Where is my FAFSA SAI score? Everyone seems to have theirs but I can't find mine
I'm super confused about this FAFSA 'score' I keep hearing about. My daughter and I filled out her 2025-2026 FAFSA application last month, uploaded all tax documents, added the six schools she applied to, and even got the confirmation email. But I keep seeing people in Facebook groups talking about their 'SAI score' and how it affects their aid packages. We haven't received ANY score at all! Where exactly are you all finding these scores? Did we miss a step? Is there a special section on studentaid.gov I'm not seeing? Starting to panic a bit since some of her admission decisions are coming soon...
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Andrew Pinnock
What you're looking for is called your SAI (Student Aid Index). It replaced the old EFC (Expected Family Contribution) a couple years ago. This number isn't sent to you directly - you need to log into your studentaid.gov account, go to your FAFSA application, and look for the SAI number on your Student Aid Report (SAR). It should be clearly displayed once your application is fully processed, usually within 3-5 business days after submission.
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Ella Lewis
•Thank you! I've been checking my emails obsessively but never thought to log back into the portal. Will check right now.
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Brianna Schmidt
not getting a score could mean ur application is still processing. took 2 weeks for mine to show up this yr, systems been super slow with all the changes
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Ella Lewis
•Really? It's been almost 4 weeks since we submitted! Is that normal with the new system?
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Alexis Renard
If you submitted your FAFSA over a month ago and still don't see your SAI on the Student Aid Report, you should check if there are any issues with your application. Log into studentaid.gov and look for any alerts or messages about missing information. Sometimes applications get flagged for verification, which basically means they need additional documentation before processing can be completed. Your SAI won't appear until all verification is cleared.
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Ella Lewis
•I just checked and there is a red flag icon next to our application. It says "Additional Information Required" - looks like they need verification of our tax information even though we used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. So frustrating!
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Camila Jordan
The eXACT same thing happened to my son's application!! We submitted in October and didn't get the SAI for WEEKS. Turns out there was a glitch with how our tax info transferred over. Had to call FSA like 6 times before someone actually fixed it. Their phone system is THE WORST.
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Tyler Lefleur
•I found a solution for the phone wait times when I had issues with my verification! I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of waiting on hold. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ I had a similar issue where my tax information wasn't properly linking despite using the IRS tool, and I needed to speak to someone directly. They helped me clear it up in one call.
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Madeline Blaze
When you DO finally get your SAI, don't freak out if it's higher than expected! Our SAI was $29,500 and I nearly had a heart attack thinking that's what we'd have to pay, but my daughter still got decent aid packages from 3 schools. The SAI is just one factor schools use for their aid calculations.
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Ella Lewis
•That's reassuring to hear. This whole process is so stressful and confusing!
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Max Knight
Just to clarify something important that others haven't mentioned - your SAI (Student Aid Index) doesn't just automatically appear in an email. You need to access your Student Aid Report (SAR) through the studentaid.gov website. Here's the exact process: 1. Log into studentaid.gov with your FSA ID 2. Click on "My FAFSA" or "View Your FAFSA Status" 3. Find your completed application and click "View Student Aid Report" 4. Look for a line that says "Student Aid Index" or "SAI" - this is your score If after checking all this you still don't see an SAI, then your application is either still processing or has an issue requiring attention. At this point in the cycle, I'd definitely recommend contacting Federal Student Aid directly to figure out what's happening.
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Ella Lewis
•This is super helpful! I just checked following your instructions and found the verification request. It says we need to submit 2023 tax return documentation even though we used the IRS Data Transfer. Going to upload those documents tonight and hope it processes quickly.
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Emma Swift
lol i thought the same thing last year with my kid...turned out we were looking at the wrong place on the website the whole time! the interface is so bad
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Ella Lewis
•The website is definitely not user-friendly! Glad to know I'm not the only one confused by all this.
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Camila Jordan
BTW once you do get your SAI, don't assume that's the end of the process. My daughter's original SAI was $13,870, but then after verification, it changed to $20,340!! We had to file an appeal with her top choice school because it dramatically changed her aid package. Make sure you check your SAI again after any verification process is completed.
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Ella Lewis
•Oh no, that's concerning! Did the verification process change your SAI even though your tax information was the same? I'm worried about something similar happening to us.
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Andrew Pinnock
Once you submit the verification documents, keep checking your studentaid.gov account every 2-3 days. The system doesn't always send notifications when updates happen. Also, make sure to contact each school's financial aid office to let them know you've completed verification - sometimes they don't get automatically updated either. And remember that while your application is being processed, the schools won't be able to create a final financial aid package. If you're bumping up against decision deadlines, email the financial aid offices to explain the situation.
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Ella Lewis
•Thank you! I've emailed all six schools to let them know we're in verification. Two of them already responded saying they'll extend our financial aid deadline. Feeling a bit less stressed now.
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