Is 3251 SAI too high for Pell Grant eligibility? Confused about award amounts
Just got my 2025-2026 FAFSA results back and my SAI number is 3251. I'm honestly not sure if this is considered low enough to qualify for any Pell Grant money. My parents make around $55,000 combined, and I have one sibling in college too. My high school counselor told me years ago that Pell Grants were only for SAIs under 2000, but I'm seeing mixed information online. Will I still qualify for some partial Pell Grant with this SAI? How much could I expect? I'm trying to figure out if I need to take out more loans or find additional scholarships. Really stressed about financing my sophomore year.
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Zara Malik
Yes, you can definitely still get Pell Grant with that SAI! For the 2025-2026 award year, students with an SAI up to 6206 can qualify for at least some Pell Grant funding. Your 3251 SAI puts you in range for a partial award, not the maximum but still significant. The exact amount depends on your enrollment status (full-time vs part-time) and cost of attendance at your school. With full-time enrollment, you're probably looking at around $3,000-$3,500 in Pell funding for the year, though that's an estimate and your actual award could differ.
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StarStrider
•That's such a relief! I had no idea the threshold was that high now. My counselor must have been working with outdated information. Do you know when I'll see the exact amount? My school's financial aid portal just shows "pending" for all federal aid.
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Luca Marino
My SAI was like 3400 last year and I got about $3200 in Pell for the whole year. ur definitely getting something!!
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StarStrider
•Thanks for sharing! That makes me feel a lot better. Was that with full-time enrollment?
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Nia Davis
I don't think you'll get the FULL Pell Grant but you'll definitely get SOMETHING!! I remember when the maximum SAI for ANY Pell was like 5000 something but they keep increasing it every year. The financial aid system is SOOOO confusing on purpose I swear they make it complicated so people just give up and take out more loans!!!
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Mateo Perez
•totally. my brother had an SAI of 2900 and got pell but then when i filed my fafsa they said my SAI was 3100 and i wouldnt get any. had to call and argue with them for WEEKS
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Aisha Rahman
Wait wait wait, I thought they switched back to EFC instead of SAI for the 2025-2026 year??? My financial aid advisor told me SAI was being discontinued. Now I'm confused about my own application...
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Zara Malik
•No, you've got it backwards. EFC (Expected Family Contribution) was replaced by SAI (Student Aid Index) starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA Simplification Act changes. SAI is definitely what's being used now for 2025-2026 applications. Might want to double-check with your advisor, as they seem to have given you incorrect information.
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CosmicCrusader
Financial aid counselor here. Yes, you will qualify for a partial Pell Grant with an SAI of 3251. For the 2025-2026 award year, the maximum SAI to receive any Pell is 6206, and the maximum Pell Grant award is approximately $7,395 for students with a 0 SAI. The formula reduces your award as your SAI increases. With an SAI of 3251, you'd receive roughly 48% of the maximum award if attending full-time, so about $3,550 for the year (split between semesters/quarters). For your financial planning, remember that Pell Grant amounts also depend on your enrollment status: - Full-time: 100% of your eligible amount - 3/4 time: 75% of your eligible amount - Half-time: 50% of your eligible amount - Less than half-time: 25% of your eligible amount Your financial aid office will calculate the exact amount, which should appear in your award letter soon.
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StarStrider
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much! Now I have a much better idea of what to expect. I will be full-time, so hopefully I'll get that full 48% amount. Do you know when most schools finalize their aid packages? My portal still shows everything as pending.
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Ethan Brown
dont trust the online calculators i used one that said i would get $4500 in pell and i only got $2800 such a rip off
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StarStrider
•That's disappointing! Did you ever find out why there was such a big difference between the estimate and what you actually got?
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Luca Marino
My cousin had an SAI of 3400 and tried calling the financial aid office every day for THREE WEEKS and couldn't get through to ask about his Pell amount. Finally he used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with a FAFSA agent who confirmed his Pell eligibility that same day. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Saved him so much stress since his school's aid office was useless.
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StarStrider
•I've never heard of that service before. I'll keep it in mind if I run into problems. Been on hold with my financial aid office for 45 minutes already this morning...
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Aisha Rahman
They completely changed how they calculate the SAI number this year and it's been a total disaster!! I know people with way higher income than yours getting Pell Grants now. The whole system is unfair to middle class families. I have an SAI of 5800 and still qualify for a tiny Pell Grant even though my parents make decent money. Makes no sense.
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CosmicCrusader
•The FAFSA Simplification Act did make significant changes to how SAI is calculated compared to the old EFC formula. It now has different treatment of multiple students in college, changed income protection allowances, and eliminated some questions altogether. These changes were actually designed to expand Pell eligibility to more middle-income families, which is why the qualifying SAI threshold increased to 6206. While it may seem inconsistent compared to previous years, the new formula is working as intended by Congress.
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Zara Malik
One more thing to keep in mind: your school should be posting your financial aid package soon if you've already received your SAI. Most schools finalize packages for returning students by late May or early June. If you don't see anything by mid-June, definitely contact your financial aid office. You can also log into studentaid.gov to see your official SAI calculation and Pell Grant eligibility directly from the Department of Education.
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StarStrider
•Perfect timing - I just checked my portal again and they've updated it! You were right - I'm getting $3,465 in Pell Grant for the year. Thank you everyone for the help!!
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Laila Fury
Congratulations on getting your award! That's awesome news and such a relief when you finally see those numbers. Your experience is exactly why I always tell people not to stress too much about the SAI number - the thresholds are higher than most people think. $3,465 is a solid amount that will definitely help with your costs. Hope your sophomore year goes smoothly!
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Zara Mirza
•That's such great news! I'm a new student here and was panicking about my own SAI being around 2800. Seeing everyone's experiences really helps calm my nerves about the whole process. It's encouraging to know that the system actually works and people do get the aid they qualify for, even if it takes some patience waiting for the schools to process everything.
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Amaya Watson
Welcome to the community! Your SAI of 2800 should definitely qualify you for Pell Grant funding - you're actually in a better position than the original poster. Based on what others have shared here, you'll likely receive around $3,800-$4,200 for the year if you're enrolled full-time. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you're on track to get good aid. Make sure to check studentaid.gov to see your official eligibility, and don't hesitate to reach out to your school's financial aid office if you have questions once your package is ready!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thank you so much for the welcome and the information! That's incredibly reassuring to hear. I've been losing sleep over this whole financial aid process, especially since I'm the first in my family to go to college and we have no idea how any of this works. I'll definitely check studentaid.gov like you suggested. It's amazing how supportive everyone is here - I was expecting to just lurk and read, but you all make it feel like a real community where people actually help each other out.
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