What's considered a "good" SAI number for college financial aid eligibility?

There's no universal "good" SAI number that guarantees aid at every college. Each school has different financial resources and ways they distribute aid. Generally speaking though: - 0 SAI means you'll likely qualify for maximum need-based aid including full Pell Grants - SAI under 6000 usually qualifies for some Pell Grant money - SAI up to about 20000 might still get substantial institutional aid at many colleges With your 12,856 SAI, you'll likely qualify for some need-based aid, especially at private colleges with larger endowments. State schools might offer less need-based aid but could have merit scholarships. Each college will calculate your financial need as: Cost of Attendance - SAI = Financial Need. Higher-cost colleges might offer more aid simply because their costs are higher.

my SAI was 14k last yr and i still got decent aid at my state university... about $7,500 in grants and $5,500 in subsidized loans. but my friend had similar SAI and got way more from a private school cuz they have more money to give out. def apply to multiple schools to compare!!

With an SAI of 12,856 and parents earning $62k, you're in a good position to receive aid, especially considering you're a first-generation college student (which many schools factor in separately). Here's what you should know: 1. You won't qualify for federal Pell Grants (generally requires SAI under 6000) 2. You likely WILL qualify for subsidized federal loans ($5,500 for first-year students) 3. You should definitely qualify for institutional aid at private colleges 4. State universities may offer less need-based aid but check for state grants 5. Being first-generation might qualify you for additional scholarships Make sure you also complete any supplemental financial aid forms like the CSS Profile if your private colleges require it. That allows schools to perform a more detailed analysis of your financial situation and potentially offer more aid.

I HATE when people act like there's some magic SAI number!!! The whole system is rigged!!! My son had an SAI of 8200 last year and still got basically NOTHING from his state university while his friend with a higher SAI somehow got thousands more!! It's all about who you know and which financial aid counselor looks at your application!! And don't even get me started on how they expect parents to contribute so much when we're already struggling just to pay our bills!!!!

I remember when I was applying to colleges back in 2023, I had a similar SAI around 13k. What really made the difference for me was applying to schools that guaranteed to meet 100% of demonstrated need. Those are usually the more selective colleges though. But yeah, with your number you should definitely get something from most schools, especially privates.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid office directly to ask what aid you might qualify for? I was in the same boat last month trying to figure out what my daughter's SAI meant for different schools. Spent days trying to get through on their phone line with no luck - always disconnected or 2+ hour wait times. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a FSA agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent walked me through exactly what aid we'd qualify for with our SAI and explained how different schools might interpret it. Super helpful compared to all the conflicting info online.

Financial aid counselor here. Your SAI of 12,856 puts you in a middle range where aid will vary significantly by institution. A few important points: 1. Each college calculates their own "institutional methodology" aid separate from federal calculations 2. You should qualify for Direct Subsidized Loans ($5,500/year for freshmen) 3. You won't qualify for federal Pell Grants (need SAI below ~6000 for that) 4. Private colleges typically have more institutional grant money than public universities 5. Special circumstances (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) can be appealed through a process called Professional Judgment Most importantly, don't just look at the "sticker price" of colleges. Sometimes the seemingly expensive private college ends up being more affordable after institutional grants than the state school with limited aid resources.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - your SAI is just one factor. Many schools also award merit-based scholarships that have nothing to do with your financial need or SAI. These are based on GPA, test scores, special talents, etc. With an SAI of 12,856, you should definitely focus on applying for merit scholarships to supplement whatever need-based aid you receive. This can dramatically reduce your costs, especially at schools that might not have huge need-based aid budgets.

when i got my fafsa back my SAI was 32000 so yours sounds pretty good honestly lol. I didn't get ANY need based aid but still got some merit scholarships. just make sure you're applying to those too and not just relying on fafsa!!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! From what I'm gathering, my SAI isn't terrible but I should: 1. Apply to multiple schools to compare aid packages 2. Look into merit scholarships in addition to need-based aid 3. Investigate first-gen student opportunities 4. Complete the CSS Profile for private schools 5. Consider reaching out to financial aid offices directly You've all made me feel much better about this process. I was so confused when I just saw that number with no context!

Your SAI of 12,856 is actually pretty reasonable given your family's income! I had a similar situation when I applied - my parents made around $58k and my SAI was about 11,400. Here's what ended up happening for me: - Got decent aid from 3 out of 4 schools I applied to - The state schools offered mostly loans but one had a good state grant program - Private colleges were actually more generous with institutional grants - Ended up choosing a private school that cost less out-of-pocket than the state options Don't stress too much about the number itself - focus on applying broadly and comparing the actual aid packages when they come in. Also, make sure you're looking at your state's grant programs. Some states have really good need-based aid that kicks in at higher SAI levels than federal programs. Good luck with your applications!

