Why Do Comment Code 108 and Reject Code 9 Exist If Number In College Is Not Used In the SAI Calculation?
Award Year: 2024-25 KA-36902 Helpfulness Rating 2,021 page viewsThis guidance is specific to the 2024-25 award year and later.
Scenario: If a student leaves the number in college blank on the FAFSA, Comment Code 108 and Reject Code 9 appear on the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) and require resolution.
Answer: According to guidance NASFAA has received from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the FAFSA Simplification Act lists number in college in the “Information required by the applicant” section: “(XV) The number of members of the applicant’s family who will also be enrolled in an eligible institution of higher education on at least a half time basis during the same enrollment period as the applicant.” Since Congress is requiring it, Comment Code 108 and Reject Code 9 are there to prevent it from being blank. As such, the student or parent contributor is responsible for correcting the FAFSA by answering the question.
Fortunately, the online FAFSA edits will not allow the contributor to leave it blank, so this should only be a problem for paper filers.
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