any of your schools have emergency aid funds or work-study opportunities! Those can help bridge the gap too. Good luck with your remaining aid packages!

Don't let that SAI number discourage you too much! I'm a current junior at Cal Poly SLO and had an SAI of $19,800 when I started. While I didn't get Pell Grants, I ended up with a decent aid package - about $4,200 in state grants, $3,500 in subsidized loans, and $2,000 in unsubsidized loans my first year. Plus I qualified for the Middle Class Scholarship which has been a lifesaver! The CSU system is generally pretty good about supporting middle-income families. Also, once you're enrolled, there are tons of departmental scholarships and emergency aid opportunities that aren't tied to your SAI at all. I've gotten probably $2,500 in random small scholarships just by applying to everything I could find. Your $85k family income actually puts you in a decent spot for California aid programs - you're not too high to qualify for state help but not so low that you're struggling to meet basic needs. Hang in there!

Just wanted to jump in and say don't give up hope! I'm a parent who went through this exact same stress with my daughter last year. Her SAI was $20,500 and we were convinced she wouldn't get any meaningful aid. Boy were we wrong! She ended up at UC Irvine with about $6,000 in grants (including Middle Class Scholarship), plus subsidized loans. The key was really understanding that California has some of the most generous middle-class aid programs in the country. Also, pro tip from our experience - when you get your aid packages, don't just look at the dollar amounts. Calculate your actual out-of-pocket costs after ALL aid (grants, scholarships, loans you're willing to take). Sometimes a school that offers less in grants might actually cost you less overall due to lower tuition or fees. And definitely appeal if your family has any circumstances that aren't reflected in your FAFSA - we appealed based on some medical expenses and got an extra $1,200. You've got this!

I'm a current sophomore at UC Davis and had almost the exact same SAI when I applied - $19,750! I know how stressful it feels when you first see that number, but I want to reassure you that you'll be okay. My first year I got about $4,500 through the Middle Class Scholarship, $3,200 in subsidized loans, and my school gave me a small $800 institutional grant. It wasn't enough to cover everything, but it made UC Davis affordable for my family. The thing that really helped was getting a work-study job - I work about 12 hours a week in the library and make around $2,400 per year, which covers most of my textbooks and personal expenses. Also, California really does take care of middle-income families better than most states. Once you start getting your aid packages back, you might be surprised! And like others have mentioned, definitely look into those departmental scholarships once you pick a school - I got a $1,000 engineering scholarship my sophomore year just by filling out one application. You're in a much better position than you think!

Hey Landon! I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in college admissions. Your SAI of $20,000 is actually pretty typical for middle-class families, and you're definitely not out of luck for aid! I see students with similar SAIs get meaningful financial assistance all the time. A few things that might help you feel more confident: First, California really does have some of the best middle-class aid in the country - the Middle Class Scholarship program alone could provide several thousand dollars. Second, many CSU and UC campuses have institutional aid that kicks in at higher SAI levels than federal programs. Third, your family income of $85k with two kids in college puts you in a decent position for need-based aid. My biggest advice is to cast a wide net with your applications and really compare those aid packages when they come in. Sometimes schools that seem more expensive upfront can end up being cheaper after aid. Also, don't forget about merit scholarships - those aren't tied to your SAI at all and you might qualify for more than you think! You're going to have options. This process is stressful for everyone, but you're asking the right questions and getting great advice here. Keep us posted on how your other aid packages look!

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading all the responses to your post - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a high school senior with an SAI of $18,200 and was having the exact same panic when I first saw that number. Reading everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective on what's actually possible with financial aid in California. The breakdown of actual aid packages people have shared (like Carmen's UC Davis experience and the Cal State Long Beach offer you got) has given me so much more realistic expectations. I had no clue about the Middle Class Scholarship program existing, and hearing from multiple people that it actually works for SAIs in our range is amazing. Also really appreciate all the practical advice about appealing aid packages, looking for departmental scholarships once enrolled, and considering work-study as part of the financial equation. This whole process feels way less overwhelming now that I understand there are actually multiple layers of support available beyond just federal Pell Grants. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's been a lifesaver for someone like me who was convinced I'd be drowning in debt before I even started college!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been working in financial aid at a California community college for the past 5 years. Your SAI of $20,000 is definitely workable, especially in California's system! One thing I don't think anyone mentioned yet is the Cal Grant program - with your family income of $85k and an SAI around $20k, you might still qualify for Cal Grant B, which provides a living allowance even if you don't get the tuition portion. It's not huge (around $1,600), but every bit helps. Also, since you mentioned your parents are helping your older sister too, make sure that's reflected accurately in your FAFSA household size and number in college. Having two kids in college simultaneously should help your aid eligibility quite a bit. One more tip from the trenches: if you end up at a CSU, they often have "last dollar" institutional grants that fill in gaps after all other aid is applied. These aren't well-advertised but can make a real difference. Don't be afraid to ask your financial aid office about them! Your stress is totally understandable, but you're definitely going to have options. The California system really does try to make college accessible for families like yours.

As someone who just went through this exact same process last year, I wanted to share some encouragement! I had an SAI of $19,800 and was completely panicking when I first saw that number. Like you, I thought it meant I'd get basically no aid and would be drowning in debt. But here's what actually happened: I ended up at UC Santa Cruz with about $5,200 in Middle Class Scholarship funds, $3,500 in subsidized loans, and a $1,000 institutional grant. Plus I got a work-study position that brings in about $2,800 per year. My total out-of-pocket cost ended up being way more manageable than I expected. The biggest game-changer was realizing that California really does have your back as a middle-class student. The MCS program is legit, and most schools have additional institutional aid that kicks in at SAI levels higher than federal programs. Also, don't sleep on private scholarships - I applied to probably 30 small ones and ended up getting $2,500 total from random local organizations. Your $85k family income with two kids in college actually puts you in a decent spot for aid. Just make sure your FAFSA accurately reflects having two students enrolled simultaneously - that should help quite a bit. You've got this!