Sai Calculator

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2024-2025 FAFSA Standards

Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculator

Dependent Student Independent Student
Your Estimated SAI is:
0

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that a college's financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended their school. This number replaces the previously used Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024–25 award year.

How is the SAI Calculated?

The calculation uses information reported on your FAFSA form, including your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security). Unlike the EFC, the SAI formula no longer considers the number of family members in college, but it does introduce a new formula for "Small Business and Farm" assets which are now included in the calculation.

Interpreting Your Results

Your SAI can range from –1,500 to 999,999. A lower SAI indicates a higher financial need. For example:

  • SAI of 0 or less: You may be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant.
  • SAI greater than 0: Your Pell Grant eligibility is calculated by subtracting your SAI from the maximum Pell Grant amount.

Key Differences Between SAI and EFC

One major change is that the SAI can be a negative number (down to -1,500), which helps financial aid offices identify students with the most significant financial challenges. Additionally, the Income Protection Allowance (IPA) has been increased, meaning more of your income is "protected" from being counted toward your contribution to college costs.

Note: This tool provides an estimate based on simplified federal formulas. For an official determination, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) at studentaid.gov.
function calculateSAI() { var sAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentAGI').value) || 0; var sAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentAssets').value) || 0; var pAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentAGI').value) || 0; var pAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentAssets').value) || 0; var fSize = parseInt(document.getElementById('familySize').value) || 1; var isDependent = document.getElementById('dependencyStatus').value === 'dependent'; var sai = 0; // 1. Student Contribution from Income (SCI) // Simplified: Allowance of $9,410 for 24-25 year var studentIPA = 9410; var studentDiscretionaryIncome = Math.max(0, sAGI – studentIPA); var sci = studentDiscretionaryIncome * 0.50; // 2. Student Contribution from Assets (SCA) var sca = sAssets * 0.20; // 3. Parent Contribution (Only if dependent) var pci = 0; var pca = 0; if (isDependent) { // Parent Income Protection Allowance (Approximate for 2024-25) // Starts at ~25k for 2 people, increases with family size var parentIPA = 20000 + (fSize * 4500); var parentDiscretionaryIncome = Math.max(0, pAGI – parentIPA); // Progressive rate for parents (22% to 47%) – using average 30% for estimate pci = parentDiscretionaryIncome * 0.30; // Parent Asset Contribution (Approx 5.64% of assets above allowance) // Asset protection allowance is currently $0 for many due to recent changes pca = pAssets * 0.0564; } // Total Calculation sai = Math.floor(sci + sca + pci + pca); // Minimum SAI can be -1500 if (sai < -1500) { sai = -1500; } // Display Logic var resultBox = document.getElementById('resultBox'); var output = document.getElementById('saiOutput'); var desc = document.getElementById('saiDescription'); resultBox.style.display = 'block'; output.innerHTML = sai.toLocaleString(); if (sai <= 0) { desc.innerHTML = "You likely qualify for maximum financial aid and the full Federal Pell Grant."; } else if (sai < 5000) { desc.innerHTML = "You have a high level of financial need and may qualify for significant grant aid."; } else if (sai < 15000) { desc.innerHTML = "You have moderate financial need. You may qualify for partial Pell grants and subsidized loans."; } else { desc.innerHTML = "Your SAI suggests lower eligibility for need-based grants, but you remain eligible for federal student loans."; } // Scroll to result resultBox.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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