Education calculators

SAI Calculator

Updated Jul 25, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Rate Formulas

Quick SAI Estimate

$
Adjusted Gross Income (Form 1040, line 11).
Yourself, parent(s) and dependents.
Include yourself.
$
Approximate SAI
$0
For a more accurate result, use the Full Calculator tab above.

AGI × Dependents Quick Reference

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Estimated SAI by parent AGI (rows) and number of dependents (columns). Each cell pairs a color with a tier code letter.
Parent AGI 1 Dependent 2 Dependents 3 Dependents 4 Dependents
This chart assumes $0 in parent and student assets and $0 in student income. Use the Full Calculator for a personalized estimate.

Introduction

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that shows how much your family is expected to pay for college each year. Schools use your SAI to figure out how much financial aid you can get. The SAI replaced the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024–25 school year as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act.

This SAI Calculator lets you estimate your Student Aid Index in minutes. Enter basic details like income, household size, and assets. The tool then walks you through each step of the federal formula so you can see exactly how your number is calculated. It also estimates your Pell Grant eligibility and shows how much financial need you may have at a given school.

Use the Quick Estimate tab if you just want a fast answer with a few inputs. Use the Full Calculator tab for a more accurate result that includes assets, tax details, and a step-by-step breakdown. Both modes work for dependent and independent students.

Note: This tool gives an estimate only. Your official SAI comes from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also use our FAFSA Calculator for additional guidance. Each college may also use its own formulas when awarding institutional aid.

How to Use Our SAI Calculator

This Student Aid Index calculator asks for basic family and financial details. It then estimates your SAI, Pell Grant eligibility, and financial need. You can use the Quick Estimate tab for a fast result or the Full Calculator tab for a detailed breakdown.

Quick Estimate

Parent AGI: Enter your parent's Adjusted Gross Income. Find this on IRS Form 1040, line 11. If you need help determining your AGI, try our AGI Calculator.

People in Household: Enter the total number of people your parents support. Count yourself, your parent or parents, and any other dependents.

In College (Half-Time+): Enter how many people in your household attend college at least half-time. Always count yourself.

Student Income: Enter any money you earned from work. This field is optional. Leave it blank or at zero if you had no income.

Full Calculator

Student Status

Dependent or Independent: Choose whether you are a dependent or independent student. Most students under age 24 who are not married, not veterans, and do not have children are dependent.

Household Information

Number of People in Household: Enter everyone your parents support, including yourself.

In College at Least Half-Time: Enter how many household members are enrolled in college at least half-time. Include yourself.

Parent Marital / Tax Filing Status: Pick how your parents filed their taxes. If you are independent, pick your own marital status instead.

State of Legal Residence: Choose the state where you or your parents legally live.

Parent Financial Information

Number of Parents: Select whether one or two parents are in the household.

Age of Older Parent: Enter the age of the older parent. This is used to calculate an asset protection allowance.

Parent(s) AGI: Enter your parents' Adjusted Gross Income from Form 1040, line 11. Our AGI Calculator can help you find this number if you are unsure.

Parent 1 Income from Work: Enter the wages or self-employment income earned by the first parent. If a parent is self-employed, our Self Employment Tax Calculator can help estimate their tax obligations.

Parent 2 Income from Work: Enter the wages or self-employment income earned by the second parent. Enter zero if there is only one parent. You can use our Salary Calculator to convert between pay periods if needed.

Income Tax Paid: Enter the actual federal income tax your parents paid. This is not the amount withheld from paychecks. Our Income Tax Calculator can help you estimate this figure.

Retirement Contributions: Enter any money your parents put into retirement plans like a 401(k) or Roth IRA during the tax year.

Tax-Free / Untaxed Income: Enter any income your parents received that was not taxed, such as tax-exempt interest or housing allowances.

Cash, Savings & Checking: Enter the total amount your parents have in bank accounts. If you want to see how savings grow over time, try our Savings Calculator.

Net Worth of Investments: Enter the value of your parents' investments. Do not include retirement accounts or the family home. Our Net Worth Calculator can help you tally everything up.

529 / Education Savings: Enter the balance in any 529 plans or education savings accounts owned by your parents. Use our 529 Calculator to project how these savings may grow before enrollment.

Business / Farm Net Worth: Enter the net worth of any business or farm your parents own. Enter zero if none.

Real Estate (Non-Primary): Enter the net value of any rental property or second home your parents own. Do not include the family home.

Child Support Received: Enter any child support payments your parents received. Our Child Support Calculator can help estimate typical support amounts.

Inheritance: Enter any inheritance your parents received during the tax year.

Trusts: Enter the value of any trusts held for your parents or family.

Other Assets: Enter the value of any other assets not already listed.

Student Financial Information

Student AGI: Enter your own Adjusted Gross Income. If you did not file taxes, enter your total income from work.

Student Income Tax Paid: Enter the federal income tax you paid. Enter zero if you did not file. You can check your Tax Bracket Calculator results to estimate this.

