SAI of 15,000 but only offered $5,000 loan for $40,000 tuition - is this normal FAFSA result?

ya that sounds about right acutally. FASFA is just eligibility, it doesnt guarantee money. Most schools don't meet full need anymore especially if your not like super poor. They expect you to take out parent plus loans for the rest or pay cash. Welcome to the american education system lol

Unfortunately, this is increasingly common. Your SAI of 15,000 does indicate your expected family contribution according to federal calculations, but schools aren't required to meet 100% of your demonstrated need. Only a small number of elite schools (mostly Ivy League) promise to meet full financial need. Most schools have limited financial aid budgets and give priority to students with the lowest SAI scores. Some questions that might help: 1. Is this a public or private university? 2. Did your student apply for any merit scholarships? 3. Have you checked if there are school-specific scholarships still available? 4. Did you also complete the CSS Profile if the school requires it?

we had the EXACT same issue last year!! SAI of 17K and tuition was 43K and all they gave us was loans. i called the financial aid office and they basically said "too bad" but in nicer words. ended up having to pick my son's safety school instead 😕

There are a few things going on here that might explain your situation: 1. Your SAI of 15,000 does mean the federal government calculates you can afford to contribute that amount, but it's just a starting point for colleges. 2. Many private colleges have their own institutional methodology that can differ significantly from federal calculations. This is why many require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. 3. Schools with high tuition often practice what's called "gapping" - where they acknowledge your financial need but don't provide enough aid to cover it. The "gap" is what you're seeing. 4. For private universities especially, not completing the CSS Profile can absolutely result in missing out on institutional aid, which is often more substantial than federal aid. I'd recommend immediately contacting the financial aid office to ask about: - Filing a late CSS Profile if they'll accept it - Submitting a formal appeal based on your SAI - Asking about payment plans to spread out the cost - Inquiring about additional scholarship opportunities Don't give up yet - many families successfully negotiate better packages.

This mite sound dumb but did u check if ur eligible for the Pell Grant? If ur SAI is 15000 u probably dont qualify but its worth double checking. Also did u get any state grants? Some states have automatic grants if ur FAFSA is filed by certain deadlines.

The whole system is DESIGNED to trap families like yours. They know you're not poor enough for full aid but not rich enough to pay cash. So they hook you with Parent PLUS loans that will keep you in debt until retirement. It's predatory and disgusting. My daughter got the same deal and now I'm 62 with $94,000 in parent loans. DON'T DO IT.

I went through this exact frustration last year trying to reach someone at my daughter's financial aid office. After weeks of busy signals and unanswered emails, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual financial aid counselor at her school. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The counselor was able to explain that we needed to file a special circumstances form because my income on the FAFSA was from a one-time work bonus that inflated our SAI. After submitting the form, they adjusted our aid package and added a $12,000 institutional grant. Definitely worth trying to speak directly with a financial aid officer rather than just accepting the initial offer.

btw look into parent plus loans, thats what most families use to cover the gap. the interest rates suck but at least u can borrow whatever u need

One important strategy: Ask the financial aid office about their "Professional Judgment" process. Financial aid officers have the authority to adjust your SAI based on circumstances not captured in the FAFSA. These might include: - Medical expenses not covered by insurance - Recent job loss or reduction in income - One-time income that inflated your previous year's earnings - Caregiving costs for elderly relatives - Multiple children in college (though the new FAFSA already accounts for this) You'll need documentation to support your case, but many families succeed with these appeals. The key is being specific about what's changed since you filed the FAFSA or what the FAFSA didn't adequately capture about your financial situation.

u could also look at cheaper schools? community college for 2 years then transfer saves a TON of money

After you've tried appealing directly with the financial aid office, don't forget to compare this offer with other schools where your daughter was accepted. Sometimes bringing a competing financial aid offer can motivate a school to improve their package. Also, don't overlook external scholarships. While most big national scholarships have passed their deadlines for this year, there are many local scholarships through community organizations, employers, and religious groups that have later deadlines and less competition. Finally, some schools have payment plans that allow you to spread tuition payments over 10-12 months instead of paying each semester in full. This won't reduce the total cost, but it makes the payments more manageable without resorting to additional loans.

I'm a financial aid counselor and want to add a few more actionable steps you can take immediately: 1. **Appeal Timeline**: Most schools have specific deadlines for financial aid appeals (usually 30-60 days from your award letter date). Don't wait - start this process ASAP. 2. **CSS Profile**: Even if you missed the priority deadline, many schools will still consider a late CSS Profile for institutional aid. Call them first thing Monday to ask about this. 3. **Work-Study**: Ask if there are any Federal Work-Study positions still available. This won't cover tuition but can help with living expenses. 4. **Summer Earnings**: Schools often expect students to contribute from summer employment. Make sure your daughter is actively job searching now. 5. **Department Scholarships**: Contact your daughter's intended major department directly. They often have smaller scholarships that aren't widely advertised. The financial aid system is frustrating, but don't give up without exhausting all options. I've seen families in similar situations get significant additional aid through persistent advocacy.

This is such a helpful and comprehensive response! As someone new to navigating financial aid, I really appreciate you breaking down the specific action steps with timelines. The point about department scholarships is especially valuable - I never would have thought to contact the academic department directly. It's reassuring to hear from an actual financial aid counselor that persistence can pay off. I'm definitely going to follow this roadmap starting Monday morning. Thank you for taking the time to share your professional insights!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me as a parent just starting to navigate the financial aid process. I had no idea that the SAI was just a starting point and not an actual guarantee of what you'd pay - that seems so misleading! Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Don't just accept the first offer, 2) File CSS Profile if the school accepts it, 3) Document any special circumstances for appeals, and 4) Contact departments directly for additional scholarships. @Daniel Washington I really hope the appeal process works out for you - please keep us updated on how it goes! And @Giovanni Rossi thank you so much for the professional insights, this is exactly the kind of guidance parents need but rarely get upfront in the process.