Is 13061 a good SAI score for FAFSA? Can't make sense of the charts!

An SAI of 13061 is in the middle range. Whether it's "good" depends on several factors. Your daughter will likely qualify for some financial aid, but probably not the maximum Pell Grant. Each school has different thresholds for institutional aid. For Pell Grants, the current max SAI to receive any grant is around 6656. Your daughter will likely qualify for subsidized loans and possibly some state grants depending on California and Oregon programs. Have the schools sent their financial aid award letters yet?

your SAI isn't terrible but not great either. when we had an SAI of 15000 my kid only got loans, no grants. but every school is different!!! some private schools actually gave us more $ than the state schools, dont assume anything until u get all the award letters

Here's a helpful way to think about your SAI (Student Aid Index): It represents approximately what the federal formula thinks your family can contribute annually toward college costs. With an SAI of 13061, that means they've calculated your family can contribute about $13,061 per year. For California specifically, look into the Cal Grant program. Your SAI is below the cutoff for Cal Grant consideration (which was around 14400 last year). Oregon has the Oregon Opportunity Grant with similar thresholds. Each school will subtract your SAI from their cost of attendance to determine need. Higher-cost schools may offer more aid to fill that gap than lower-cost ones, which is why sometimes private schools end up being comparable in final cost.

Lol charts r confusing af. I got a 9800 SAI and still didn't get much. System is broken imo. They expect my parents to pay way more than they can. Good luck.

As someone who works with financial aid, I'll tell you that there's still a lot you can do with an SAI of 13061. First, make sure your FAFSA is completely accurate - small errors can significantly impact your SAI. Second, if you've had any major financial changes since filing (job loss, medical expenses), you can request a professional judgment review at each school. For California schools specifically, the Middle Class Scholarship program might help if your income is under $217,000. UC schools also have their own institutional aid programs that may cover some costs even with your SAI. Most importantly, contact each school's financial aid office directly to discuss your options. Every school has different institutional funds and approaches to filling financial need gaps.

FAFSA is THE WORST! I spent weeks trying to reach someone about our SAI calculation last year and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours on hold. So frustrating!!!!

Another thing to consider: your SAI may qualify your daughter for work-study opportunities at many schools. This won't reduce your bill directly, but it provides access to convenient on-campus jobs that accommodate student schedules. These positions often allow for study time during slower periods, which makes them more valuable than typical part-time jobs.

BTW call the financial aid offices at EACH school!!! My daughter got an extra $3000 scholarship just by talking to someone directly and explaining our situation. Some have emergency funds or special scholarships they dont advertise. BE PERSISTANT!!!

my brother had a similr SAI last year and ended up going to community college for 2 years to save money. now transferring to state university with way less debt. might be worth considering tbh

Don't get too discouraged! An SAI of 13061 actually puts you in a decent position for several aid programs. While you won't qualify for the maximum Pell Grant, you should still be eligible for subsidized student loans (which don't accrue interest while in school) and potentially some state aid in both California and Oregon. One thing I learned when my daughter went through this process is that the cost of attendance varies widely between schools, so your actual "need" will be calculated differently at each one. A UC school with a $35K cost of attendance will show much more need than a CSU at $25K, which could result in more institutional aid at the pricier school. Also, don't forget to apply for outside scholarships! Your SAI doesn't affect private scholarship eligibility, and even small ones ($500-1000) can add up. Fastweb and Scholarships.com are good starting points. The key is applying to many rather than just focusing on the big ones everyone knows about.