Student Aid Index (EFC) Calculator
Updated on 7 Nov 2026 · Checked by Aotob
Your Student Aid Index would be about 5,317.
That could mean a Pell Grant of about $2,080 a year, plus aid from the college.
Student Aid Index (SAI)
5,317
Colleges take your SAI from their cost of attendance to work out your need for grants and subsidised loans. A lower SAI means more aid. Home equity, retirement accounts and small businesses don’t count as assets.
Show the working
Parents: 75,000 − tax 4,500 − payroll tax 5,738 − allowance 44,880 = 19,883
+ 12% of assets 2,400 = 22,283 → contribution 4,917
Student: 50% of income over 11,770 + 20% of assets = 400
SAI = 5,317
Pell Grant by SAI (2026-27)
| SAI | Pell Grant |
|---|---|
| -1,500 | $7,395 |
| 0 | $7,395 |
| 2,000 | $5,395 |
| 4,000 | $3,395 |
| 6,000 | $1,395 |
| 6,655 | $740 |
Questions people ask
What replaced the EFC?
The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution from 2024-25. It can be as low as −1,500, and no longer gives a discount for having more than one child in college.
Who gets a Pell Grant?
Students with an SAI below about $6,655 in 2026-27. The grant is the $7,395 maximum less the SAI, with a $740 minimum. Families with low income relative to the poverty line get the maximum automatically.
How accurate is this?
It’s a rough guide. The official formula has more allowances and uses tables that change yearly. Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator at studentaid.gov for your official figure.
Updated 7 Nov 2026Source: Federal Student Aid: 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant guideChecked by AotobRough estimate for a dependent student; some allowances and the middle income brackets are simplified.Report an issue