Student Untaxed Income: Enter any income you received that was not taxed.

Cash, Savings & Checking: Enter the total in your own bank accounts.

Net Worth of Investments: Enter the value of any investments you own.

Business / Farm Net Worth: Enter the net worth of any business or farm you own. Enter zero if none.

Spouse Information (Independent Married Students Only)

Spouse AGI: Enter your spouse's Adjusted Gross Income.

Spouse Income Tax Paid: Enter the federal income tax your spouse paid.

Spouse Untaxed Income: Enter any untaxed income your spouse received.

Spouse Cash / Savings: Enter the total in your spouse's bank accounts.

Spouse Investments: Enter the value of your spouse's investments.

Cost of Attendance

Estimated Annual COA: Enter the total cost of one year at your school. This includes tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses. Adding this lets the calculator show your estimated financial need. You can find COA details on your school's website or use a Net Price Calculator for a school-specific estimate.

What Is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that shows how much money the government expects your family to pay for college each year. Schools use this number to figure out how much financial aid you can get. A lower SAI means you may qualify for more aid. A higher SAI means you may get less.

The SAI replaced the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024–2025 FAFSA. One big change is that the SAI can go as low as −$1,500. A negative number signals that a student has the highest level of financial need. The old EFC could only go as low as $0.

How Is the SAI Calculated?

The SAI formula looks at a few key things:

  • Parent income and assets — how much your parents earn and what they own (for dependent students). You can use our Annual Income Calculator to total income from multiple sources.
  • Student income and assets — how much you earn and what you own.
  • Household size — how many people your parents support.
  • Tax payments and allowances — money set aside for taxes, basic living costs, and payroll deductions.

The formula adds up income and assets, subtracts allowances for living costs and taxes, then applies a set percentage to find your family's expected share.

Why Does the SAI Matter?

Colleges subtract your SAI from the Cost of Attendance (COA) to find your financial need. For example, if a school costs $30,000 per year and your SAI is $10,000, your financial need is $20,000. The school then uses that number to build your aid package, which can include grants, work-study, and loans. If loans are part of your package, our Student Loan Calculator can help you understand monthly payments and total interest costs.

What Changed from the EFC?

Under the old system, having multiple children in college at the same time would split the parent contribution between them. The SAI formula no longer does this. Each student is calculated on their own. Also, the SAI uses a simpler set of income and asset questions, and small businesses and family farms are now counted as assets.

SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility

Your SAI also helps determine if you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant. Pell Grants are free money from the government that you do not have to pay back. For the 2024–2025 award year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395. Generally, the lower your family income and SAI, the larger your Pell Grant will be. To plan your overall college finances, consider using our Budget Calculator alongside this tool, and review your complete FAFSA picture to maximize your aid.

Formulas used

Parent Available Income
\text{Available Income} = (\text{AGI} + \text{Retirement Contrib.} + \text{Untaxed Income}) - \text{Tax Paid} - \text{Payroll Tax} - \text{IPA} - \text{EEA}
Parent Contribution from Assets
\text{Asset Contribution} = \left(\text{Net Worth} - \text{Asset Protection Allowance}\right) \times 0.12
Adjusted Available Income (AAI)
\text{AAI} = \text{Available Income} + \text{Asset Contribution}
Parent Contribution (Progressive Assessment of AAI)
\text{PC} = \begin{cases} 22\%\times\text{AAI} & \text{AAI}\le 18{,}000 \\ 3{,}960+25\%\,(\text{AAI}-18{,}000) & \le 22{,}600 \\ 5{,}110+29\%\,(\text{AAI}-22{,}600) & \le 27{,}100 \\ 6{,}415+34\%\,(\text{AAI}-27{,}100) & \le 31{,}700 \\ 7{,}979+40\%\,(\text{AAI}-31{,}700) & \le 36{,}200 \\ 9{,}779+47\%\,(\text{AAI}-36{,}200) & > 36{,}200 \end{cases}
Student Contribution from Income (Dependent)
\text{Student IC} = \max\!\left(0,\;\text{Student Income} - \text{Tax} - \text{Payroll} - 11{,}510\right) \times 0.50
Student Contribution from Assets (Dependent)
\text{Student AC} = \text{Student Assets} \times 0.20
Student Aid Index (Dependent)
\text{SAI} = \max\!\left(-1{,}500,\;\text{Parent Contribution} + \text{Student IC} + \text{Student AC}\right)
Estimated Financial Need
\text{Need} = \max\!\left(0,\;\text{COA} - \text{SAI}\right)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the SAI and the EFC?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024–25 FAFSA. The biggest differences are: the SAI can go as low as −$1,500 (the EFC stopped at $0), having multiple kids in college no longer splits the parent share, and small businesses and farms now count as assets.

Can my SAI be a negative number?

