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by Karli Greenfield | Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you have completed a FAFSA for the 2025-2026 year, then you have likely seen the term “Student Aid Index” or “SAI” appear on your FAFSA Submission Summary (emailed to you after FAFSA submission). You have probably asked yourself, “What is an SAI, and what does that number mean for my student?” If this is the case, you are not alone, as the SAI was an entirely new FAFSA metric introduced last year. Note: If you have submitted a FAFSA prior to the 2024-2025 year, you may be familiar with the EFC or Expected Family Contribution. The SAI has replaced the prior EFC calculation. 

So, let’s define the Student Aid Index – 

The SAI is an eligibility index number that your school’s financial aid office is required to use to determine Federal financial aid eligibility for the FAFSA year of submission.

It is important to remember that the SAI number does not indicate a monetary value of expected family contribution to college expenses, nor does the number itself indicate the amount of aid your student is eligible for. Rather, the index number provides insight into your student’s financial need. For example, a negative or low SAI indicates a higher level of financial need, and thus the possibility of higher financial aid eligibility. Your SAI can range anywhere from -1,500 to 999999.

Now, let’s discuss how the SAI is calculated. The SAI is determined by considering a number of factors you provide in your student’s annual FAFSA form. The SAI calculation considers your applicable tax return information and net worth of assets. Note: For most families, the majority of the tax return information used to calculate the SAI can be transferred directly from the IRS to your student’s FAFSA form if you provide consent and approval. For dependent students, the SAI equals parents’ contribution from income and assets plus student’s contribution from income and assets.

Finally, let’s explore how the SAI impacts your student’s financial aid eligibility. The lower your student’s SAI number, the more likely they are to receive need-based financial aid. One thing is certain – if you do not submit a FAFSA, your student will not have a usable SAI, and will not be considered for need-based federal financial aid. Note: Most schools that offer additional need-based funding require the FAFSA and SAI number to determine institutional need-based financial aid eligibility. While we will discuss Pell eligibility in the next “Ask an Expert” article, it is important to note that one of the three pathways to Pell Grant eligibility considers the SAI number. In this case, Pell Grant eligibility is determined by subtracting your student’s calculated SAI number from the maximum Pell Grant award amount for the applicable award year. For example, the current maximum Pell Grant award for the 2025-2026 year is $7,395, and let’s assume your student’s SAI number is 1,000. In this example, your student’s Pell Grant eligibility would be $6,395. While this is one calculation of Pell Grant, there are two other possible calculations to consider, based on other qualifying need factors.

Karli Greenfield is a higher education financial aid and enrollment professional. She holds more than 12 years of experience in financial aid, 11 NASFAA Professional Financial Aid Credentials, and years of active participation on the GA Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators board. She is passionate about working with students and families, and innovating college enrollment processes. Karli Greenfield, MBA | LinkedIn