The Student Aid Index replaced the Expected Family Contribution on the FAFSA. Enter parent and student income, taxes, assets and family size for a simplified estimate of a dependent student's SAI and a hint of possible Pell Grant eligibility.
Last updated:
Parents
Parents, the student and others the parents support.
$
From the tax return two years before the award year.
$
$
0 for a single parent.
$
Total tax on the return, not withholding.
$
e.g. untaxed IRA/pension distributions, tax-exempt interest.
$
Exclude the home and retirement accounts. 529 plans count here.
$
Student
$
$
$
Formula settings (editable)
$
$7,395 for 2024–25 and 2025–26.
$
Blank = built-in table by family size.
$
$
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Student Aid Index (SAI) Estimator
Enter family size and parents' AGI from the tax return the FAFSA uses.
Add wages, federal tax paid and untaxed income for the parents.
Enter parent assets (not the home or retirement accounts) and any business or farm net worth.
Enter the student's income, tax and assets.
Read your estimated SAI and Pell Grant hint, and compare other incomes in the table.
How the Student Aid Index is built
For a dependent student the SAI is the sum of three contributions:
SAI = parent contribution + student contribution from income + student contribution from assets
Parent available income = AGI + untaxed income − (federal tax paid + payroll taxes + income protection allowance + employment expense allowance).
Adjusted available income (AAI) = available income + 12% of parent net worth (cash, investments, business and farm; not the home or retirement accounts).
Parent contribution = AAI run through the progressive schedule below, never below −1,500.
Student contribution from income = 50% of (student income − taxes − payroll taxes − student income protection allowance), never below −1,500.
Student contribution from assets = 20% of the student's cash and investments.
Parent contribution schedule (2024–25 award year)
Adjusted available income (AAI)
Parent contribution
Less than −$6,820
−$1,500
−$6,820 to $17,400
22% of AAI
$17,401 to $21,800
$3,828 + 25% of AAI over $17,400
$21,801 to $26,200
$4,928 + 29% of AAI over $21,800
$26,201 to $30,700
$6,204 + 34% of AAI over $26,200
$30,701 to $35,100
$7,734 + 40% of AAI over $30,700
$35,101 or more
$9,494 + 47% of AAI over $35,100
The Department of Education adjusts the bracket amounts and allowances for inflation each award year, so a newer year's figures differ slightly. The settings section of the calculator lets you update the main allowances and the maximum Pell Grant.
Tips for a lower SAI (within the rules)
Report assets on the FAFSA date. Asset values are as of the day you file, so paying planned bills before filing reduces reportable cash.
Retirement savings and home equity are not counted on the FAFSA, though some private colleges ask about home equity on the CSS Profile.
Student assets count more heavily (20%) than parent assets (12%), so savings held by a parent, including a parent-owned 529, usually lower the SAI more.
Ask about special circumstances. If income dropped after the tax year used, a college financial aid office can review and adjust the data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
The SAI is the number the FAFSA produces to measure a family's ability to pay for college. It replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024–25 award year. It can range from −1,500 to 999,999; the lower it is, the more need-based aid a student may receive.
How is the SAI calculated for a dependent student?
It adds three parts: a parent contribution from income and assets, a student contribution from income (50% of available income after allowances) and a student contribution from assets (20%). Parent income minus allowances, plus 12% of parent net worth, is run through a progressive 22% to 47% schedule.
Can the SAI be negative?
Yes. The SAI can go as low as −1,500. A negative SAI does not pay you money, but colleges can use it to identify the students with the greatest need.
Does having more than one child in college lower the SAI?
Not anymore. Under the old EFC formula the parent contribution was divided by the number in college. The SAI formula no longer does that, although individual colleges may still consider it for their own aid.
Who qualifies for the maximum Pell Grant?
For dependent students, the maximum Pell Grant goes automatically to students whose parents are not required to file a federal tax return, or whose parents' AGI is at or below 175% of the federal poverty guideline (225% for a single parent). Others can qualify based on their SAI.
Which assets count on the FAFSA?
Cash, savings, checking, investments, 529 plans owned by the parent or dependent student, and (starting with the SAI) business and farm net worth. The family home and qualified retirement accounts are not counted.
Is this my official SAI?
No. It is a simplified estimate that leaves out some items, such as the small asset protection allowance and child support received. Only the FAFSA gives your official SAI, and colleges determine the actual aid package.
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