Negative SAI but school wants $18k in loans - Social Security vs student debt dilemma
I'm at my wits' end with this financial aid nightmare. I'm 68 and raising my granddaughter on my own since my husband passed 3 years ago. We completed her FAFSA and got a NEGATIVE $1,500 SAI (I thought that was good??), but the state university she got into is still asking for $18,000 in loans to cover costs! I'm living on Social Security and a tiny pension. The financial aid office basically told us 'take the loans or don't come.' Do I drain my retirement to help her and risk becoming homeless at my age, or force my granddaughter to take on massive debt? She's so bright and this is her dream school for nursing. I'm literally losing sleep over this. Has anyone else dealt with a huge gap between SAI and actual costs?
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Sayid Hassan
A negative SAI is definitely good! It means your granddaughter qualifies for maximum Pell Grant and other need-based aid. However, there's often a gap between the aid package and total cost of attendance, especially at state schools dealing with budget cuts. Before making any drastic decisions, I recommend: 1. Ask the financial aid office for a breakdown of the full cost of attendance vs. the aid offered 2. See if your granddaughter qualifies for any nursing-specific scholarships or grants 3. Look into whether they factored in all your circumstances - as her guardian, some of your retirement income might be excluded 4. Request a professional judgment review if your financial situation has changed since the tax year they used for the FAFSA DO NOT sacrifice your retirement security completely - that could create bigger problems for both of you later.
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Arnav Bengali
•Thank you for the detailed response. I didn't know I could ask for a professional judgment review. Her financial aid package does include the Pell Grant ($7,395) and some state grant ($2,500), but the remaining gap is still huge. They're offering $5,500 in direct loans for her and suggesting I take Parent PLUS loans for the rest! I'll call tomorrow and ask for that breakdown and mention my situation has changed since my medical expenses increased last year.
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Rachel Tao
Dont give up ur SS!! My sister was in similar situation w/ her grandson and took out Parent plus loan now shes 73 and STILL PAYING IT OFF!! The skool should have options for ur granddauter since her SAI is negative. Ask about work study too can help with like $3-4k per yr
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Arnav Bengali
•That's exactly what I'm afraid of! I can't imagine still making loan payments in my 70s. I did ask about work-study, but they said those positions are limited and get assigned based on when you submit FAFSA. We submitted in February so we might have missed out.
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Derek Olson
I work in financial aid (not at your granddaughter's school). The negative SAI is excellent news, but many people don't realize that even with maximum federal aid, there's often a significant gap at public universities. Here's what I suggest: 1. Check if this is a direct-admit nursing program or if she'll apply later. Direct-admit programs are worth more debt because admission later isn't guaranteed. 2. Compare with community college costs for first two years. Many nursing students do prerequisites at CC then transfer, saving $20-30K. 3. Research if her nursing program qualifies for loan forgiveness through PSLF or Nurse Corps. 4. Look at private scholarships specifically for nursing students - many hospitals offer tuition assistance for commitment to work there. The worst option is draining your retirement. The financial consequences could affect both of you more severely than student loans would impact her.
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Arnav Bengali
•This is so helpful, thank you! It's a direct-admit program, which is why she's so excited. She did get into the community college too, and they only wanted about $4k in loans per year. I guess we need to have a serious conversation about that option. I didn't know about the Nurse Corps - will definitely look into that!
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Danielle Mays
this system is BROKEN!!! negative SAI should mean FULL RIDE. period. the govt is giving billions to corporations and foreign countries but can't help grandmas raising grandkids?! makes me sick. my nephew had -2000 SAI and still had to take out 12k in loans for state university. its highway robbery and they know young ppl have no choice.
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Roger Romero
•While I understand your frustration, a negative SAI doesn't actually guarantee a full ride - it just means maximum federal aid eligibility. State funding for public universities has been slashed nearly everywhere, which is why costs keep rising faster than federal aid increases. The Pell Grant maximum of $7,395 for 2025-26 simply hasn't kept pace with tuition increases.
