What does SAI 27264 mean for out-of-state tuition? How to calculate actual FAFSA aid?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is just one factor in determining aid - it doesn't directly translate to a specific dollar amount. The SAI is used by colleges to determine your eligibility for need-based aid, but each school has different funding sources and policies for distributing aid. Out-of-state students often receive less institutional aid than in-state students. The calculation works like this: Cost of Attendance (COA) - SAI = Financial Need But schools aren't required to meet 100% of your financial need. Many schools only meet a percentage, especially for out-of-state students. The federal loans and work-study are standard offerings based on FAFSA, but the institutional grants/scholarships vary widely between schools.

My son had almost the exact same SAI (like 26k something) and we got basically the same package at his out of state school. I was shocked too!!! I thought with his grades he would get way more help but apparently the SAI means we can "afford" to pay that much according to the govt which is RIDICULOUS because who has an extra 27k just sitting around???

I've been dealing with FAFSA for years (I have 3 kids in college now - pray for me lol). Here's what you need to know about SAI: 1. Your SAI basically tells schools how much the govt thinks you can pay per year 2. Out-of-state schools generally offer less institutional aid than in-state 3. Private schools often have more flexibility with institutional aid 4. The $5500 in loans + $2000 work study is pretty standard federal aid The gap between your need and what you received is often called "unmet need" and it's unfortunately VERY common. Your options are usually: - Parent PLUS loans (watch the interest though) - Private scholarships - Payment plans through the university - Consider transferring to in-state after freshman year - Appeal the financial aid decision (worth trying!

The SAI is such a joke honestly. My SAI was 18k and i could NEVER afford that. ended up having to go to community college for 2 years then transfer to state school. the system is broken.

Have you tried calling Federal Student Aid directly? I was in a similar situation and desperately needed to speak with someone who could actually explain my daughter's aid package and what options we had. After trying for DAYS to get through, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an FSA agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with explained exactly how the SAI was calculated and gave me specific advice for appealing to my daughter's school. Definitely worth it to speak to someone who actually knows the system inside and out rather than guessing!

u might wanna look at the schools net price calculator on their website. most schools have them and they should give u a better idea of what aid u can actually expect based on ur situation. the SAI is just a number the govt gives but each school uses it differently

There's a critical detail about SAI that many people miss: it's not designed to be subtracted from the full cost of attendance to show what aid you'll get. The SAI is what the federal methodology calculates your family can contribute, but each school has their own institutional methodology as well. For out-of-state public universities, they often reserve their institutional grants for in-state students. Your $5500 in federal loans and $2000 work-study is actually the standard federal aid package for a dependent first-year student regardless of SAI (unless your SAI is very low, qualifying for Pell Grants). I strongly recommend scheduling a meeting with the financial aid office to discuss: 1. If they have any institutional scholarships your daughter might qualify for 2. If they have reciprocity agreements with your home state 3. What the typical aid package looks like for out-of-state students with your SAI Unfortunately, many families discover that out-of-state public universities end up being nearly as expensive as private schools because of limited institutional aid for non-residents.

does ur daughter have good grades?? my nephew got barely any aid from FAFSA but ended up getting merit scholarships from his school for his GPA and SAT scores. might be worth asking if they have any merit scholarships still available!!!

One other thing to consider - the new FAFSA for 2025-2026 changed how SAI is calculated compared to the old EFC system. Many families are seeing higher expected contributions under the new formula. If your family includes multiple household members or has business income, you may have been particularly affected by these changes. Based on everything you've shared, I'd recommend: 1. Appeal the financial aid offer with specific details about your financial situation 2. Look into whether your daughter qualifies for any departmental scholarships in her major 3. Consider whether starting at a community college or in-state school and transferring later might be financially wiser 4. Compare Parent PLUS loans with private loans (sometimes private loans have better rates depending on your credit) 5. Ask the school if they have any installment payment plans that might make the payments more manageable Most importantly, don't feel pressured to attend a school that would create financial hardship. Many students end up transferring after a year or two anyway, so starting somewhere more affordable isn't necessarily a disadvantage in the long run.

I'm in a similar boat with my son who just got his financial aid package! His SAI came out to 22,000 and we're looking at an out-of-state school that costs about $38K total. Like you, we got pretty much just the standard federal loans and work study - no institutional grants at all. One thing that helped me understand it better was learning that SAI is basically the government saying "we think your family can afford to pay this much per year toward college" - but that doesn't mean schools will automatically fill the gap between SAI and their cost. Especially for out-of-state students, public universities often prioritize their limited aid dollars for in-state residents. I've been researching external scholarship opportunities since the school aid was so disappointing. Have you looked into scholarships specific to her major or from local organizations in your area? Sometimes those can help bridge some of that gap. Also, some schools have emergency aid funds or additional scholarship rounds in the summer - might be worth asking about! The whole process is so much more complicated than I expected when we started this journey. Hoping you find some solutions that work for your family!