Financial Aid Calculator (SAI Calculator)

This financial aid calculator will help you understand your financial aid eligibility by calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI). Your financial aid eligibility depends on many factors, including:

Your SAI is calculated based on the information you and your family reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some colleges rely on the CSS Profile in lieu of the FAFSA to determine financial aid eligibility, but this is mostly private colleges.

This calculator will help you determine your financial aid eligibility for the 2026 - 2027 school year, using the most up-to-date SAI and FAFSA calculations.

Related: Financial Aid And Grants By State

Financial Aid Calculator

Enter your information below to calculate your estimated financial aid eligibility. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

How To Use This Calculator

This calculator will help you calculate your SAI, which is used by most financial aid offices to determine aid eligibility.

Financial aid comes in many forms, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and student loans. Your SAI is an indicator of your financial need.

The lower the SAI, the more financial need your family has. A negative SAI is the most "needy" group of students.

How Is The SAI Determined?

Your SAI is determined through calculations from numbers reported on your FAFSA. The higher the income or assets reported, the higher the SAI number. As such, a "good" SAI for financial aid is low.

How Is Financial Need Determined?

Financial need is typically determined by subtracting the cost of attendance from your SAI. The result is your financial need.

COA - SAI = Financial Need

It's important to note that there is no requirement that colleges "meet" your financial need with any type of financial aid. Hence why so many students and families borrower student loans to cover their costs.

How Do You Fill Out The FAFSA?

You fill out the FAFSA on StudentAid.gov. Here's a full guide to how to fill out the FAFSA.

Common Questions

Here are common questions about the Financial Aid Calculator.

General Usage & Purpose

What is the Financial Aid Calculator (SAI Calculator)?

This financial aid calculator will help you calculate your Student Aid Index, which in turn can be used to guesstimate how much financial aid you'll potentially receive.

How accurate are the results from this calculator?

Depending on how accurate your input data is, this calculator can provide a very accurate estimate of your SAI score. However, that score is used in various ways to determine financial aid eligibility.

Who should use this calculator?

Families with students applying to college should use this calculator to get an understanding of how much need-based financial aid they may be eligible for.

Is this calculator free to use?

Yes, the Financial Aid Calculator is free to use!

About SAI and Eligibility

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a numerical representation of your financial ability to pay for college. The lower the number, the lower the ability to pay, thus the higher the need for financial aid.

How is my SAI calculated?

You SAI is calculated based on the student's income and assets, along with the parent's income and assets, which were reported on the FAFSA. 

Why is my SAI important for financial aid?

You SAI is the key number that determines need-based financial aid, including Pell Grants, state scholarships and grants, and university aid. Even some merit scholarships may require it.

What is considered a “good” SAI?

A "good SAI" is low. The lower the better. The lowest possible SAI is -1500.

Can my SAI be negative, and what does that mean?

Yes, you can have a negative SAI. This indicates the highest need for financial aid. The lowest SAI you can have is -1500.

Results & Next Steps

What should I do after I get my estimate?

Your estimated SAI score can help you craft a college list that you can afford, knowing how much financial aid you may receive. If you have a high SAI, you likely won't get much need-based financial aid. That means you should apply at colleges that you can afford out-of-pocket.

Will this calculator tell me exactly how much aid I will receive?

Sadly, no calculator can tell you exactly what you will receive. Even college Net Price Calculators can't always be correct. These numbers should be used as a guide to influence your expectations.

Can I apply for financial aid directly from this page?

No. Your FAFSA will be forwarded to your college and your state. The college will then craft a financial aid award for you that includes Federal, State, and University-based financial aid. 

What are my options if I am not eligible for much aid?

If you're not eligible for much financial aid, you should apply at colleges that you can comfortably afford to pay for out of pocket. There are also options like no-loan colleges. You can also look at non-need based aid, such as private scholarships.