After submitting your FAFSA®, you will get an email directly from the federal government with information about your Student Aid Index (SAI). You can also find your SAI on your FAFSA® Submission Summary, like so:
What is it?
SAI, which stands for Student Aid Index, is an eligibility index number that is calculated by the federal government based on the information you submit on your FAFSA® form. Colleges use the SAI to determine your federal student aid eligibility and financial aid award.
Your SAI number is not what you will be expected to pay for college this year. Instead, it is a number that your college will use to determine how much financial aid you need. It 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.
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.
What's the lowest SAI number?
An SAI number can be as low as -$1,500 (negative $1,500).
What's the highest SAI number?
An SAI number can be as high as $999,999.
What if my SAI number is low?
Generally, the lower your SAI, the higher your financial aid package will be.
What if my SAI number is high?
Even if your SAI is pretty high, you might still get some aid if your college is very expensive, or if you qualify for merit-based scholarships.
Also, you might still qualify for some non-need-based financial aid, like unsubsidized federal loans or Parent/Grad PLUS loans.
Does the SAI number take into consideration how many family members (such as siblings) are currently enrolled in college?
No, the SAI does not take the number of family members currently enrolled in college into consideration when calculating an index number.
Does the SAI number take into consideration any payments made to state or local taxes?
Previously, if you were in a state or locality with high taxes, your total available income would be adjusted to be less since your take-home earnings is less. This is no longer the case.
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.