A 0 or destructive SAI signifies a scholar with essentially the most relative want for monetary assist. The bottom SAI imaginable is -$1,500.

A scholar with a -$1,500 SAI has much less capability to pay (and subsequently wishes extra assist) than a scholar with an SAI of -$750 or 0 or $750.

A destructive SAI does now not imply {that a} scholar will qualify for extra money than the value of attendance. Overall assist can not exceed the price of attendance. And there is not any make it possible for a school will be offering monetary assist as much as the volume for which a scholar is eligible. The SAI is only a measure of want, now not the real value a scholar can pay when all is claimed and finished.

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

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

A low SAI signifies a scholar with much less capability to pay and subsequently extra monetary want. It’s imaginable to have a nil or a destructive SAI as little as -$1,500. On a relative scale, scholars with higher monetary want are recognized as their SAI approaches -$1,500, with -$1,500 indicating the scholars with the best monetary want. Those scholars are eligible for essentially the most assist together with most Pell grants. 

Likewise, on a relative scale, scholars with SAIs which can be more than $0 are recognized as the ones wanting much less monetary assist given their higher private or circle of relatives assets to pay the school invoice. 

Many schools use the SAI as a proxy for the volume they be expecting a scholar to pay for school. As such, a “excellent SAI” is normally decrease.

How To Know Your SAI Ranking?

You’ll to find your SAI rating when you whole the FAFSA. It’ll be situated at the “Eligibility Assessment” tab of the MyAid portal for the particular FAFSA 12 months.

On the other hand, for the reason that FAFSA might not be are living till December 1, many households need to know an estimate in their SAI. You’ll get an estimate of your SAI via checking our SAI Chart, or the use of the SAI Calculator underneath.

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