SAI of 3594 with $9,300 aid package - how to afford remaining college costs?

First, take a deep breath! This is a common situation many families face. With an SAI of 3594, your son actually qualifies for a decent aid package. Here are some options to consider: 1. Look into merit scholarships at this university or others - many schools offer significant merit aid that isn't based on financial need 2. Consider Parent PLUS loans, which have better protections than private loans, though interest rates are still substantial 3. Has your son applied to any state schools? They're often significantly less expensive 4. Work-study programs can provide $2-3k per year 5. Many students take a gap year to work and save money before starting college Also, make sure you've completed any supplemental financial aid forms the university might require, like the CSS Profile (required by many private schools).

tbh college is basically a scam now. my brother got his computer science degree and has $98K in debt. he makes decent money but cant afford to move out of our parents house because of the loan payments. seriously look at trade schools or at least community college for the first 2 years.

Appealing your financial aid package is totally worth trying! When my daughter got her SAI and aid offer last year, I sent a polite email to the financial aid office explaining our circumstances (medical expenses they didn't know about) and they increased her grant by $4,500! Different schools have different amounts of institutional aid they can offer beyond the federal amounts.

Have you tried calling Federal Student Aid directly to see if there are any special circumstances adjustments you might qualify for? With your SAI, there might be additional options. Fair warning though - getting through to them is a nightmare. I spent 3 hours on hold last month before getting disconnected. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through in about 15 minutes - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and their website is claimyr.com. Totally worth it when you need to actually speak to someone at FSA.

UGGGHHHH I'M IN THE SAME BOAT!!! Son got a 2850 SAI and still needs to come up with $18K per year somehow?! The whole system is BROKEN. Rich families don't need aid and poor families get full rides but those of us in the middle get CRUSHED. I've already taken out a second mortgage. The financial aid system is designed to push middle class families into debt. It's absolutely criminal what colleges are charging now.

hey dont forget to apply for every scholarship under the sun. my niece applied for like 30 random scholarships last year (ethnic heritage ones, essay contests, local business scholarships) and ended up getting about $6000 in small awards. it added up! also most people dont know some scholarships go unclaimed each year because nobody applies for the weird specific ones

Another thing to consider - many schools have significant institutional aid that isn't reflected in your FAFSA results. Once you get the official financial aid package from each school, you'll have a clearer picture. Private universities often have larger endowments and can offer more institutional grants than state schools, sometimes making their actual cost lower despite the higher sticker price. Don't make any decisions until you see the final aid packages from all the schools.

Also consider having your son take some summer classes at the local community college that will transfer. My daughter did this and knocked out about a semester's worth of general requirements for a fraction of the university cost. Just make sure to check which credits will transfer before registering!

When I got my son's FAFSA results with a similar SAI, I nearly had a heart attack too! But we ended up making it work through a combination of Parent PLUS loans, his part-time job (about 15 hours/week during school), and some strategic planning. One thing I wish we'd known earlier - many schools have payment plans that let you spread the cost over 10-12 months instead of paying per semester, which helped our cash flow enormously.

Thank you all for the advice! I feel a bit less panicked now. We're going to: 1) Wait for all financial aid packages before deciding, 2) Appeal for additional aid based on medical expenses, 3) Look into smaller scholarships, 4) Consider community college courses for the summer, and 5) Make an appointment with the financial aid office at his top choice school to discuss options. I'll post an update when we figure this out. This system is definitely frustrating, but your suggestions have given us more paths to explore.

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I completely understand the panic! My daughter had a similar SAI and we faced that same sticker shock. One thing that really helped us was creating a detailed 4-year financial plan that included potential salary increases, her summer earnings, and projected loan payments after graduation. It made the numbers feel more manageable when we could see the full picture. Also, don't overlook your son's major - some programs have additional scholarships or co-op opportunities that can significantly offset costs. The financial aid office at his preferred school should be able to connect you with department-specific funding opportunities. You're already on the right track by exploring all your options before making any final decisions!