Received 34132 SAI score on my FAFSA - what does this number actually mean for aid?

an SAI of 34132 means u probably wont get Pell Grant, sorry. Pell usually cuts off around 6000-7000 SAI. urs is way higher so ur family is expected to contribute that much $$ toward ur education. u might still get some loans tho

The SAI (Student Aid Index) is what replaced the old EFC number. Your 34132 means the formula calculated that your family can contribute approximately $34,132 per year toward your education costs. With an SAI that high, you won't qualify for Pell Grants (those typically go to students with SAIs under 6000), but you may still be eligible for: 1. Unsubsidized federal loans (everyone qualifies regardless of need) 2. Work-study programs (depending on your school) 3. Merit-based scholarships (these don't consider your SAI) 4. Parent PLUS loans (if your parents are willing/able) Having a sibling in college should have lowered your SAI somewhat already. If your financial situation has changed since filing (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request a professional judgment review at your financial aid office.

my sai was 29000 last year and i still got some institutional grants from my school. depends on where ur going and their financial aid policies. some private schools have their own formulas and might give u money even with high SAI. did u do the CSS Profile too?

The CSS Profile is an additional financial aid application used by some private colleges and universities to award their institutional aid. It's more detailed than the FAFSA and considers more aspects of your financial situation. If you're going to a public state university, they typically don't require it, so you should be fine with just the FAFSA. Regarding your SAI, remember that the $34,132 isn't necessarily what your family will pay out-of-pocket. It's just a benchmark for determining federal aid eligibility. Your actual costs will depend on: 1. The total cost of attendance at your school 2. Any scholarships you receive 3. Student loans you take out 4. Any institutional aid your school provides Definitely meet in person with your financial aid office to discuss options specific to your situation.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! My daughter had an SAI of 22000 and we definitely DON'T have $22k just sitting around!! We make $93k but live in high cost area + have medical bills + helping grandparents. These calculations are TOTALLY UNREALISTIC for middle class families!!! The rich get scholarships for grades and the poor get Pell Grants but us in the middle get NOTHING!!

Have you tried calling Federal Student Aid directly? I was confused about my SAI too and needed to speak with someone who could explain my specific situation. I kept calling the normal FSA number but couldn't get through (kept disconnecting me after 30+ minutes on hold). Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me skip the hold time and got me connected to an actual person in under 5 minutes who explained exactly what my SAI meant for different types of aid. They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with explained that your actual out-of-pocket cost is your school's Cost of Attendance MINUS your SAI. So if your school costs $40k total and your SAI is $34k, they expect you to need about $6k in aid. It helped me understand things much better than my financial aid office did.

I work in financial aid and can explain what your SAI actually means in practical terms: 1. Your SAI isn't necessarily what you'll pay out-of-pocket. It's a comparative tool used by schools to distribute limited aid funds. 2. At $34,132, you won't qualify for Pell Grants (current max SAI for Pell is around 6206). 3. For a state university with a Cost of Attendance of about $25,000-30,000, you might not receive need-based aid since your SAI exceeds the cost. 4. If attending a more expensive school ($40k+), you might receive some institutional aid to cover the gap. 5. You'll still qualify for unsubsidized federal loans ($5,500-$7,500 depending on year in school). 6. Focus on merit scholarships, outside scholarships, and work opportunities. Your parents having another child in college was already factored in - without that, your SAI would be even higher. If your financial situation has significantly changed since filing your FAFSA, request a Professional Judgment review at your school.

Exactly. If your school's Cost of Attendance is less than your SAI, then from the federal government's perspective, you don't have financial "need." Let's say your state university costs $28,000 all-in (tuition, fees, housing, books, etc.). With an SAI of $34,132, the federal calculation shows your family can afford the entire cost, so you wouldn't qualify for need-based grants. However, that doesn't mean your family actually has $34k in cash available! This is where the disconnect happens for many families. The formula doesn't account for things like other debt, the mortgage/rent in your specific area, or unusual expenses. Your best strategies now are: 1. Apply for every merit and private scholarship you can find 2. Consider starting at a community college to save money 3. Take the federal loans you qualify for ($5,500 for freshmen) 4. Look into work-study options at your school 5. If your parents are willing, they can apply for Parent PLUS loans to cover remaining costs I'd also recommend scheduling an in-person appointment with financial aid at your specific school - they might have institutional scholarships or grants not tied to your SAI.

my cousin had high SAI too but got scholarships for good grades + playing in band + essay contests. u should look for those things that don't care about FAFSA stuff

also check if ur state has any grants or scholarships! some states have special programs for residents even if u don't qualify for federal stuff. i got 2k from my state last year and it helped a lot

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to: 1. Call FSA directly using that Claimyr service to understand my options better 2. Schedule an in-person meeting with my school's financial aid office 3. Look for merit scholarships and my state's grant programs 4. See if my parents can appeal the SAI based on our actual expenses It's still frustrating that the system seems designed to give the least help to middle-income families, but at least I have some direction now. If anyone has specific scholarship websites they recommend, please let me know!

Use fastweb.com and scholarships.com to find scholarships - I found several smaller ones ($500-$1500) that added up! Also, once you're in school, apply to be a Resident Advisor if possible. At my university, RAs get free housing and a small stipend, which saves about $12k per year. That made a HUGE difference for my family even though we had a high SAI too.

Another option to consider is looking into your school's payment plan options. Many universities allow you to spread costs over monthly payments throughout the semester rather than paying everything upfront, which can help with cash flow even if it doesn't reduce the total amount. Also, don't forget about textbook savings - use rental services, buy used books, or check if your library has copies you can use. Every bit helps when you're dealing with a high SAI situation. The system definitely isn't perfect for middle-income families, but there are still ways to make college more affordable if you're creative about it.

I'm in a similar situation with my SAI being around 28,000 and it's been really stressful figuring out how to afford college. One thing that helped me was looking into in-state tuition benefits if you're planning to attend a state school - the cost difference between in-state and out-of-state can be huge (sometimes $15k+ per year difference). Also, some community colleges have guaranteed transfer agreements with 4-year universities, so you could potentially do your first two years at a much lower cost and then transfer. I know it's not ideal, but it could cut your total college costs significantly while you're dealing with a high SAI. The whole system really does feel unfair to families in our income bracket, but there are still some ways to make it work if you plan strategically.

Yes, most guaranteed transfer agreements do require maintaining a minimum GPA, typically around 2.5-3.0, though some competitive programs might require higher. The specific requirements vary by state and school, but here's what to look for: 1. Minimum GPA requirements (usually 2.5-3.0 overall) 2. Completion of specific prerequisite courses 3. Minimum credit hours (often 60+ credits) 4. Sometimes requirements for certain grades in key courses (like C or better in math/English) The good news is these requirements are usually very achievable if you stay focused. I'd recommend contacting both the community college and your target 4-year university to get the exact transfer agreement details in writing. Many states also have online databases that show which courses transfer - like ASSIST in California or equivalency guides in other states. The "college experience" concern is totally valid, but remember you'll still get two full years at the 4-year school, and you can get involved in clubs/activities at the community college too. Plus, graduating with significantly less debt might give you more freedom after college to pursue internships, grad school, or other opportunities without being weighed down by loan payments.