What Does A Unfavorable SAI Imply?

A zero or unfavorable SAI signifies a scholar with essentially the most relative want for monetary help. The bottom SAI attainable is -$1,500.

A scholar with a -$1,500 SAI has much less capability to pay (and due to this fact wants extra help) than a scholar with an SAI of -$750 or 0 or $750.

A unfavorable SAI doesn’t imply {that a} scholar will qualify for extra money than the price of attendance. Whole help can’t exceed the price of attendance. And there’s no assure {that a} faculty will provide monetary help as much as the quantity for which a scholar is eligible. The SAI is solely a measure of want, not the precise value a scholar can pay when all is alleged and accomplished.

Is It Higher To Have A Excessive Or Low Pupil Support Index (SAI)?

A scholar’s SAI signifies their relative want for monetary help. 

A low SAI signifies a scholar with much less capability to pay and due to this fact extra monetary want. It’s attainable to have a zero or a unfavorable SAI as little as -$1,500. On a relative scale, college students with better monetary want are recognized as their SAI approaches -$1,500, with -$1,500 indicating the scholars with the best monetary want. These college students are eligible for essentially the most help together with most Pell grants. 

Likewise, on a relative scale, college students with SAIs which can be better than $0 are recognized as these needing much less monetary help given their better private or household assets to pay the faculty invoice. 

Many faculties use the SAI as a proxy for the quantity they anticipate a scholar to pay for school. As such, a “good SAI” is usually decrease.

How To Know Your SAI Rating?

You can see your SAI rating when you full the FAFSA. It will likely be situated on the “Eligibility Overview” tab of the MyAid portal for the particular FAFSA 12 months.

Nonetheless, because the FAFSA won’t be dwell till December 1, many households wish to know an estimate of their SAI. You will get an estimate of your SAI by checking our SAI Chart, or utilizing the SAI Calculator under.

This SAI calculator has been up to date for the 2025 – 2026 FAFSA: