My FAFSA SAI is 32,265 - Will my daughter qualify for any federal aid with high tuition costs?

The SAI (Student Aid Index) is indeed what the federal formula calculates your family can contribute annually. With a $32,265 SAI and your daughter's $19k merit scholarship, you're right that federal need-based aid like Pell Grants won't be available. However, your total cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition PLUS room, board, books, transportation, etc. So with a $65k total COA, there's still a gap of about $13,735 after your SAI is applied ($65k - $32,265 - $19k = $13,735). This gap means you might still qualify for some forms of aid, particularly federal loans. Absolutely contact the financial aid office! They can offer options like Direct Unsubsidized Loans (not need-based) and Parent PLUS loans to help cover that gap.

The college is going to use a simple formula: COA (Cost of Attendance) - SAI - Other aid = Remaining Need So if COA is $65k, your SAI is $32,265, and merit is $19k, then: $65,000 - $32,265 - $19,000 = $13,735 That $13,735 is your remaining need. You might get offered some Direct Unsubsidized Loans (not based on need) and maybe Parent PLUS loans to cover it. But I wouldn't expect grants with that high SAI. AND ABSOLUTELY talk to the financial aid office!!! Sometimes they have institutional funds they can give at their discretion. Be polite but make your case. The worst they can say is no.

I went through this exact situation last year with my son. Our SAI was even higher (38K) and we still got options. Definitely reach out to the financial aid office! They have institutional aid that isn't connected to your FAFSA results. PRO TIP: Don't just call their main number and wait forever - I wasted HOURS getting disconnected. Use Claimyr.com to avoid the wait times when calling financial aid offices. They have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Basically connects you without the wait. My call was returned in 15 minutes versus the 3+ hours I spent before. The financial aid officer was able to offer us an additional $8K in institutional grants after we explained our situation.

OMG the whole system is messed up!!! they expect us to pay $32k a year for college??? who has that kind of money just sitting around?? my daughter got a similar SAI and we make decent money but we have 3 kids and a mortgage and car payments and like WE DONT HAVE 32K JUST LAYING AROUND

To clarify some confusion I'm seeing: Merit scholarships are counted as financial aid and DO reduce your remaining need. So yes, with a $65k COA, $32,265 SAI, and $19k merit scholarship, your remaining need is $13,735. Good news: Your daughter should still be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $5,500 for first-year students) regardless of need. And you as a parent can apply for Parent PLUS loans to cover the remaining amount. While these aren't need-based aid, they are federal loan programs with certain protections. Also, don't forget to look at the school's payment plans! Many offer monthly payment options that can make that remaining amount more manageable without taking the full loan amount.

Financial aid officer here. I've worked at private colleges for 15 years, and I have some important clarifications: 1) Your SAI of $32,265 doesn't necessarily mean you won't receive ANY aid. Remember that the Cost of Attendance (COA) includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. 2) If your total COA is $65k, then even with an SAI of $32,265 and a $19k merit scholarship, there's still a gap of $13,735. This is your remaining financial need. 3) ABSOLUTELY contact the financial aid office! We often have institutional funds or can offer professional judgment adjustments for special circumstances not captured by the FAFSA. 4) Wait until you receive your official financial aid package, then review it carefully before reaching out with specific questions. 5) Your daughter should still be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans regardless of need, and you may qualify for Parent PLUS loans.

my daughter had a similar SAI (30k) and we still got some direct loans. not as much as we hoped but better than nothing!! definitely talk to fin aid!!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, wait for the official aid letter so you can reference specific numbers. When you call, have ready: 1) Your FAFSA confirmation number 2) Your daughter's student ID 3) Any documentation of special circumstances not reflected in your FAFSA (medical expenses, job loss, supporting other family members, etc.) 4) A clear breakdown of what you can actually afford to pay monthly/annually For your question about in-person vs. phone: In-person always creates a stronger connection, but a well-prepared phone conversation can be just as effective. Having your daughter participate shows her investment in the process and is generally a good idea, especially since she'll likely need to manage some of this herself over the next four years.

Also dont forget to check if the school uses the CSS Profile alongside FAFSA! Some private schools use both, and the CSS Profile looks at more assets (like home equity) but also considers more expenses. Your result might be different, and sometimes better. The CSS Profile costs money to submit but many schools have fee waivers.

Yes, medical expenses are EXACTLY the kind of special circumstance that financial aid officers can consider for professional judgment adjustments! Gather all documentation of those expenses. And absolutely be honest about what you can actually afford - that's vital information for us. Just be prepared to document your financial situation (statements, bills, etc.) to back up your case. You'd be surprised how many families get additional aid through this process when they come prepared with documentation and a realistic assessment of what they can contribute. It won't turn a $32k SAI into a $5k SAI, but it might reduce it enough to make a meaningful difference in your aid package.

Yes, @profile6, major medical expenses are one of the most common reasons for professional judgment adjustments! The FAFSA doesn't have a direct place to report these, but financial aid offices can consider them as special circumstances. Gather all documentation (bills, explanation of benefits showing what insurance didn't cover, proof of payment) and submit it with a formal appeal letter. This is exactly why it's so important to communicate directly with financial aid offices rather than just accepting the initial FAFSA results.

ok so we had similar situation. our sai was 29k, tuition was 47k, daughter got 15k merit. we thought we'd get nothing else but we asked for reevaluation cause my wife went part time at work to care for her mom. they gave us another 7k in institutional aid! not a ton but better than nothing right???? so definitely ask and explain your situation!!

Thank you all so much for the advice! I feel much more optimistic now. Will definitely wait for the official letter and then reach out to the financial aid office with our documentation and a clear explanation of our situation. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and expertise. This group has been incredibly helpful!

Welcome to the community! I'm in a very similar situation - just got my FAFSA results and feeling overwhelmed by the whole process. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! I had no idea about things like professional judgment adjustments for medical expenses or that schools might have additional institutional aid beyond what FAFSA shows. My daughter's SAI came back at $28,500 and I was convinced we'd get nothing, but now I'm realizing there might be more options than I thought. Definitely going to wait for the official aid package and then have that conversation with financial aid. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know we're not alone in this!