Is my FAFSA really complete without receiving an SAI number?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is the number that replaced the old EFC (Expected Family Contribution). It's basically a measure of your financial strength that colleges use to determine how much aid you qualify for. If your FAFSA shows "processed" with no further action, your SAI has already been calculated and sent to the schools you listed on your application. You can find your SAI by logging into studentaid.gov, clicking on your processed FAFSA, and viewing the confirmation page or the SAR (Student Aid Report).

lol dont worry about it, the schools get all that stuff automatically. i didnt even know what SAI was until my second year! as long as it says processed your good

You absolutely should be able to see your own SAI number. That's important information for you to have when planning your finances. Look in your Student Aid Report (SAR) for a line that says "Student Aid Index" or for a number near where it used to show the EFC. If you still can't find it, there might be a technical issue with your account or the way your application was processed.

The FAFSA system is SUCH a mess this year!! My daughter's application has been "processed" for weeks but her SAI number keeps changing randomly. First it was 4500, then 2800, now it's back to 3900. No explanation, no emails, nothing! We're supposed to make college decisions based on THIS?! 🤬 At least you got a "processed" status - consider yourself lucky!

If you're having trouble finding your SAI on the studentaid.gov portal, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an actual FAFSA agent. I was in the same situation last month - couldn't see my SAI anywhere despite having a "processed" status. After trying to call for days and getting nowhere, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They explained that there was a display issue with my account and fixed it right away. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

saw this post & had to jump in cuz i had the EXACT same issue last week!! my processed fafsa didn't show an SAI number anywhere. ended up being that my verification was still pending even tho the main status said processed. check if u have any verification tasks still open, that might be why!

After your FAFSA is processed, your SAI should be visible somewhere in your Student Aid Report. However, there are a few scenarios where it might not show up clearly: 1. If your application is selected for verification (which can happen even with a "processed" status) 2. If there's a technical display issue with your account 3. If there's a processing error that needs to be resolved I recommend checking your FAFSA for any notes about verification. If none exist, you should contact Federal Student Aid directly. While your schools do receive your information automatically, it's important for you to know your own SAI to understand your aid eligibility.

I just wanted to follow up - were you able to find your SAI or speak with someone at Federal Student Aid? Sometimes the system displays differently depending on your specific application circumstances. Also, make sure you're looking at the 2025-2026 FAFSA confirmation page, not a previous year's application.

An SAI of 2750 is generally considered to be in the low-to-moderate range, which is good news for your financial aid prospects. The lower your SAI, the more need-based aid you may qualify for. Many Pell Grant recipients have SAIs below 6000, so you might be eligible depending on your enrollment status and the cost of attendance at your chosen schools. Each school will use this number differently in their aid calculations, so you'll need to wait for your financial aid packages to see exactly what you qualify for. Congratulations on getting this resolved!