Is the SAI on FAFSA results the exact amount we're expected to pay for college?

the SAI (student aid index) isnt exactly what you'll pay, its just what they think you CAN pay. each college uses it differently to build their own aid package. when my daughter got her SAI it was like 18k but we ended up with a package that only had us paying like 12k out of pocket at her school

The SAI (Student Aid Index) is not necessarily the exact amount you'll pay out of pocket. It's a number colleges use to determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid. Each college has its own formula for how they use the SAI to create a financial aid package. Even if your SAI is higher than the tuition at State University, your son might still qualify for merit-based scholarships, work-study opportunities, or unsubsidized loans that aren't dependent on financial need. I recommend contacting the financial aid office at each school your son is applying to. They can give you a more accurate picture of what your actual costs might be.

My son's SAI was WAY higher than what we could afford too!!! The whole system is rigged against middle class families if you ask me. They expect us to drain our retirement savings just to send our kids to college! 😡

I remember being confused by this too! The SAI is kind of a starting point, not the final answer. My daughter just went through this process last year. Here's what we learned: 1. Different schools have different approaches to financial aid 2. Some schools will meet your full need (SAI vs. cost of attendance) 3. Some offer merit scholarships regardless of your SAI 4. State schools often have special programs for in-state students Definitely contact State University directly - their financial aid office can run preliminary numbers for you based on your FAFSA data. Don't lose hope yet!

Have you tried calling Federal Student Aid directly to ask about your SAI calculation? I was in a similar situation last year and needed clarification. After waiting on hold for hours, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me skip the wait time and connect with an FSA agent in minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ showing how it works. The agent explained exactly how my SAI was calculated and suggested some options for appealing it based on our specific situation. Definitely worth looking into if you need detailed answers about your FAFSA results.

One thing to keep in mind - if your son is going to State University which costs less than your SAI, he should still be eligible for unsubsidized federal loans (up to $5,500 for freshmen). Those aren't need-based. Also, has he applied for any outside scholarships? My nephew's SAI was high but he got about $8k in local scholarships that made a huge difference.

wait i thought they changed it from EFC to SAI this year? isnt it basically the same thing just with a different name??

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I feel much better now understanding that the SAI isn't necessarily our exact out-of-pocket cost. We're going to: 1. Contact State University's financial aid office directly 2. Look into more scholarship opportunities 3. Consider calling FSA to understand our SAI calculation better 4. Wait for the official aid package before panicking This community has been incredibly helpful - way more informative than the confusing official websites!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I wanted to add that it's also worth looking into whether State University offers any payment plan options. Even if your final out-of-pocket cost ends up being close to your SAI, many schools let you spread payments over 10-12 months instead of paying each semester upfront. This can make a big difference for cash flow! Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities - these aren't always reflected in the initial aid package but can help reduce your actual costs by $2,000-3,000 per year.