Yes. The SAI can go as low as −$1,500. A negative SAI means you have the highest level of financial need. Most schools treat a negative SAI the same as $0 when building your aid package, but the negative value is still reported on your FAFSA.

Is this calculator the same as the official FAFSA?

No. This calculator gives an estimate only. Your official SAI comes from filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. Use this tool to plan ahead, but always submit the real FAFSA to get your actual number.

What tax year's income should I use?

The FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax data. For the 2026–27 school year, you would use your 2024 tax return. Enter the income and tax figures from that year's IRS Form 1040.

Does my family's home count as an asset?

No. Your primary home is not counted as an asset in the SAI formula. Only other real estate like rental properties or vacation homes should be entered.

Do retirement accounts count as assets?

No. Money in 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, pension, and other qualified retirement accounts is not counted as an asset. However, new contributions made during the tax year are added back as income.

What are the SAI tier levels in this calculator?

The tiers are a guide to where you may receive need-based aid:

  • Tier A (SAI $0–$6,000) — Likely eligible at all school types.
  • Tier B ($6,001–$15,000) — Aid likely at public 4-year, private, and elite schools.
  • Tier C ($15,001–$30,000) — Aid mainly at private and elite schools.
  • Tier D ($30,001–$50,000) — Aid mostly at elite schools with large budgets.
  • Tier E (above $50,000) — Limited need-based aid; look for merit scholarships.

Why doesn't having two kids in college lower my SAI?

Under the old EFC system, the parent contribution was split among all children in college. The new SAI formula removed that split. Each student's SAI is now calculated independently. This means families with multiple students in college at the same time may see a higher expected contribution per child.

What is the Income Protection Allowance?

The Income Protection Allowance (IPA) is the amount of income the formula sets aside for basic living costs like food, housing, and clothing. It is based on your household size. The larger your household, the higher the allowance, which lowers your SAI.

What is the Asset Protection Allowance?

The Asset Protection Allowance (APA) shields a small portion of parent assets from the SAI formula. It is based on the age of the older parent and whether there are one or two parents. Older parents get a slightly higher allowance. The APA has been reduced significantly in recent years.

How are student assets treated differently from parent assets?

Student assets are assessed at 20%, while parent assets are assessed at only 12% (at most). This means $10,000 in a student's bank account adds about $2,000 to the SAI, but the same amount in a parent's account adds about $1,200 or less.

What is the Quick Estimate vs. the Full Calculator?

The Quick Estimate uses just four inputs — parent income, household size, number in college, and student income — to give a rough SAI. The Full Calculator adds assets, taxes, parent age, and more for a detailed result with a step-by-step breakdown, chart, and what-if tool.

How does the what-if tool work?

After you run the Full Calculator, the what-if tool lets you drag a slider to change one variable at a time — like parent income or student assets. It instantly shows how your SAI, tier, and financial need would change. This helps you plan and see which factors have the biggest impact.

What is Cost of Attendance and why should I enter it?

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total price of one year at a school, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses. When you enter it, the calculator subtracts your SAI to show your estimated financial need. You can find your school's COA on its financial aid website.

How is Pell Grant eligibility determined?

Pell eligibility is based mainly on your family's income compared to federal poverty guidelines for your household size. If income is at or below 175% of the poverty line, you likely qualify for the maximum Pell Grant. Between 175% and 225%, you may get a partial grant. Above 225%, eligibility depends on whether your SAI is low enough.

What counts as untaxed income?

Untaxed income includes things like tax-exempt interest, housing allowances, untaxed Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, and other money received that does not appear as taxable income on your tax return. The FAFSA adds this back into the formula.

Am I a dependent or independent student?

Most undergraduates under age 24 are dependent and must report parent information. You are independent if any of these apply: you are 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the award year, you are married, you have dependents of your own, you are a veteran or active-duty military, you were in foster care, or you are an emancipated minor.

Does the calculator save my information?

No. This calculator runs entirely in your web browser. No data is saved, stored, or sent anywhere. If you leave or refresh the page, your entries will reset to the default values.

What is the maximum Pell Grant amount?

For the 2024–25 award year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395 per year for full-time students. The amount you receive depends on your SAI, enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), and cost of attendance. Congress may adjust this amount for future years.

Does the SAI formula count 529 plan savings?

Yes. Under the new SAI rules, 529 plans owned by the student or parent are counted as parent assets and assessed at up to 12%. Previously, 529 plans owned by grandparents could also affect eligibility, but the new formula no longer counts distributions from grandparent-owned 529s as student income.

What does the AGI x Dependents chart show?

The lookup chart on the Quick Estimate tab shows estimated SAI values for different combinations of parent income (rows) and number of dependents (columns). Each cell is color-coded by tier. It assumes no assets and no student income. Use it as a quick reference to see where your family falls.

Can independent students use this calculator?

Yes. Switch to the Full Calculator tab and select Independent Student. The parent section will hide, and the formula will use your own income and assets instead. If you are married, a spouse section will appear so you can enter your spouse's financial details.