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Student Aid Index (SAI)

Beginning with the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the SAI has replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the 2023-2024 FAFSA and prior years.


What Is an SAI?

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that is created by the Department of Education after you submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Their formula uses information from your FAFSA — including various factors like income, assets, family size, and where you live — to establish your SAI. Because your SAI can change each year, it is important to submit a FAFSA every aid year.

Your SAI is NOT what you are expected to contribute financially to your education. Depending on a lot of different factors - including things like how much merit-based aid you have earned - your out-of-pocket expenses for your education could be more or less than your SAI.

What your SAI really does is helps financial aid professionals determine how much financial need-based aid you are eligible to receive. Financial aid that is based on financial need may include - but is not limited to - things like grants, Federal Work-Study, or subsidized loans. Please note that some merit-based aid may also require students to have financial need, depending on criteria set by the provider of the aid.

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Where Can You Find Your SAI?

Your SAI can be found on your FAFSA Submission Summary. Students who have already completed their FAFSA and would like to access their Submission Summary may use the instructions found on the Learn About the FAFSA Submission Summary webpage.

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