About AidIndex

AidIndex is an independent, free reference for the FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) and the federal Pell Grant. FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) & Pell Grant eligibility, explained for 2026-27.

What we do

We turn the U.S. Department of Education's published need-analysis tables into plain-language explainers and two calculators - a SAI estimator and a Pell Grant calculator - for the 2026-27 award year. Every number on the site traces to a public-domain government source: the SAI & Pell Grant Eligibility Guide, the Federal Register need-analysis notice, the annual Pell maximum/minimum letter, and the HHS poverty guidelines.

Who is behind it

AidIndex is maintained by an independent editorial team that builds careful, source-cited data tools. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, or any school. We do not collect your financial data - the calculators run entirely in your browser.

How we keep it accurate

Financial aid is a your-money-your-life (YMYL) topic, so we verify each figure against its primary source, date every data point, and flag any value taken from a prior year. See our methodology for sources, formulas, the snapshot date and known limitations. The tools are estimates - your official SAI and aid are set by the FAFSA processor and your school, which you can confirm at studentaid.gov.

Contact

Spotted an error or have a source to suggest? Get in touch.

Last updated: 2026-06-22