How to figure out which Pell Grants and loans I qualify for with FAFSA?

you dont apply 4 pell grants seperately, thats what the fafsa is for. they use ur SAI to figure it out. when u get ur aid package from the school itll show if u got pell. with 4320 u prolly will get some pell but not the max. for loans just wait for ur aid package too, then accept what u want in ur schools portal.

With an SAI of 4320, you should qualify for a partial Pell Grant for the 2025-2026 academic year. The maximum Pell Grant is $8,390, but with your SAI you'll likely receive around $4,500-5,000 in Pell funding. Your school will automatically include this in your financial aid package. Regarding loans, all undergraduate students qualify for at least $5,500 in Federal Direct Loans, with a portion being subsidized (no interest while in school) based on your demonstrated need. As a dependent student, you'd qualify for $5,500 as a freshman, $6,500 as a sophomore, and $7,500 as a junior or senior. You don't need to apply separately for federal grants or loans - your FAFSA is the application. However, your school may have additional institutional scholarships that require separate applications. Hope this helps!

I was in the same boat last year! So confused about everything. Here's what happened for me: 1. Submitted FAFSA in October 2. Got my SAI score a week later (mine was higher than yours, around 6200) 3. WAITED FOREVER for my school to send the financial aid package (like 2 months!) 4. Finally got an email to check my student portal where I could see exactly what I qualified for 5. Had to accept/decline each loan and grant through the portal The most frustrating part was the waiting. I kept calling the financial aid office but could never get through. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at my school's aid office in like 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Seriously saved me so much stress! You might need it if you're on a deadline. Good luck!

THE FAFSA SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! 😡😡 I had an SAI similar to yours last year and was promised a specific amount of aid, then when I got my package it was WAY LESS than what the online calculators showed! They don't tell you that schools can give you LESS than what the federal formulas say you should get if they run out of funding. All these financial aid "experts" act like there's some perfect system but it's all a scam to get you to take out MORE LOANS. Don't believe what anyone tells you until you actually see your aid package!!!!

To directly answer your questions: 1. You'll see your Pell Grant eligibility in your financial aid package from your school. With an SAI of 4320, you will qualify for a partial Pell Grant. 2. For federal student loans, everyone who completes FAFSA qualifies for Direct Loans. If you're a dependent student, that means $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors/seniors. 3. You don't apply separately for federal aid - the FAFSA is your application. 4. Aid packages typically arrive 2-4 weeks after your FAFSA is processed, but this varies greatly by school. 5. If your enrollment deposit is due before you receive your aid package, contact the admissions office (not financial aid) and explain your situation. Many schools will grant extensions on deposits if you're waiting for aid information. If you want to estimate your aid before the official package arrives, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool on studentaid.gov.

my daughter got fafsa last yr and they gave her loans even tho we didnt ask for any!!!! make sure u decline the loans if u dont want them. they try to push them on everyone

Wait til you get to the part where you have to do entrance loan counseling and the Master Promissory Note... that's a whole other confusing process 🥴 The FAFSA itself is just the first step of like 10 steps

One more important thing: if your financial circumstances have changed significantly since you filed your 2023 tax information (which is what the 2025-2026 FAFSA uses), you can request a Professional Judgment review from your school's financial aid office. This is especially relevant if there's been: - Job loss or significant income reduction - Extraordinary medical expenses - Parent divorce or separation - Death of a parent/spouse - Natural disaster expenses This could potentially lower your SAI and increase your grant eligibility. Documentation will be required, but it can significantly improve your aid package in some situations.