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Anna Kerber
have you tried calling the federal student aid ppl? sometimes they can help override the schools decision or at least explain what's going on. My son had a similar thing happen and we had to call like 20 times to get anyone but when we finally did they helped us appeal
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Niko Ramsey
•I had a similar experience trying to reach FSA last month. After days of trying, I finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). It connects you directly to a Federal Student Aid agent without the endless hold times. They literally got me through to someone in 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with was able to explain exactly what was happening with my grandson's SAI calculation and how to request a professional judgment review with the right documentation. Much better than the generic advice from the school's financial aid office.
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Seraphina Delan
Wait we need more info to help u. What state r u in? Is this in-state tuition? Is she living on campus? Cuz 18k seems kinda high for just tuition at a state school w/ a negative SAI!
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Arnav Bengali
•Sorry I should have mentioned that! We're in Michigan and yes it's in-state tuition. About $14,000 for tuition, then another $13,000 for room and board. She got $10,000 in grants, but that still leaves $17-18k. I wanted her to live at home and commute but the nursing program has early clinical rotations and the campus is 45 minutes away. No way I can drive her at 5am with my arthritis acting up in the mornings.
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Seraphina Delan
•ah ok that makes more sense, room and board is killer! if commuting isnt possible, maybe look for off-campus housing with roommates? usually WAY cheaper than dorms. also might want to check if they have payment plans so u don't have to pay all at once.
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Roger Romero
Your situation highlights a common misunderstanding about financial aid. While your granddaughter's negative SAI qualifies her for maximum federal aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, subsidized loans), that rarely covers the full cost of attendance. Let me add some perspective to help with your decision: 1. Average starting salary for new BSN nurses in most states is $65-75K, making $18K annual loans manageable with proper financial planning. 2. Consider income-driven repayment plans that would cap her payments at 5% of discretionary income under SAVE. 3. The nursing shortage means many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement or signing bonuses that can help with student loan payoff. 4. Many nursing graduates qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of payments while working at public hospitals. While I'd never recommend sacrificing your retirement security, responsible student loan borrowing for nursing is generally a sound investment in her future.
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Arnav Bengali
•Thank you for this breakdown. I didn't know about the SAVE plan or that it could be as low as 5% of income. That does make the loans sound more manageable. Maybe I'm overthinking this because I grew up in a generation that avoided debt at all costs. I just don't want her starting adult life with a burden.
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Roger Romero
•That's a completely understandable concern! The rule of thumb is that total student loan debt shouldn't exceed first-year expected salary. For nursing, staying under that threshold usually means the investment makes financial sense. Just make sure she completes the program - loans without the degree are the worst of both worlds.
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Rachel Tao
My neice just went thru this!!! Have your granddaughter apply for nursing-specific scholarships RIGHT NOW. Her scool prolly has some but also check Johnson & johnson, Tylenol, AfFLAC, they ALL have nursing scholarshps. Also check with local hospitals somtimes they pay tuition if she agrees to work there after gradution!
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Arnav Bengali
•Thank you! I didn't think about companies like Johnson & Johnson having scholarships. We'll start researching those tonight. The local hospital does have a program but they only pay $5k per year with a 3-year work commitment. Still, that would help!
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Sayid Hassan
I want to add one more important consideration: sometimes the financial aid packages at the more expensive school actually work out better in the long run, especially for specialized programs like nursing. Community colleges are excellent for many students, but direct-admit nursing programs often have better clinical placements, NCLEX pass rates, and job placement services. I'd recommend asking the financial aid office about these specific questions: 1. Are there second-year scholarships available once she's in the nursing program? 2. What's the NCLEX pass rate compared to alternative programs? 3. Do they have dedicated nursing scholarships not included in the initial package? 4. Can they provide statistics on job placement rates and starting salaries for their nursing graduates? Make your decision based on the full picture - sometimes the program with the higher upfront cost provides better long-term value, especially in healthcare fields.
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Arnav Bengali
•These are excellent questions I wouldn't have thought to ask! I'll add them to my list for our financial aid appointment next week. You're right that we need to consider the quality of the program too, not just the cost. Her dream is to eventually become a nurse practitioner, so the foundation matters.
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