FAFSA’s Student Aid Index
How the Need Analysis System Determines Aid Eligibility
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is used in determining postsecondary students’ eligibility for need-based federal aid. The calculation process for the SAI is established in the Higher Education Act (HEA). The SAI is a numerical indicator that “reflects an evaluation of a student’s approximate financial resources to contribute toward the student’s postsecondary education for the academic year.” The SAI is calculated based on information provided by a postsecondary student and applicable family members on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Information provided on the FAFSA that informs the SAI includes…
