Don't stress too much about it! I just finished my FAFSA last week after having the same "in progress but not submitted" status for over a month. Like everyone else said, it's basically just saved in the system but not actually being processed yet. When you log back in tonight, there should be a clear indicator of what sections still need to be completed - usually they'll be highlighted or missing checkmarks. The most important thing is making sure you AND your parent (if you're dependent) both sign with your FSA IDs before hitting that final submit button. I thought I was done but realized I forgot to get my dad's signature! Once you actually submit, you'll get a confirmation email within a few days and can finally breathe easy. You've already done most of the hard work, so you're almost there!

I'm in the exact same situation right now! Started my FAFSA a few weeks ago and have been seeing that "in progress but not submitted" status. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that nothing gets processed until you actually hit that final submit button. I thought "in progress" meant they were at least looking at what I'd completed so far. It's such a relief to know that all my work is saved and I just need to finish the remaining sections. Thanks to everyone who explained the process so clearly - definitely going to power through and get mine submitted this week!

I'm a financial aid administrator and I see this confusion literally every day! Your numbers are spot on - SAI of 3561 resulting in $4,400 Pell Grant is exactly what we'd expect to see. Think of SAI as your "financial need thermometer" - it measures how much help you need, but it's not a dollar amount. The Pell Grant is the actual "prescription" of free money based on that measurement. They're designed to be different numbers! For 2025-26, Pell eligibility extends up to an SAI of around 6656, so your 3561 puts you solidly in the "significant need" category. The fact that you're getting $4,400 out of the maximum $7,395 shows you're receiving substantial aid. Pro tip: Keep that SAI handy because it also determines your eligibility for subsidized loans, work-study, and state grants. Your cousin was definitely misinformed - these numbers are never supposed to match. You're doing everything right!

As a new member here, I just wanted to say thank you all for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm also a first-time FAFSA applicant and was having the exact same confusion about SAI vs Pell Grant amounts. Reading through everyone's explanations has been so reassuring - especially hearing from actual financial aid professionals and students who've been through this process. The analogies everyone shared really helped it click for me (the "financial need thermometer," credit score comparison, height vs weight example). I was definitely one of those people expecting the numbers to match somehow! It's amazing how many of us go through this same confusion initially. For any other newcomers reading this thread: your SAI is basically your "need level" that determines what aid you qualify for, and your Pell Grant is the actual free money you receive based on that level. They're connected but will never be the same number, and that's totally normal! Benjamin's SAI of 3561 getting $4,400 in Pell is exactly right according to the federal schedules. This community is awesome for helping confused students like us figure out this complicated system!

I'm going through something similar right now! My dad's small business basically collapsed in January (way after we filed our taxes), and our SAI came back ridiculously high too. I started the professional judgment process at my school about 3 weeks ago and it's been a rollercoaster. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - when you call the financial aid office, ask them to email you a checklist of exactly what documents they need. Every person I talked to seemed to want something slightly different, and I ended up submitting way more paperwork than necessary at first. Getting that official list saved me so much time and confusion. Also, if your school has a student financial services website, check if they have the PJ forms available for download. Mine did, but it was buried like 5 pages deep and not easy to find. Having the forms filled out ahead of time when I called made the whole conversation much more productive. The waiting is the worst part honestly, but reading everyone's success stories here gives me hope that it'll work out. Fingers crossed for both of us!

This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar boat - my family's financial situation changed dramatically after we filed our FAFSA, and seeing all these detailed experiences and tips is giving me the roadmap I desperately needed. A few things that really stood out to me from everyone's advice: 1) Starting the appeal process ASAP since it can take weeks or months, 2) Getting an official email checklist from the financial aid office to avoid confusion, 3) Keeping copies of absolutely everything, and 4) being persistent with follow-ups. I'm curious though - for those who had successful appeals, did you find it helpful to include a personal statement explaining not just what happened, but how the change specifically impacts your ability to pay for school? I'm wondering if adding that context helps the financial aid officers understand the full picture beyond just the numbers. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Natalie Chen for the insider perspective from working in financial aid! This community is amazing.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this shock - it's becoming way too common with the new FAFSA formula. That SAI of 38,000 essentially means they expect your family to pay $38k per year (not per semester), so with a state school's lower total cost, there's less room for aid to fill the gap. A couple of immediate things to check: 1. You should be eligible for more federal loans - first-year students can borrow up to $5,500 total ($1,750 subsidized + $3,750 unsubsidized). That missing $3,750 could help significantly. 2. Make sure to ask about work-study, payment plans, and any institutional scholarships when you call the financial aid office. 3. With two kids in college next year, you have a strong case for a professional judgment appeal once you have all your offers. The middle-class squeeze is brutal right now, but don't lose hope until you've seen all your packages and exhausted your appeal options. Many families have successfully negotiated better deals. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the sticker shock is absolutely brutal and unfortunately very common with the new FAFSA changes. Your SAI of 38,000 puts you right in that terrible "middle class penalty" zone where you make too much for significant need-based aid but nowhere near enough to actually afford these costs. A few immediate things to check: 1. That $1,750 is definitely just the subsidized loan portion - your daughter should qualify for an additional $3,750 in unsubsidized federal loans as a freshman (total $5,500/year). Call the financial aid office tomorrow to ask why these weren't included. 2. Ask about work-study opportunities, institutional scholarships, and payment plan options that might not have been in the initial package. 3. Don't panic about this first offer - wait to see all your packages before making decisions. Private schools sometimes offer better institutional aid despite higher sticker prices. 4. Start documenting everything for appeals, especially having two kids in college next year. Even though the new FAFSA doesn't auto-factor this in, schools can still consider it through professional judgment. The system feels broken for families like yours, but many people have successfully appealed and negotiated better packages. That first aid letter definitely isn't the final word - hang in there and advocate for your family!

I'm a newcomer to this community and just wanted to say how grateful I am to have found this thread! My SAI jumped from -$1,200 to $18,500 three days ago and I've been absolutely panicking about losing my financial aid. My family runs a small bakery so this sounds exactly like the Schedule C calculation issue everyone's been discussing. Reading through all these experiences has been both eye-opening and incredibly reassuring. I had no idea this was happening to so many students with family businesses, and knowing there's an official DOE review in progress gives me real hope. The practical advice about calling FSA at 8 AM, contacting my school's financial aid office about emergency aid, and starting the documentation process immediately has given me a clear action plan instead of just feeling helpless. It's amazing how supportive this community is - everyone sharing their experiences and tips has been such a lifeline. I'm going to start making calls tomorrow morning and following all the strategies people have shared here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help others navigate this incredibly stressful situation!

I'm a newcomer here and just wanted to express my gratitude for this incredibly helpful thread! My SAI jumped from -$2,100 to $20,300 last week and I've been completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what happened. My parents own a small electrical contracting business, so based on everything I've read here, this is definitely related to the Schedule C calculation changes that are affecting so many family businesses. The detailed advice from everyone - especially about the 8 AM calling strategy, emergency aid options, and the upcoming DOE review - has given me hope and a clear path forward. I was feeling completely lost and isolated before finding this community, but now I understand this is a widespread issue with real solutions available. I'm planning to call FSA first thing tomorrow morning and contact my school's financial aid office about temporary assistance while I work through the appeal process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. It's amazing to see how supportive this community is during such a stressful situation. I'll make sure to update with my progress in case it helps other students dealing with similar SAI increases!