SAI vs EFC: what changed

Q: Is a lower SAI better than a higher EFC?

Lower is always better for aid. Both numbers measure ability to pay, so a smaller value means more need-based aid. The big difference is that the SAI can go below zero (to -$1,500), signaling the deepest need, whereas the EFC stopped at $0.

Q: Did SAI make me eligible for more aid?

It depends. Removing the multiple-students-in-college discount can raise the contribution for families with several kids in school at once, while higher income protection allowances and a negative floor can lower it for low-income families. The effect varies household by household.

The Student Aid Index replaced the Expected Family Contribution.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA starting in 2024-25. Both measure how much a family can contribute, but the SAI: can be negative (down to -$1,500), no longer divides the parent contribution by the number of children in college, eliminated the asset protection allowance, and uses updated income protection allowance tables. The name change also clarifies that the number is an eligibility index, not a bill your family must pay.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide. Data as of June 2026.

Side-by-side

Key differences between the EFC and the SAI. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide.
Feature	Expected Family Contribution (old)	Student Aid Index (now)
Lowest value	$0	-$1,500 (negative allowed)
Multiple students in college	Parent contribution divided by # in college	No division - each student uses the full contribution
Asset protection allowance	Age-based shelter on assets	Effectively $0 for 2026-27
Income protection allowance	Lower tables	Higher, updated tables
Family size source	Reported on FAFSA	Often pulled from tax return (household)
Maximum Pell trigger	EFC = 0	SAI <= 0, plus AGI-vs-poverty pathways (max Pell $7,395)

Why the changes matter

For a single-child family, the new SAI often lowers the contribution thanks to higher income protection allowances and the negative floor. For families with two or more children in college at once, removing the old "number in college" discount can increase each student's index, because the full parent contribution now counts toward each student rather than being split. See our number in college explainer for how that plays out.

What stayed the same

The overall structure is familiar: income minus allowances, plus a contribution from assets, run through an assessment schedule. The treatment of assets and the dependent vs independent split are conceptually unchanged.

Frequently asked questions

When did SAI replace EFC?

The Student Aid Index replaced the Expected Family Contribution starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, under the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020. The 2026-27 FAFSA uses the SAI.

Is a lower SAI better than a higher EFC?

Lower is always better for aid. Both numbers measure ability to pay, so a smaller value means more need-based aid. The big difference is that the SAI can go below zero (to -$1,500), signaling the deepest need, whereas the EFC stopped at $0.

Did SAI make me eligible for more aid?

It depends. Removing the multiple-students-in-college discount can raise the contribution for families with several kids in school at once, while higher income protection allowances and a negative floor can lower it for low-income families. The effect varies household by household.

Sources

U.S. Dept. of Education, 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide. Data as of June 2026 for 2026-27. General information, not financial-aid advice - verify at studentaid.gov. See our methodology.

Last updated: 2026-06-22