What does a 34461 SAI score mean for my financial aid chances?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is essentially what the government thinks your family can contribute toward your education annually. A 34461 SAI means your family is expected to contribute about $34,461 per year. This is considered moderate-to-high, so you likely won't qualify for Pell Grants (which typically go to students with SAIs under 6000).\n\nHowever, you may still qualify for subsidized loans and institutional aid (money directly from colleges). Each school has different financial aid policies - some might offer significant aid even with your SAI.

Thanks for explaining! Does having a brother in college help lower this at all? I thought having multiple students was supposed to reduce our expected contribution?

my sai was 36000 and i still got like 5k from my state school plus the federal loans so dont give up!

That's good to hear! What state are you in? Did you have to appeal or anything?

The financial aid system is SUCH A JOKE. My family made $92K last year and our SAI was 32,000. How in the world are middle class families supposed to pay that much?? We have a mortgage, car payments, and medical bills too! The system is designed to either force you into massive debt or make college only accessible to the very rich or very poor. It's disgusting.

right?? we got a similar sai and the fin aid office acted like we were rich or something. like sorry we're not poor enough for you i guess??

College financial aid advisor here - I'd recommend taking these steps:\n\n1. Look at net price calculators on each college's website with your specific SAI\n2. Contact financial aid offices directly at your top choice schools - ask about merit scholarships which aren't based on need\n3. Check if your medical bills qualify for special circumstances adjustments (many schools will consider this)\n4. Since you have a sibling in college, verify both FAFSAs reported this correctly - it should reduce your SAI\n\nMany schools offer significant institutional aid even with higher SAIs. Don't rule out private colleges - they often have more flexible aid policies than public universities.

Thank you so much! I did indicate my brother is in college on the FAFSA. I'll definitely check out the net price calculators. Are merit scholarships separate from the FAFSA?

Yes, merit scholarships are completely separate from FAFSA. They're based on academic achievements, talents, or other factors - not financial need. Many students with high SAIs still receive substantial merit aid.\n\nRegarding your brother in college - the current FAFSA (2024-2025 and beyond) handles siblings differently than the old system. The multiple-in-college adjustment isn't as substantial as it used to be. Each sibling now completes their own FAFSA, and your parents need to be listed as contributors on both applications.

Wait, so they made it WORSE for families with multiple kids in college?? This is exactly what I'm talking about! Every \

Have u tried calling the Federal Student Aid helpline? I was in a similar situation last year (SAI around 30k) and they explained how the whole calculation works. It took forever to get through tho... i think i waited like 2 hours and got disconnected twice 🙄

I had the same issue trying to reach FSA about my SAI calculation. After multiple disconnections, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to handle the wait time for me. They call the FSA line and then call you when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nWhen I finally got through, the FSA agent explained exactly how my SAI was calculated and gave me tips for appealing based on our medical expenses.

That's really helpful, thanks! I'll definitely check that out because I've been trying to get through for days. Did appealing for medical expenses actually work for you?

Also, don't forget to complete the CSS Profile if you're applying to private colleges. It's more detailed than FAFSA and captures expenses like medical bills that FAFSA doesn't. Many private schools use both FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine institutional aid. Some schools offer very generous aid even with higher SAIs if they see significant expenses or special circumstances on your CSS Profile.

I've heard about the CSS Profile but wasn't sure if it was worth doing. Is there a fee for it? Does it take as long as the FAFSA?

Yes, there is a fee for the CSS Profile ($25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school), although fee waivers are available for qualifying families. It does take longer than FAFSA since it asks more detailed questions. But it's absolutely worth doing if you're applying to private schools because it allows you to explain financial nuances like medical expenses that FAFSA doesn't capture. Many private institutions offer institutional grants that can significantly reduce your costs.

just be careful with CSS cuz they ask about home equity and retirement accounts too...my parents got screwed because they have decent retirement savings but it's not like they can touch that money without huge penalties!!

Quick update regarding medical expenses since several people mentioned them: For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, you can submit an appeal directly through the Federal Student Aid website using the

That's really good to know! Our medical expenses are definitely over that amount. I'll gather all the documentation and look into the appeal process. Thank you!

When my daughter got her SAI (it was around 29000), I panicked too! But she ended up getting decent aid packages from several schools. The public universities in our state offered about $8K-12K in grants/scholarships, and surprisingly, some private colleges offered even more - up to $25K per year! Don't just look at the sticker price; wait to see what each financial aid package offers before making decisions.

That's really encouraging to hear. I've been looking mostly at state schools because I assumed private would be way more expensive, but maybe I should apply to a few private ones too.

Definitely apply to some private schools! I was in a similar boat last year with an SAI around 32,000. I almost didn't apply to any private colleges because of the sticker shock, but ended up getting way better aid packages from them than the state schools. One private college offered me $22,000 in institutional grants, bringing my net cost below what the in-state public would have been. Private schools often have larger endowments and more flexibility with aid - they look at your whole situation, not just the SAI number. The worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised!