Is FAFSA expecting middle-class families to say 'no' more? SAI calculations killing us

Ugh I feel this SO MUCH. Our SAI came back at $27k and I literally laughed out loud. Like where are we supposed to get that?? That's more than our mortgage payment for the year!

I understand your frustration. The FAFSA formula does tend to overestimate what middle-income families can contribute. A few things that might help: 1. Appeal the financial aid package directly with the school - bring documentation of any special circumstances (medical expenses, care for elderly parents, other children in college) 2. Look into merit-based scholarships that don't consider income 3. Consider starting at a community college for 2 years 4. Remember that schools compete for good students. If your daughter got a better package from another school, the top choice might match it The 2025-2026 FAFSA has made some changes to the formula, but many middle-income families are still feeling the squeeze.

lol u think u have it bad?? try being us - we make $140k but live in california so that's basically poverty level here with housing costs, and FAFSA doesn't care AT ALL about regional cost of living. financial aid office just told us to take out loans or figure it out ourselves 🙄

I worked in financial aid for 8 years, and unfortunately this is an extremely common situation. The federal formulas for calculating SAI (Student Aid Index) haven't kept pace with the reality of middle-class finances. One strategy some families use: max out retirement contributions right before filing FAFSA (those assets aren't counted). Also consider if your student would be willing to establish independence for FAFSA purposes (this takes 2 years of self-support documentation). Private scholarships can help bridge the gap too - look at local organizations, employers, religious groups, and professional associations in your field. Your daughter should apply to 20+ scholarships, even small ones add up. The most effective approach though is talking directly to a financial aid counselor at the school. They have discretion to adjust aid packages but you need to reach them first - which I know is incredibly difficult right now.

I was in the exact same boat last year trying to reach financial aid for my son's SAI appeal. After three weeks of getting nowhere, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at FSA in under 20 minutes. You might want to check out their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - it saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com. After I finally talked to someone, we were able to explain our situation and get some adjustments made to our aid package.

The FAFSA system isn't just disconnected - it's fundamentally broken. Here's what most people don't understand: the formula was designed in an era when college costs were dramatically lower compared to median income. In 1980, a year at a public university cost about 16% of median family income. Now it's over 40%. The calculation also doesn't adequately account for: - Geographic cost-of-living differences - Existing debt obligations (except home mortgages) - Healthcare costs beyond a certain threshold - Realistic retirement savings needs Your best options, unfortunately, are limited: 1. Consider a less expensive school 2. Negotiate aggressively with the financial aid office 3. Look into income-share agreements as an alternative to traditional loans 4. Explore employer tuition benefits for your daughter For upcoming tax years, minimize capital gains, delay bonuses if possible, and max out retirement contributions before filing FAFSA. This isn't about "wants vs needs" - the system is mathematically impossible for many middle-class families.

We faced this last year with our son. After the initial shock of the pathetic aid package, we sat down as a family and made some tough decisions. He chose a state school that offered better merit aid instead of his dream private college. He wasn't happy initially, but now he's thriving and will graduate with minimal debt. Some practical tips that helped us: 1. We appealed based on "competing offers" from other schools 2. Applied for every random small scholarship we could find ($500 here, $1000 there adds up!) 3. Our son found an on-campus job that gives reduced housing costs 4. We did a realistic budget showing the financial aid office why their EFC was impossible 5. Explored tuition payment plans to spread costs over 12 months without interest Biggest tip: have your daughter directly involved in these conversations. My son actually became MORE motivated when he understood the financial reality.

they want us to just say NO MORE to everything lol. my parents told me i have to go to state school or community college cuz they cant afford anything else even tho we're not poor. the whole system is rigged tbh

Something else to consider is strategic use of Parent PLUS loans. While I generally don't recommend taking on excessive debt, some families use PLUS loans for the first year or two while simultaneously: 1. Aggressively applying for scholarships/grants for subsequent years 2. Having the student establish residency for in-state tuition if they're currently out-of-state 3. Working with the student to build credentials for merit aid or department scholarships 4. Planning for the student to take on more responsibility for costs as they progress Just be absolutely certain you understand the terms of any PLUS loans - they have higher interest rates than direct student loans and fewer forgiveness options. Never borrow more than what your student's expected first-year salary will be in their chosen field.

