FAFSA Student Aid Index and EFC 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does SAI stand for in the context of financial aid?
- Student Aid Index (Correct answer)
- Standard Aid Income
- State Aid Indicator
- Scholarship Award Index
Correct answer: Student Aid Index
SAI stands for Student Aid Index, which replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA.
Question 2: Which FAFSA cycle first used the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of EFC?
- 2022-23
- 2023-24
- 2024-25 (Correct answer)
- 2025-26
Correct answer: 2024-25
The 2024-25 FAFSA was the first cycle to use the SAI, replacing the old EFC formula.
Question 3: A negative SAI value indicates what about a student's financial need?
- No financial need
- Maximum financial need (Correct answer)
- Ineligible for aid
- Only eligible for loans
Correct answer: Maximum financial need
A negative SAI (as low as -1500) signals maximum financial need and typically qualifies students for the most aid.
Question 4: Which formula is used to calculate the SAI for dependent students?
- Federal Methodology only (Correct answer)
- Institutional Methodology only
- Both Federal and Institutional Methodology
- State Methodology
Correct answer: Federal Methodology only
The SAI for FAFSA purposes is calculated using the Federal Methodology established by Congress.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the SAI?
- To rank students academically
- To estimate the amount a family can contribute toward education costs (Correct answer)
- To set tuition prices
- To determine scholarship merit awards
Correct answer: To estimate the amount a family can contribute toward education costs
The SAI estimates how much a family can contribute toward college costs, which schools use to determine aid packages.
Question 6: Which of the following DOES NOT directly affect the SAI calculation?
- Parent income
- Student GPA (Correct answer)
- Family size
- Number of family members in college
Correct answer: Student GPA
GPA is not factored into the SAI; it is based on financial data like income, assets, and family size.
FAFSA Student Aid Index and EFC 1
What does SAI stand for in the context of financial aid?