What's the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

Colleges figure out how much financial aid they’ll offer you, in part, by calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI).

Your SAI is a number that’s calculated using information you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAI is used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs, like the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Student Loans. Some colleges also require the CSS Profile or other financial aid forms to) to determine your eligibility for nonfederal institutional financial aid.

The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid you may be eligible to receive. Estimates are based on your SAI.