What does SAI 74917 mean for Georgia Zell Miller & HOPE scholarship eligibility?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) number is pretty high, so yeah, you won't get need-based federal aid like Pell Grants. The good news is that Zell Miller and HOPE are NOT based on financial need at all! They only care about GPA and test scores. So your son's SAI won't affect those GA scholarships whatsoever. Most GA schools just require the FAFSA to be on file, but don't actually use the results for their merit scholarships. What's his GPA and test scores? That's all that really matters for Zell/HOPE.

Went through this exact thing with my daughter last year. Don't worry about the SAI for Zell Miller/HOPE - those are merit ONLY, based on grades + test scores. But be careful because some private GA colleges DO look at both merit AND need even for their "merit" scholarships. They say they don't, but trust me, they do. We had a high SAI too and got less merit $ than her friend with identical stats but lower family income. The state scholarships are solid though.

Hi there, college financial aid advisor here. Let me clarify a few things: 1. SAI (Student Aid Index) replaced the old EFC this year. Your 74917 means you're expected to contribute that amount annually toward college costs. 2. For Georgia-specific programs: - Zell Miller: 100% unaffected by SAI (requires 3.7 GPA and 1200 SAT/26 ACT) - HOPE: 100% unaffected by SAI (requires 3.0 GPA) - Both require FAFSA filing, but only for verification purposes 3. For merit scholarships at specific colleges: - Public GA universities (UGA, GA Tech): Generally true merit with minimal SAI influence - Private colleges: Often use "preferential packaging" where they distribute limited merit funds with consideration of need With your son's 3.9 GPA and 1380 SAT, he should qualify for Zell Miller which is substantial. Focus on applying early to maximize merit consideration.

DONT STRESS ABOUT THE SAI!! my daughter had an even higher number and still got TONS of merit scholarships from GA schools. all of them have special pots of money for kids with good grades. SAI is just for federal grants (which you wont get). one weird thing tho is that the parent plus loans are still available regardless of your SAI if you need them

Hi, I work in admissions at a GA college (can't say which one). Just want to confirm what others are saying: Zell/HOPE are 100% merit-based and FAFSA is just required as a formality. But I want to point out that many schools have priority scholarship deadlines - some as early as December 1st. Missing these can mean missing out on thousands in additional merit scholarships beyond Zell/HOPE. Make sure your son applies well before these deadlines, especially for schools he's serious about.

Just a heads up - if you're having trouble getting through to any of the financial aid offices on the phone (which is SUPER common this time of year), I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at GSU's financial aid office after trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to confirm how HOPE would apply to my daughter's specific program.

The advice here is mostly good, but I want to clarify something about SAI and merit aid. While Zell Miller and HOPE are strictly merit-based, many colleges use a practice called "preferential packaging." They have limited funds and often prioritize students who have both merit AND some demonstrated need. Your SAI won't disqualify your son from merit scholarships, but at some schools, especially private ones, a student with identical credentials but a lower SAI might receive a more generous merit package. This isn't official policy, but it's common practice. Georgia public universities tend to be more straightforward with their merit criteria.

my son got zell miller last year and we had high SAI too... don't worry about it AT ALL for zell/hope. but make sure he keeps his grades up in his senior year!!!!! my sons friend lost zell eligibility because of senioritis lol. they check final transcripts

Your son's SAI of 74917 is definitely high, but here's the silver lining - it won't impact his Georgia state scholarships at all! With his 3.9 GPA and 1380 SAT, he's well above the requirements for Zell Miller (which only needs 3.7 GPA and 1200 SAT). That scholarship will cover full tuition at any Georgia public university, which is huge savings. For the schools you mentioned - UGA, GA Tech, and Kennesaw State - they all handle merit scholarships pretty fairly regardless of SAI. The key is making sure you've submitted everything by their priority deadlines. GA Tech and UGA both have additional merit opportunities beyond Zell Miller, especially if he applies to their honors programs. One tip: don't overlook the smaller GA public universities if cost is a major factor. Schools like Georgia Southern, Valdosta State, or Columbus State often offer generous additional merit scholarships to attract high-stat students like your son, sometimes even covering room and board on top of Zell Miller. Worth considering as financial safeties!