I'm a new parent going through this nightmare for the first time and honestly feeling so overwhelmed. Reading all your comments makes me realize we're not alone, but also terrifies me about what's ahead. Our daughter is only a junior but I'm already losing sleep over how we're going to afford her college dreams. We make about $115k combined and live in a high cost area, but apparently that makes us "privileged" according to the financial aid system. We've been saving what we can but it's nowhere near enough for the schools she's interested in. The idea that we should drain our retirement or go into massive debt just seems insane. Has anyone found success with starting the scholarship search early? I keep hearing about applying to tons of small scholarships but don't even know where to begin. Also wondering if we should be having "the money talk" with our daughter now to adjust her expectations, or if that's too harsh while she's still in high school? This whole system feels designed to crush families like ours who are trying to do everything right.

This hits so close to home. We're in almost the exact same situation - $125k household income and got slapped with a $29k SAI. It's honestly insulting. What really gets me is how the system penalizes you for being responsible. We've been saving for years, living below our means, and now FAFSA basically says "oh you have savings? Great, spend it all on college!" Meanwhile families who spent everything and saved nothing get need-based aid. I've been doing some research and found a few things that might help: - Look into schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need (even if your "need" seems low, they're more likely to work with you) - Consider schools where your daughter would be in the top 25% of applicants stats-wise - they're more likely to offer merit aid to attract her - Don't overlook women's colleges or smaller liberal arts schools that might have better endowments per student The worst part is watching our kids feel guilty about the cost when none of this is their fault. The whole system needs an overhaul, but in the meantime we're all just trying to figure out how to make it work without destroying our financial future. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this struggle.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I completely understand your frustration. We had a similar SAI ($30k on $118k income) and it felt like a cruel joke. What ended up working for us was a multi-pronged approach: 1. My son applied to 12 schools instead of the original 6, specifically targeting ones where his stats put him in the top 25% for merit aid 2. We found a financial aid consultant (expensive upfront but worth it) who helped us understand which schools historically give better aid to families in our income bracket 3. We appealed with THREE different schools using competing offers, and two of them improved their packages significantly The key was treating it like a business negotiation rather than just accepting the first offer. Also, don't underestimate the power of a well-written appeal letter with documentation of your actual expenses vs. what FAFSA thinks you can afford. Your daughter shouldn't have to give up her dreams, but she might need to be strategic about HOW she achieves them. Sometimes the "lesser known" school with great aid ends up being the better choice anyway. My son initially felt disappointed but now loves his school and will graduate debt-free. The system absolutely needs reform, but in the meantime, don't give up - there are ways to make it work!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now and honestly, reading all these comments makes me feel both relieved that I'm not alone and terrified about what lies ahead. We're at $135k income with a $35k SAI - like, do they think we have a money tree in the backyard?? What really frustrates me is that FAFSA doesn't seem to understand that "middle class" today isn't what it was 20 years ago. Between inflated housing costs, healthcare premiums, and just basic living expenses, there's nothing left over for a $35k annual college bill. We've been responsible savers but apparently that just means we get penalized. My daughter is devastated because her dream school offered basically nothing in aid. I'm torn between wanting to support her dreams and not wanting to mortgage our entire future. The guilt is real - she keeps apologizing for being "expensive" and it breaks my heart that she feels that way about getting an education. Has anyone had luck with appealing based on regional cost of living differences? We're in the Northeast where $135k doesn't go nearly as far as it would in other parts of the country, but FAFSA treats it all the same. So frustrating that the system is this broken for families who are just trying to do everything right.

This thread is giving me both comfort and anxiety as a parent just starting this journey! My daughter is a sophomore and I'm already panicking about what's coming. We're at about $110k household income and after reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing we need to start preparing NOW instead of waiting until senior year. A few questions for those who've been through this: 1. Should we be adjusting our savings strategy now? (Sounds like having savings actually hurts you?) 2. When did you start the "realistic expectations" conversation with your kids? 3. Are there specific types of schools we should be researching early that are more generous with middle-class families? It's so disheartening to realize that working hard and being financially responsible might actually work against us in this process. I keep thinking there has to be some middle ground between "drain your life savings" and "give up on college dreams" but it sounds like the system really doesn't offer much flexibility for families like ours. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's helping me understand what we're really up against and hopefully plan better than if I'd gone in blind.

