Your estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) will appear here.
function calculateSAI() {
var studentAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById("studentAGI").value);
var parentAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById("parentAGI").value);
var studentAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById("studentAssets").value);
var parentAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById("parentAssets").value);
var householdSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var collegeStudents = parseInt(document.getElementById("collegeStudents").value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(studentAGI) || studentAGI < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid non-negative number for Student's AGI.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(parentAGI) || parentAGI < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid non-negative number for Parent(s)' AGI.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(studentAssets) || studentAssets < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid non-negative number for Student's Assets.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(parentAssets) || parentAssets < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid non-negative number for Parent(s)' Assets.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1) {
alert("Please enter a valid number (at least 1) for Household Size.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(collegeStudents) || collegeStudents 6
// Parent Asset Protection Allowance (PAPA) – Simplified fixed value
// Actual PAPA varies by age of older parent. Using a general value.
var PAPA_BASE = 15000;
// 1. Student Contribution Calculation
var studentAvailableIncome = Math.max(0, studentAGI – SIPA_BASE);
var studentContributionFromIncome = studentAvailableIncome * STUDENT_INCOME_ASSESSMENT_RATE;
var studentContributionFromAssets = Math.max(0, studentAssets) * STUDENT_ASSET_ASSESSMENT_RATE;
var totalStudentContribution = studentContributionFromIncome + studentContributionFromAssets;
// 2. Parent Contribution Calculation
var currentPIPA = pipaTable[householdSize];
if (householdSize > 6) {
currentPIPA = pipaTable[6] + (householdSize – 6) * PIPA_PER_ADDITIONAL_PERSON;
} else if (!currentPIPA) {
// Fallback for very small household sizes not in table, though unlikely for dependent
currentPIPA = pipaTable[2]; // Use smallest relevant PIPA
}
var parentAvailableIncome = Math.max(0, parentAGI – currentPIPA);
var parentContributionFromIncome = parentAvailableIncome * PARENT_INCOME_ASSESSMENT_RATE;
var parentAvailableAssets = Math.max(0, parentAssets – PAPA_BASE);
var parentContributionFromAssets = parentAvailableAssets * PARENT_ASSET_ASSESSMENT_RATE;
var totalParentContribution = parentContributionFromIncome + parentContributionFromAssets;
// Divide parent contribution by number of students in college
var finalParentContribution = totalParentContribution / collegeStudents;
// 3. Total SAI
var totalSAI = totalStudentContribution + finalParentContribution;
// SAI cannot be lower than -1500
totalSAI = Math.max(MIN_SAI, totalSAI);
document.getElementById("saiResult").innerHTML = "Your estimated Student Aid Index (SAI): $" + totalSAI.toFixed(2) + "";
}
Understanding the Student Aid Index (SAI)
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a crucial number in the financial aid process for college students in the United States. Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024-2025 academic year, the SAI is an eligibility index number that a college's financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid a student is eligible to receive.
What Does SAI Mean?
A student's SAI is not the amount of money a family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid a student will receive. Instead, it's an index number that schools use to calculate a student's financial need. The lower the SAI, the more financial aid a student is generally eligible for. An SAI can be a negative number, down to -1500, indicating a higher level of financial need.
How is SAI Calculated? (Simplified Overview)
The actual SAI calculation, performed by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is complex and takes into account many factors. This calculator provides a simplified estimate based on some of the most impactful components for a dependent student:
Student's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): Income earned by the student.
Parent(s)' Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): Income earned by the student's parents.
Student's Assets: Money in savings, checking accounts, and other investments owned by the student.
Parent(s)' Assets: Money in savings, checking accounts, and non-retirement investments owned by the parents. (Note: The value of the family's primary home and retirement accounts are generally excluded from asset calculations.)
Household Size: The number of people in the student's household.
Number of Students in College: The number of individuals in the household (excluding parents) who will be enrolled in college during the aid year.
The FAFSA uses specific formulas to determine how much of a student's and parent's income and assets are "available" to contribute towards college costs, after accounting for various allowances (like income protection allowances for basic living expenses and asset protection allowances). These available amounts are then assessed at different rates to arrive at the final SAI.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your (and your parents', if you are a dependent student) financial information into the fields above. The calculator will provide an estimated SAI based on a simplified model of the official FAFSA calculation. Remember, this is an estimate and the official SAI from your FAFSA submission may differ.
Important Considerations:
This calculator uses simplified formulas and approximations for the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle. The official FAFSA calculation is more detailed and considers additional factors.
The SAI is used to determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and federal student loans.
A negative SAI (down to -1500) indicates the highest level of financial need and typically qualifies students for the maximum Pell Grant award.
Always complete the official FAFSA form to get your accurate Student Aid Index.