Your SAI of 12,856 is definitely workable! I'm a current college junior and when I was applying, I had a very similar situation - SAI around 13,200 with parents making about $65k. Here's what I learned: The most important thing is that each school calculates aid differently. I ended up getting offers that ranged from basically just loans at one state school to over $35,000 in grants at a private college. The private school that gave me the most aid actually ended up being my cheapest option overall. A few practical tips: - Apply to schools with good endowments if possible - they tend to be more generous - Don't overlook in-state public schools completely, but definitely cast a wide net - When you get your aid letters, create a spreadsheet comparing the actual out-of-pocket costs, not just the aid amounts - If you have a top choice that gives less aid than others, definitely try negotiating (politely!) Also, being first-gen is HUGE for scholarships. I probably got an extra $8,000/year just from first-gen specific programs. Make sure every application clearly indicates this status. You're going to be fine - that SAI means you'll definitely get aid, and being proactive about the process like you're doing now puts you ahead of most students!

Your SAI of 12,856 is actually in a pretty decent range! I work at a college financial aid office and see students with similar numbers get good aid packages all the time. Here's what you should realistically expect: You won't qualify for Pell Grants (those typically require SAI under 6,000), but you should definitely get subsidized federal loans and likely some institutional aid, especially at private schools. State schools might be tighter with need-based aid, but don't count them out completely. A few things that could work in your favor: - Your parents' income of $62k is relatively modest, so schools may offer more than your SAI suggests - First-generation status often comes with additional scholarship opportunities - Some schools have special programs for families in your income bracket My advice: apply to a good mix of schools and don't get discouraged if one school offers less - aid packages can vary wildly. I've seen students with your SAI get anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000+ in aid depending on the school. The key is applying broadly and comparing your final offers. Also, make sure to submit any required CSS Profiles on time - that's where private schools can really shine with additional institutional aid. You're being smart by starting this research early. That puts you ahead of most families navigating this process!

I'm in a very similar situation! My SAI came back at 13,240 and my parents make about $58k. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that private schools might actually end up being more affordable than state schools after aid. One thing I wanted to add that helped me was using the Net Price Calculators on each college's website. They're not perfect, but they give you a rough estimate of what you might pay based on your family's financial situation. It helped me narrow down my list and focus on schools that seemed more likely to offer good aid packages. Also, don't forget to look into work-study programs! They're not always included in initial aid offers but can help cover some of your expenses once you're on campus. With your SAI, you'll likely qualify for federal work-study at most schools. Good luck with your applications! It sounds like you're being really smart about this whole process by asking questions early.

Your SAI of 12,856 is actually pretty reasonable! As someone who just went through this process with my daughter last year (she had an SAI around 14k), I can tell you that you'll likely receive some form of aid at most schools you apply to. Here's what we learned: state schools tend to offer less need-based grant aid but often have good merit scholarship programs, while private colleges with larger endowments can be surprisingly generous with institutional grants. My daughter ended up getting accepted to 6 schools with aid packages ranging from just federal loans at one state school to over $30,000 in grants at a private college. A few practical tips: definitely complete the CSS Profile if required (it often leads to more aid at private schools), apply for merit scholarships separately from need-based aid, and don't be afraid to contact financial aid offices directly with questions. Also, being first-generation is a real advantage - make sure that's clearly indicated on all your applications as many schools have specific programs and scholarships for first-gen students. Most importantly, don't stress about that single number. Apply broadly, compare your actual aid offers when they come in, and remember that the "most expensive" school on paper might end up being your most affordable option after aid. You're being smart by researching this early!

Your SAI of 12,856 is definitely workable for getting financial aid! I'm a current college sophomore and when I was applying two years ago, I had a very similar situation - my SAI was around 13,500 and my family income was about $64k. Here's what I learned from my experience: you're in that "middle ground" where you won't get Pell Grants but you should still qualify for subsidized loans and institutional aid. I ended up getting aid offers that varied wildly between schools - from basically just loans at some state universities to over $20,000 in grants at a private college that ended up being my cheapest option. A few things that really helped me: - Applied to about 8-10 schools to have options to compare - Made sure to highlight my first-gen status everywhere (sounds like you're in the same boat) - Used schools' Net Price Calculators to get rough estimates before applying - Applied for tons of small external scholarships ($500-2000 range) that really added up Don't get discouraged by that number - focus on applying broadly and see what actual packages you get offered. Being first-generation college is actually a huge advantage for scholarships that a lot of students don't realize. You're asking the right questions early, which puts you way ahead of where most families are at this stage!