And for our financial situation the CSS paints a more realistic picture than the SAI. I’m trying to thread that needle between good financial support and not crazy low levels of admissions. I think I’ve got some of that list (more if I add some of the suggestions from here St Olaf, CWRU --maybe Beloit)
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That typically happens between schools considered peer institutions.
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Is that because the CSS asks about assets (which are low for you) but the FAFSA does not?
@Kelsmom – can the OP contact FAFSA-only financial aid offices to provide more in-depth financial information, since the CSS is more favorable to them than the FAFSA is?
If CSS results are consistently more favorable for your family, you may want to check out this list. It lets you sort schools by whether or not they use the CSS.
https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
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I’m confused as to why a CSS school’s determination would be more favorable than that of a FAFSA school. FAFSA doesn’t ask about things like untaxed income (including income allocated to retirement accounts). CSS Profile asks for more information than FAFSA.
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Our income doesn’t match our assets. We don’t have any significant assets of any kind. The FAFSA assumes that with our (current) income level, we would have substantial savings and assets -but due to our situation, that is not an accurate reflection. Put it this way, three years ago, we would have gotten full tuition at pretty much everything on the list above.
Yes
@kelsmom Does FAFSA assume a certain level of assets? I remember being asked for our assets on the FAFSA, so I don’t understand the circumstances in which they would be assumed.
The FAFSA does not assume any level of assets. Here is a copy of the formula: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/202425DraftStudentAidIndexSAIandPellGrantEligibilityGuide.pdf. Any asset information is self reported by the user.
That’s what I experienced.
@ali-ice maybe it’s best to review your FAFSA data to see what happened?
And, CSS profile schools are often more generous than FAFSA-only schools, due to greater endowment/ institutional funds, so maybe that’s what you are experiencing?
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Likely that is the case!
Our SAI number is ridiculous for our situation.
If that’s the situation, I would definitely review your FAFSA numbers. It sounds like there is a mistake there.
If you have income, from a federal / loan POV, you are expected to spend it.
Of course, those who seek deeper (CSS), will look at your situation.
When my daughter got nothing at W&L and in their little example box, it showed 88% of people at my income got $38K on average - I asked why I’m in the other 12%. They said assets - I had above normal. I asked what’s that - and they said 2x income - which wasn’t much.
Other schools may be higher. Every school is different in this regard.
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No mistake - FAFSA doesn’t take into account that my husband and I have student loans. That’s hundreds of dollars every month that would normally be able to go to my kid’s tuition.
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If you’re chasing merit, 10 is actually pretty low.
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