Student Aid Index (SAI)

Formerly Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that your college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended the school for one year. This number results from the information that you provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need; however, negative SAIs will be considered zero (0) for the purposes of need calculation.

SAI is derived by reviewing the financial data you and your family provide in the FAFSA. If you are a single, independent student, your family contribution will come solely from your own resources (earnings, savings). Otherwise, your SAI will be calculated on your own resources combined with those of your family.