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SAI Calculator: See What You Qualify For in 2026-27

Estimate your Pell Grant and total aid package in about 90 seconds.

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Your situation determines which parts of the federal formula apply to you.

2026-27 federal formula No data stored 2 minutes
Review the methodology behind this result

Results are shown before email capture or partner handoff. The estimate uses source-backed rules and public data so you can evaluate the result before taking the next step.

Full calculator methodology See formula sources, assumptions, limitations, and update cadence. Editorial standards Review how we source, fact-check, and disclose partner relationships.

How the SAI Calculator Works

This calculator uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula from the FAFSA Simplification Act to estimate your financial aid eligibility for the 2026-27 award year. The SAI replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting in 2024-25, but many families and older guides still use the old EFC name.

The practical question is not “what will college cost?” It is: what does the federal formula say about your aid eligibility, and what should you do next with that number?

What the SAI Formula Considers

The federal need analysis formula evaluates three main components:

  1. Income — Your 2024 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), assessed at progressive rates from 22% to 47% after subtracting the Income Protection Allowance
  2. Assets — Savings, investments, and real estate (excluding primary home and retirement accounts), assessed at up to 5.64% for parents and 20% for students
  3. Family size — Larger families receive a higher Income Protection Allowance, shielding more income from the formula

Important Limitations

This calculator provides estimates only. Your actual SAI may differ because:

  • The FAFSA uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for exact tax figures
  • Some income adjustments (child support, untaxed benefits) aren’t captured here
  • Schools may use institutional methodology that produces different results
  • Professional judgment adjustments can change your SAI significantly

For your official SAI, file the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov.

Understanding Your Results

SAI RangeWhat It MeansEstimated Pell Grant
-$1,500 to $0Maximum need — qualifies for full Pell + priority institutional aid$7,395 (maximum)
$1 to $7,395High need — qualifies for substantial Pell Grant$7,395 minus your SAI
$7,396 to $14,789Moderate need — qualifies for partial Pell GrantDecreasing amount
$14,790+Does not qualify for Pell Grant$0 (may still qualify for loans and institutional aid)

Beyond the Pell Grant

Even if your SAI is too high for Pell Grant eligibility, the FAFSA unlocks:

  • Federal Direct Loans at rates significantly below private lenders
  • Federal Work-Study for part-time campus employment
  • Institutional aid — many schools require a FAFSA on file for their own scholarships
  • State grants — most state programs use FAFSA data for eligibility

The FAFSA is always worth filing. About 72% of adults who complete the FAFSA receive some form of financial aid.

Build a Fuller Financial Aid Estimate

Use your estimated SAI as the starting point for grants, scholarships, and next steps

Open aid quiz

Sources & Methodology

  1. Federal Student Aid — How Is the SAI Calculated?
  2. 2026-27 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide (U.S. Department of Education)
  3. Federal Student Aid Estimator
  4. FSA Handbook Chapter 3 — Student Aid Index and Pell Grant Eligibility (2025-2026)
  5. NASFAA — SAI Inflation Adjustments and Asset Protection Allowance Analysis