Some schools don't allow you to specify exact $ you make. It gives a range from which you select. For ex., UMD -- it's up to 100k. Not sure how they calculate for folks beyond that number.

If SAI is 17k, then the federal govt estimated that you can afford to pay 17k based on your income. That's not the same as what colleges may think you can pay after considering your assets.

Use specific college Net Price Calculators (NPCs).

By the way, 17k won't cover room and board. The way you asked this question makes me wonder if you have a typo, and meant to type 170k, which would be very likely full pay, but again, use those NPCs. You can enter the info anonymously.

SAI doesn't tell you how much you'd pay at schools that consider assets, via additional financial aid forms, and at schools that don't promise to meet full need.

Each college will have a Net Price Calculator. Find it on the financial aid website. Use that to find out what you'd pay at that college for your income and assets.

For UMD?

Anyone else around this value? If so, what did it mean for aide? 0?