Understanding SAI score - how to know exactly what financial aid my daughter qualifies for?

SAI (Student Aid Index) doesn't directly translate to a specific dollar amount - it's used by each college to determine their financial aid package. Each school has different funding available and formulas they use. Your daughter will need to wait for her actual financial aid award letters from each school she applied to. They'll show the exact breakdown of grants, scholarships, and loans she qualifies for based on her SAI and the school's cost of attendance. Generally speaking, 4620 is a moderate-to-low SAI, which is good! She'll likely qualify for some need-based aid at most schools, including possibly some Pell Grant money. But the exact amounts will vary dramatically between schools.

my kid got an sai of 8900 and still got some aid so yours should get more. definitly call the financial aid office at all the schools and ask them about it before u pay any deposits!!!!

With an SAI of 4620, your daughter will likely qualify for some Pell Grant funding, which is fantastic! For the 2025-2026 academic year, Pell Grant eligibility generally extends to students with an SAI up to about 6500, with maximum awards around $7,500 for the lowest SAIs (usually 0). But here's the important part: each college calculates their institutional aid differently. Your daughter's total aid package will include federal aid (like Pell Grants, work-study, and Direct Loans) plus whatever institutional scholarships and grants the specific college offers. You should absolutely contact each financial aid office directly before making deposit decisions. They can often give you an estimate based on her SAI even if the official award letter hasn't been generated yet.

I was in your EXACT shoes last year! What I learned is that SAI is like a starting point but every school uses it differently. My son had an SAI around 5000 and got wildly different packages from different schools - one private college gave him almost a full ride while the state university offered barely anything! It was shocking how different they were. Did you fill out any CSS Profile forms too? Some schools require that in addition to FAFSA for their institutional aid.

If you're having trouble getting through to the financial aid office at State University, you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in the same situation with my son's FAFSA and getting through to financial aid offices was impossible. Claimyr connected me to a live agent without the hours of waiting. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. It made a huge difference in getting answers about his SAI and aid package before the deposit deadline.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE CONFUSING ON PURPOSE!!! I've been through this nightmare with 3 kids now and it never gets easier. They make the SAI number intentionally vague so schools can give as little aid as possible while pretending to be "generous." My middle child had an SAI of 3900 and still got offered mostly LOANS, not GRANTS. They're NOT the same thing even though they lump it all together as "financial aid" 🤬 My advice? Call the financial aid office EVERY DAY until you get a human. Be PERSISTENT! And don't accept the first offer - you can appeal for more aid!

Regarding your deposit question - you absolutely should not have to pay a deposit without knowing your financial aid package. Contact the admissions office (sometimes easier to reach than financial aid) and explain the situation. Many schools will extend the deposit deadline if you haven't received your aid information. Also, your daughter should check her student portal for the university - sometimes aid packages are posted there before they're mailed or before someone calls you back.

when I was going through this last yr with my son i found this website that estimates pell grant: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell and other federal aid but like everyone is saying the school decides the rest. with ur SAI being 4620 she should get decent pell but not the full amount. the max this yr was like 7300 i think

wait do u have to pay the deposit without knowing what ur gonna get?? that seems like a scam

UPDATE: I followed everyone's advice! My daughter checked her student portal and there was nothing there yet, but I called the admissions office this morning and explained our situation. They were much easier to reach than financial aid. The counselor said they would extend our deposit deadline by two weeks and flagged her file for the financial aid office to prioritize. They said we should receive her package within 5-7 days. The admissions counselor also mentioned that with an SAI of 4620, she would likely qualify for their "University Grant" in addition to federal aid, which is exciting! Thank you all for your help and suggestions. This process is so overwhelming for first-time college parents.

That's such great news! I'm so happy the admissions office was able to help you get an extension and priority processing. The University Grant sounds really promising - those institutional grants can make a huge difference in affordability. Just a heads up for when you get the award letter: make sure to carefully read through all the different types of aid offered. Sometimes schools will include Parent PLUS loans in the "total aid package" amount, but those require a separate application and credit check. Focus on the grants and scholarships first (free money), then subsidized loans if needed, and consider unsubsidized loans and work-study as your last options. You're doing a great job advocating for your daughter! The whole process is definitely overwhelming, but it sounds like you're on the right track now.

Congratulations on getting the extension and priority processing! That's a huge relief. Just wanted to add one more tip for when you receive the award letter - if the total package still doesn't make the school affordable, don't hesitate to call back and ask about an appeal process. Many schools have additional emergency funds or can reconsider aid packages if you can demonstrate special circumstances (like medical bills, job loss, supporting elderly parents, etc.). Also, once you have the actual numbers, you might want to compare the total cost after aid to what Community College would cost for the first two years. Sometimes doing gen ed requirements at CC and then transferring can save thousands while still getting the same degree. Just another option to consider if the four-year cost is still too high!

