Got my SAI score of 19972 on FAFSA - what does this actually mean for aid?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is basically the new version of what used to be called the EFC (Expected Family Contribution). The 19972 means the government calculation thinks your family can contribute about $19,972 per year toward your education. Whether that's "good" or "bad" depends on the cost of attendance at your schools. For Pell Grants, you typically need an SAI under 7000 to qualify for any amount, so you probably won't get Pell. But you should still be eligible for Direct Loans and possibly other institutional aid depending on the college.

my sai was 22000 last year and i still got some money from my school so dont freak out yet. each college has different pots of money they can give u

OMG welcome to the confusion club! I got my SAI last week and spent 3 days trying to figure out what it meant lol. The whole system is SO confusing!

An SAI of 19972 means you won't qualify for federal Pell Grants (cutoff is around 7000), but you absolutely will qualify for federal student loans. The more important question is what schools you're applying to: - Public state schools: You might get some institutional grants if your SAI is low for their applicant pool - Private colleges: Often have their own funds and might offer you significant aid despite your SAI - Community colleges: Your SAI might actually be higher than total cost, so minimal aid Each school will put together a different financial aid package. Your SAI is mid-range - not low enough for Pell, but not high enough to rule out other aid. Look at each school's net price calculator with your SAI for a better estimate.

The FAFSA system is completely rigged against middle class families! My daughter had an SAI around 18000 and basically got NOTHING but loans. Meanwhile her roommate with a lower SAI got grants covering almost everything. The whole system is designed to either make you dirt poor or super wealthy to get any real help. Good luck getting any actual assistance with that SAI.

when i was applying to college last year my brother told me that it's the cost of attendance MINUS your SAI that determines your need-based aid eligibility. so if a school costs $35k and your SAI is $19972, your financial need is $15028... that's what the school tries to meet with different types of aid (grants, work-study, loans

Has anyone successfully appealed their SAI? I'm wondering if there's any way to get it reconsidered or is it basically set in stone at this point?

btw my friend got really confused by his sai score too and spent like 3 days trying to get through to someone at financial aid. he finally used claimyr.com to get through to a fafsa agent without waiting forever. they have a video showing how it works https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ if ur still confused about what ur sai means for different schools

I work in a university financial aid office, and I can tell you that an SAI of 19972 is actually quite common. Here's what you need to understand: 1. Your SAI determines FEDERAL aid eligibility (mostly loans at your level) 2. Each institution has its own methodology for distributing their funds 3. Some schools meet 100% of demonstrated need, others only a portion The schools you're applying to will each send you a financial aid package showing what they can offer with your SAI. Private schools often have more institutional funds available and may be more generous than your SAI would suggest. Don't rule anything out until you see all your offers. You mentioned State University shows $12,000 in unmet need - that's unfortunately common with many public universities. Have you looked at scholarship opportunities? Many outside scholarships can help fill that gap.

Here's a practical tip: Call each school's financial aid office directly and ask for an early estimate based on your SAI. Each school has a different approach to institutional aid. Some might offer you scholarships that aren't need-based at all. And definitely mention your dad's reduced income - that's a legitimate reason for a professional judgment review that could lower your SAI.

my sister got a similar SAI and ended up going to her safety school because they gave her a merit scholarship that made it WAYYYY cheaper than her dream school even though the sticker price was similar

I'm in a similar situation with my SAI! One thing that helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track each school's cost of attendance minus my SAI to see my actual financial need at each place. Also, don't forget that your SAI is valid for the entire academic year, so if a school costs $30k, your family is expected to contribute about $20k, leaving $10k in demonstrated need that the school might help with through grants, work-study, or loans. It's definitely worth waiting to see all your actual financial aid packages before making any decisions - I was surprised by how much they varied between schools!

Hey Oliver! I just went through this exact same thing last year and totally understand the confusion. Your SAI of 19972 puts you in what I call the "middle ground" - too high for Pell Grants but definitely not out of the running for other aid. Here's what I learned: don't panic until you see your actual financial aid offers! I had a similar SAI and was shocked at how different the packages were between schools. My state school offered mostly loans, but one of the private colleges I applied to gave me a substantial merit scholarship that wasn't even need-based. Also, make sure you're applying for scholarships outside of the FAFSA system - local community foundations, your high school counseling office, and even employers often have scholarships that don't consider your SAI at all. The key is to cast a wide net and not assume anything until you have all your offers in hand. You've got this!

Your SAI of 19972 is actually pretty typical for middle-class families! I had a similar number last year and was initially freaking out too. Here's what I wish someone had told me: this number doesn't determine everything. Yes, you probably won't get Pell Grants, but you'll still qualify for federal student loans (up to $5,500 as a freshman). More importantly, each college has their own institutional aid that they distribute based on their own criteria - some schools might offer you grants even with your SAI, especially private colleges with larger endowments. I'd recommend running the net price calculator for each school you're considering and also looking into merit-based scholarships that don't consider your SAI at all. Don't let your mom's "it's fine" response stress you out - start researching your options now and you'll have a much clearer picture once you get your actual aid packages!

Don't stress too much about your SAI of 19972! I'm a current college sophomore who had almost the exact same SAI (mine was 20,100) and I was able to make college work financially. Here's what I learned: your SAI is just the starting point, not the end of the story. Yes, you won't qualify for Pell Grants, but you'll definitely get federal student loans ($5,500 for freshman year). What really surprised me was how much institutional aid varied between schools - I got offered everything from just loans at one state school to a $15,000 annual merit scholarship at a private college that brought my costs way down. My advice: apply to a mix of schools, fill out every scholarship application you can find (especially local ones through your community/high school), and don't make any decisions until you can compare all your actual financial aid packages side by side. The "sticker price" of college is rarely what you actually pay, especially with your middle-range SAI. You've got more options than you think!

Your SAI of 19972 is actually right in the middle range - not low enough for Pell Grants but definitely not high enough to disqualify you from other aid! I work with students on college planning and see this SAI level frequently. Here's what you should know: 1) You'll qualify for federal Direct Loans ($5,500 freshman year), 2) Many colleges have institutional grants that aren't tied to Pell eligibility, and 3) Your actual out-of-pocket costs will vary dramatically between schools. I'd strongly recommend applying to a diverse mix of colleges - some state schools, some private colleges with good endowments, and maybe a community college as a backup. The private schools might surprise you with merit aid that makes them competitive with public options. Don't panic yet - wait until you have all your financial aid letters to compare. Many families with your SAI range find affordable paths to college, especially when they explore all their options!