The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) are all considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college during the year.

The information you report on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is used to calculate your SAI. Schools use the SAI to determine your federal student aid eligibility and financial aid award.

Note: Your SAI is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.

For more information about the SAI, see Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid and specifically How the Amount of your Federal Student Aid is Determined. To request a free copy of Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

If your financial aid offer wasn't enough to cover your bill, we recommend you submit an appeal. Learn more about financial aid appeals here.

If you'll need a student loan to cover the rest, begin by researching the lender that will give you the best rate. Most private lenders allow you to answer a few questions risk-free and then get your estimated interest rate. You’re under no obligation to actually get the loan. We recommend checking with Earnest first. Get your rate estimate from Earnest here.