I'm so glad to see you got the extension and priority processing - that's fantastic! As someone who's been through this process, I wanted to share that an SAI of 4620 is actually in a pretty good range for receiving meaningful aid. One thing that really helped us when we got our award letter was creating a simple spreadsheet to break down the true costs. List the total cost of attendance, then subtract only the grants and scholarships (the free money) to see your actual out-of-pocket cost. Don't count loans as "aid" when making your affordability decision - those are just delayed payments. Also, once you get the package, if you have any questions about specific line items, most financial aid offices have student workers who can explain what each type of aid means and walk you through the terms. They're often easier to reach than the counselors and can be really helpful for basic questions. You're doing an amazing job navigating this as a first-generation college parent. Your daughter is lucky to have such an advocate!

Just wanted to chime in as another first-generation college parent who went through this exact same confusion last year! An SAI of 4620 is definitely in the range where your daughter should receive some good aid. One thing I wish someone had told me early on is to keep a folder (physical or digital) with all the financial aid documents, deadlines, and communications. It gets overwhelming fast when you're dealing with multiple schools or appeals. Also, don't be afraid to ask "dumb" questions when you talk to the financial aid office. I was so worried about sounding ignorant that I didn't ask for clarification on things I didn't understand, and it caused confusion later. The staff are used to explaining these terms to parents who are new to the process. You're doing everything right by being proactive and asking for help here. The fact that you got the extension shows you're a great advocate for your daughter. Best of luck with the award letter when it comes!

As someone who works in financial aid, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when you receive your award letter. First, make sure to look at the "Cost of Attendance" (COA) that the school lists - this includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses. Sometimes families focus only on tuition and get surprised by the other costs. Second, if your family's financial situation has changed since you filed the FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), definitely mention this when you get your package. Schools can make adjustments for significant changes. Finally, with an SAI of 4620, your daughter will likely be eligible for subsidized Direct Loans where the government pays the interest while she's in school. This is much better than unsubsidized loans if borrowing becomes necessary. The current annual limit for subsidized loans for first-year students is $3,500. You're asking all the right questions and being a great advocate for your daughter!

This thread has been so helpful to read through! I'm in a similar situation with my son who has an SAI of 5200. Seeing how everyone came together to help you navigate this process gives me hope. One quick tip I learned from a friend who went through this - when you do get your award letter, take a screenshot or photo of it before you start calculating anything. Sometimes the online portals glitch or get updated, and having that original document saved can be really helpful if you need to reference it later during appeals or when talking to the financial aid office. Also, I noticed someone mentioned Claimyr earlier for getting through to financial aid offices. I tried it yesterday for a different school and it actually worked - got connected to someone in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hour+ wait times. Definitely worth trying if you need to call back with questions once you get your daughter's award letter. Congratulations on advocating so well for your daughter and getting that extension! You should be proud of how you handled this stressful situation.

What an incredible thread to read through! As someone who went through this exact same confusion with my oldest daughter three years ago, I want to echo what everyone has said - you're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter, and an SAI of 4620 is actually quite good for receiving meaningful financial aid. One thing I learned that I wish someone had told me earlier: when you get that award letter, pay close attention to whether any of the aid is renewable each year or if it's just for the first year. Some merit scholarships are only for freshman year, which can create a nasty surprise later. Always ask about renewal requirements and whether aid packages typically stay consistent across all four years. Also, don't forget that your daughter can also look for outside scholarships even after starting college. Many local organizations, her high school counseling office, and even the university itself often have ongoing scholarship opportunities that can help reduce costs each semester. You've gotten such great advice here about appeals, comparing true costs, and keeping organized records. Your daughter is so lucky to have a parent who's willing to ask questions and fight for her education. Best of luck when that award letter arrives!

This has been such an inspiring thread to follow! As a financial aid counselor at a community college, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. You mentioned your daughter was accepted to both State University and Community College as a backup - don't underestimate the community college option if finances become tight. Many students don't realize that completing general education requirements at a community college and then transferring can cut total degree costs by 40-50% while still earning the same bachelor's degree from State University. Most community colleges have guaranteed transfer agreements that ensure credits will transfer seamlessly. With her SAI of 4620, she'd likely qualify for significant aid at the community college level too, potentially making those first two years very affordable or even free depending on your state's programs. It's not giving up on her dreams - it's a strategic financial decision that many successful students make. That said, the four-year experience has its own value, and it sounds like you're on track to get good aid information from State University soon. Just wanted you to know that the community college pathway is a completely valid and often very smart choice, not a "lesser" option. Whatever you decide, you're clearly doing everything right as her advocate!