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StarStrider

What does 5908 SAI mean for Pell Grant eligibility in 2025-2026?

I just got my SAI score back and it's 5908. Can someone explain what this means for my Pell Grant eligibility? The financial aid office at my school isn't responding to emails and I'm freaking out trying to figure out how much I'll actually get. Is this a good SAI or not? Will I qualify for any Pell Grant with this number? I'm trying to decide between two schools and need to know how much aid I'll get at each one.

Sean Doyle

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An SAI of 5908 means you're eligible for partial Pell Grant funding for the 2025-2026 academic year. The maximum Pell Grant is around $8,400 now, but with your SAI, you'd probably get around $3,500-$4,000 in Pell Grant. Your exact amount depends on whether you're full-time or part-time and the school's cost of attendance. Have you checked your studentaid.gov account? It should show your estimated Pell amount there.

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StarStrider

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Thanks for the info! I looked on studentaid.gov but couldn't find where it shows the estimated Pell amount. Is it under a specific tab? All I can see is my SAI number.

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Zara Rashid

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i got a 6200 sai last year and got like 3300 in pell so urs should be a little more maybe? they changed the formulas this year tho so idk if its exactly the same

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StarStrider

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That's helpful to know! Did you have to do anything extra to get your Pell Grant or was it automatically applied to your account once you accepted the award?

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Luca Romano

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The 2025-2026 Pell Grant tables are already published. With an SAI of 5908, assuming you're a full-time student, you qualify for approximately $3,845 in Pell Grant for the year. That's divided between semesters, so about $1,922 per semester if you're attending fall and spring. Remember that your SAI also determines eligibility for other aid, including subsidized loans and some state/institutional grants. Each school will create a different financial aid package based on their available resources, so you should definitely compare the full aid offers rather than just looking at the Pell amount.

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StarStrider

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Wow, thank you for the exact number! That's super helpful. I didn't realize the SAI would affect subsidized loans too. Do you know if there's a cutoff point for subsidized loans like there is for Pell?

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Luca Romano

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Yes, subsidized loans generally have a higher SAI cutoff than Pell Grants. For subsidized loans, the cutoff is typically around 15000-16000 SAI, though this can vary. With your 5908 SAI, you should definitely qualify for the maximum subsidized loan amount if you need it.

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Nia Jackson

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CONGRATS!!! Your SAI is actually pretty good. When I was in school my SAI was like 12000 and I got hardly anything. The lower your SAI the better. With 5908 you'll get a decent chunk of free money!

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StarStrider

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Thanks! That makes me feel better. I wasn't sure if lower or higher was better with SAI numbers.

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Just be careful because sometimes the school's verification process can change your SAI if they find discrepancies. Were you selected for verification? I had my Pell reduced last year after they verified my parent's tax info and found some inconsistencies I didn't even know about. Make sure all your numbers match your tax returns EXACTLY.

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StarStrider

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Oh no, I hope that doesn't happen to me! I did get an email about verification but haven't submitted the documents yet. Now I'm worried my SAI might increase...

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CosmicCruiser

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I've been trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid for WEEKS about my SAI calculation and it's been impossible until I found Claimyr. They got me connected to a real FSA agent within 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent walked me through exactly how my Pell was calculated based on my SAI and even helped me understand what would change if my income situation changes. Check out their video at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or go to claimyr.com - seriously saved me so much stress.

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StarStrider

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I've been having the same problem trying to reach someone! Thanks for the recommendation, I'll definitely look into that. Did they charge you for the service?

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CosmicCruiser

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Yes, there is a fee, but it was worth it to finally get answers. The FSA agent confirmed exactly what my Pell Grant amount would be and explained why my SAI was calculated the way it was. Much better than waiting for weeks or getting disconnected.

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Aisha Khan

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SAIs are so unfair!!!! My parents make decent money on paper but they don't help me AT ALL with college and I got an SAI of 12000+ and barely any aid. Meanwhile my roommate's parents help her with everything and she got a full Pell Grant. The whole system is rigged.

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Sean Doyle

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I understand your frustration. In situations like yours, you might want to talk to your financial aid office about a professional judgment review. If you can document that you receive no support from your parents, some schools will reconsider your dependency status or adjust your aid package. It's not automatic, but it's worth trying.

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Aisha Khan

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Wait really? I didn't know that was possible. I'll definitely ask about that, thank you!

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Sean Doyle

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One more important thing about your SAI of 5908 - it's not just about Pell Grants. Make sure you complete any additional state aid applications too. Many states have their own grants for students with SAIs in your range. For example, some states offer completion grants of $1000-2000 per year for students who maintain good academic progress and have SAIs under 8000-10000.

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StarStrider

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That's a great point! I'm in California - do you know if they have any specific grants I should apply for with my SAI?

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Sean Doyle

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Yes! In California with your SAI, you should definitely qualify for Cal Grant funding. Make sure you've completed the California Dream Act Application if it applies to you, or check that your FAFSA was sent to CSAC (California Student Aid Commission). With your SAI, you could receive significant Cal Grant funding on top of your Pell Grant.

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Aiden Chen

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Hey StarStrider! As someone who just went through this process, I wanted to share that an SAI of 5908 is actually really good news for you. You'll definitely qualify for a substantial Pell Grant - probably around $3,800-$4,000 for the full year based on the current tables. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you apply to both schools you're considering and compare the FULL financial aid packages, not just the Pell amount. Some schools have better institutional aid or work-study programs that can make a huge difference in your total cost. Also, don't forget to check if your state has additional grant programs - many have income cutoffs that you'd easily qualify for with your SAI. The verification process can be stressful, but as long as your FAFSA info matches your tax documents exactly, you should be fine. Good luck with your decision!

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Mei Lin

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Thank you so much Aiden! This is exactly the kind of comprehensive info I was hoping for. I really appreciate you mentioning the institutional aid part - I hadn't thought about how different schools might package aid differently even with the same SAI. I'm definitely going to wait to see both full packages before deciding. The state grant tip is gold too - I'll look into California's programs right away. It's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this process that my SAI is actually good news!

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