What Is A Good SAI (Student Aid Index)?
This question is about the Student Aid Index.
Many families are surprised when they see a strange number called the Student Aid Index (SAI) on their FAFSA results. Unlike grades or test scores, this number isn’t about how “good” a student is – it’s a financial index used to determine how much need-based aid a student may qualify for.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for the FAFSA (which families are filing right now).
However, this has led to a lot of confusion. What does SAI mean? What’s a good SAI? Will I still get aid? Is the SAI what you’re expected to pay for college?
In this guide, we’ll break down what counts as a “good” SAI, how it’s calculated, what different ranges mean for your financial aid, and how families can use this number to plan for college costs.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is just like it sounds – an index. The number represents a rough estimate of your family’s financial need for college. It’s very much like the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC), but due to the confusing nature of the EFC, lawmakers have decided to make a change. However, the reality is that the change is mostly in name.
The goal was really to highlight that the Student Aid Index is NOT necessarily what you’re expected to pay for college. Instead, it’s just a numerical representation of your family’s financial need.
The SAI is also used to calculate Pell Grant eligibility, and potentially your ability to receive some state grants.
The SAI is calculated based on the information you provide on the FAFSA – including your income, assets, and family size. It uses this information to determine your financial need.
When most people ask about a “good” SAI, they’re wanting to know what SAI number will qualify for the most financial aid.
But it’s important to remember that it’s not the SAI that “gives” you aid – the Department of Education forwards your FAFSA and SAI information to your college, who then can award you financial aid. That financial aid award may include Federal grants, university scholarships, student loans, work study, and more.
The idea behind the SAI is to better quantify financial need.
The lower the SAI number, the more financial need your family has. The lowest possible SAI is -1500. An SAI from -1500 to 0 qualifies for the full Pell Grant.
An SAI above 0 may still get a Pell Grant, but it will depend on the cost of attendance of your college. You can see how the formula for Pell Grants works here.
As your SAI gets higher, the less financial need your family is demonstrating. Once your SAI is above 20,000, the odds of getting need-based financial aid will be slim, except at the most expensive colleges.
You can see the full breakdown in this SAI chart.
While the SAI doesn’t directly translate into what you’ll be expected to pay for college, many colleges still use this as a guide. The key is – what’s your net price? The net price is what you’re paying out of pocket, and the SAI directly correlates to that.
Since community colleges generally have low tuition (average $3,000–$4,000/year), it means even students with higher SAIs may still find tuition affordable. Some states, like Michigan, offer free community college regardless of SAI level.
Students with negative or zero SAIs often qualify for full federal Pell Grants, which can cover most or all tuition and fees. Additional state aid or scholarships may cover books and living expenses.
Public universities are generally the most structured when it comes to financial aid policies. With in-state tuition ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year, it can be expensive even with a good SAI.
Students with low SAIs (-1,500 to 5,000) will receive a Pell Grant, and often receive other state and institutional aid.
Families with moderate SAIs (5,000 to 15,000) may qualify for some aid, but will likely have to close the gap with their own funds or student loans.
Families with high SAIs (15,000 or more) will not receive much need-based aid from public colleges.
Private colleges, despite their high sticker price, are usually the most generous with financial aid.
Even though tuition often exceeds $40,000 to $60,000/year, the actual net prices families pay will vary greatly.
Families with negative or very low SAIs may see the largest aid packages, including grants from the institution itself.
Students with moderate SAIs may still receive meaningful institutional aid, but the out-of-pocket cost could remain higher than at a public school.
Families with high SAIs often receive little to no need-based aid, but may qualify for merit aid based on academics or other achievements.
A negative SAI of -1500 is the lowest possible SAI score. It means that you’re eligible for a full Pell Grant, and will likely qualify for other need-based financial aid.
The SAI has no upper limit. However, once your SAI exceeds 30,000, it’s very unlikely you’ll receive any type of need-based financial aid.
The lowest SAI is -1500. However, an SAI from -1500 to 0 is all considered the same and qualified for a full Pell Grant.
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