FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculator
Estimate FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI, formerly Expected Family Contribution) to project federal financial aid eligibility for college.
As an Amazon Associate and CJ Affiliate publisher we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability may vary.
FAFSA SAI Guide (2026-27 Changes)
What's the key thing to understand about FAFSA Simplification Act Changes (2026-27 Onward)?
Massive overhaul of FAFSA effective 2026-27 academic year: (1) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) renamed STUDENT AID INDEX (SAI). (2) Number of questions reduced from 108 to ~30. (3) Auto-zero EFC raised — families with AGI under $60,000 (single parent) / $85,000 (married) likely auto-qualify for max Pell. (4) MULTI-CHILD DISCOUNT REMOVED — old formula divided parent contribution by number in college; new formula does NOT. This hurts families with multiple kids in college simultaneously. (5) Small business and family farm exemption removed — these assets now count toward the parent contribution calculation, where they previously didn't.
What's the difference between What Counts and Doesn't Count?
PARENT ASSETS that count: cash, savings, checking, investments (taxable), 529 plans owned by parent or student, second homes, rental real estate, business assets (now). PARENT ASSETS that DON'T count: primary residence equity, retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth, pension), life insurance cash value, small farm if family-operated. STUDENT ASSETS hit much harder (20% rate vs 5.64% for parents): UTMA/UGMA accounts are STUDENT assets. Strategy: move UTMA money to a 529 plan in the parent's name before filing the FAFSA, since parent-owned 529 plans are assessed at the much lower parent rate rather than the punitive student-asset rate.
What should I know about Income — The Biggest Driver?
Income drives 70%+ of SAI for most middle-class families. Parent AGI from 2 tax years prior (2023 AGI for 2026-27 FAFSA). Plus untaxed income: tax-deferred retirement contributions, child support received, untaxed pension distributions, foreign income exclusion. Critical: Roth conversions, IRA-to-Roth, large capital gains, business asset sales all SPIKE AGI temporarily. Sophisticated families time these for AGI years not affecting FAFSA. Income protection allowance: ~$30k for parent family of 4.
What's the key thing to understand about Aid Eligibility by SAI?
SAI ≤ -1,500: maximum Pell Grant $7,395 (2026-27). SAI 0: typically full Pell eligibility. SAI $5,000-$15,000: partial Pell, subsidized loan eligibility, work-study. SAI above $30,000: minimal federal need-based aid; unsubsidized Stafford loans + Parent PLUS only. Private colleges with CSS Profile use SEPARATE methodology — often more generous for lower-middle-income families at expensive schools (Harvard, Yale, Stanford routinely free for families under $75-150k). State aid varies enormously: California, New York, and Texas offer substantial state grant programmes, while many other states offer comparatively little — always check your specific state's programme alongside the federal calculation.