As someone who works in higher education finance, I see this frustration daily and it's completely valid. The FAFSA formula hasn't been meaningfully updated to reflect modern economic realities for middle-class families. Here's what I tell families in your situation: don't just focus on the sticker price schools. Look for institutions with strong endowments that practice "need-aware" admissions - they often have more flexibility to craft competitive packages. Also, many families overlook in-state honors programs that can provide an excellent education at a fraction of private school costs. One strategy that works: apply broadly to 10-12 schools including several "financial safety" options where your daughter's stats put her in the top 25% of admitted students. Use any better offers as leverage in appeals - schools DO compete for students they want. The Parent PLUS loan trap is real - those interest rates can be brutal. Before going that route, consider whether your daughter could start at a community college or regional campus for general requirements, then transfer to her preferred school for her major coursework. Many students find this path actually enhances their college experience and drastically reduces debt. The system is broken for middle-class families, but with strategic planning you can still make it work without sacrificing your financial future.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but finally motivated to comment after reading this thread. We're dealing with the exact same situation - $118k income, $31k SAI, and feeling completely trapped by the system. What's been most helpful for us so far is connecting with other families going through this (like everyone here!) and realizing it's not just us feeling overwhelmed. My daughter initially thought we were being "cheap" about college costs until she started understanding the actual numbers involved. One thing that's worked well is having her take ownership of the scholarship search process. She's found some opportunities I never would have discovered, and it's helped her feel more empowered in the process rather than just a victim of circumstance. We set up a shared spreadsheet to track deadlines and requirements, and she's actually gotten pretty competitive about it! Still incredibly frustrated with the FAFSA system overall, but this community has been a lifesaver for practical advice and emotional support. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - it helps so much to know we're not alone in this mess.

This entire thread perfectly captures the impossible position middle-class families are in right now. Reading everyone's stories, I keep thinking about how this system is essentially forcing responsible families to choose between their children's education and their own financial security. What strikes me most is how FAFSA seems to operate in some alternate reality where $120k families have $30k+ just lying around each year. They don't account for the fact that we're already stretched thin between mortgage payments, retirement contributions (which we're told are essential), healthcare costs, and basic living expenses that have skyrocketed. The "middle-class squeeze" is real - we make too much for need-based aid but nowhere near enough to actually afford what colleges expect us to pay. And the suggestion that we should just raid our retirement accounts or stop saving entirely feels like financial suicide. I'm hoping this conversation helps other families realize they're not alone in this struggle. The system is broken, not us. We're all just trying to navigate an impossible situation while wanting the best for our kids. Keep sharing strategies and supporting each other - that seems to be the only way we're going to get through this mess.

Reading through all these experiences, I'm struck by how many families are dealing with the exact same frustration. As someone who's been researching this extensively while my daughter goes through the process, I wanted to share a few additional strategies that might help: 1. **Geographic arbitrage**: Consider schools in regions with lower cost of living where your money goes further. A great education in the Midwest or South might cost significantly less than comparable programs in high-cost areas. 2. **Timing strategies**: If your daughter takes a gap year, you can potentially restructure finances (reduce income through retirement contributions, realize losses, etc.) to improve the following year's FAFSA outcome. 3. **Professional year programs**: Some careers (pharmacy, physical therapy, etc.) offer direct-entry programs that might actually save money long-term by reducing total years of education needed. 4. **State reciprocity programs**: Many states have tuition exchange agreements that aren't well-publicized but can provide in-state rates at out-of-state schools. The most important thing I've learned is that this system forces us to think like financial strategists rather than just parents wanting the best for our kids. It's not fair, but once you accept that it's a game with specific rules, you can start playing it more effectively. Hang in there everyone - we're all navigating this broken system together.