FAFSA Estimated Aid Calculator
Use this calculator to get an estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) and potential federal financial aid eligibility based on simplified FAFSA criteria. This is an estimate and not a guarantee of aid.
Estimated FAFSA Results:
Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI): —
Estimated Financial Need: —
Estimated Pell Grant Eligibility: —
Estimated Subsidized Loan Eligibility: —
This is an estimate based on simplified formulas and does not guarantee actual aid. The official FAFSA calculation is more complex.
function calculateFAFSA() {
var dependencyStatus = document.getElementById('dependencyStatus').value;
var studentAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentAGI').value);
var studentAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentAssets').value);
var parentAGI = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentAGI').value);
var parentAssets = parseFloat(document.getElementById('parentAssets').value);
var familySize = parseInt(document.getElementById('familySize').value);
var studentsInCollege = parseInt(document.getElementById('studentsInCollege').value);
var costOfAttendance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('costOfAttendance').value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(studentAGI) || studentAGI < 0) studentAGI = 0;
if (isNaN(studentAssets) || studentAssets < 0) studentAssets = 0;
if (isNaN(parentAGI) || parentAGI < 0) parentAGI = 0;
if (isNaN(parentAssets) || parentAssets < 0) parentAssets = 0;
if (isNaN(familySize) || familySize < 1) familySize = 1;
if (isNaN(studentsInCollege) || studentsInCollege < 1) studentsInCollege = 1;
if (isNaN(costOfAttendance) || costOfAttendance 0) {
parentContribution = parentContribution / studentsInCollege;
}
}
estimatedSAI = studentContribution + parentContribution;
// SAI cannot be less than -1500
estimatedSAI = Math.max(-1500, estimatedSAI);
var estimatedFinancialNeed = Math.max(0, costOfAttendance – estimatedSAI);
var pellGrantEligibility = "No";
var pellGrantAmount = 0;
// Pell Grant eligibility is complex, but generally for low SAIs.
// Max Pell Grant for 2024-25 is $7,395.
// For simplification, if SAI is below a certain threshold, assume eligibility.
var pellThreshold = 7395; // Example threshold for max Pell
if (estimatedSAI 0) {
pellGrantEligibility = "Yes (up to $" + pellGrantAmount.toFixed(0) + ")";
} else {
pellGrantEligibility = "No"; // If COA – SAI is negative or zero, no Pell
}
}
var subsidizedLoanEligibility = "No";
if (estimatedFinancialNeed > 0) {
subsidizedLoanEligibility = "Yes (based on need)";
}
document.getElementById('estimatedSAI').innerText = "$" + estimatedSAI.toFixed(0);
document.getElementById('estimatedNeed').innerText = "$" + estimatedFinancialNeed.toFixed(0);
document.getElementById('pellGrantEligibility').innerText = pellGrantEligibility;
document.getElementById('subsidizedLoanEligibility').innerText = subsidizedLoanEligibility;
}
// Event listener for dependency status change to show/hide parent fields
document.getElementById('dependencyStatus').addEventListener('change', function() {
var parentFields = document.querySelectorAll('.parent-fields');
if (this.value === 'independent') {
parentFields.forEach(function(field) {
field.style.display = 'none';
});
// Reset parent values if hidden
document.getElementById('parentAGI').value = 0;
document.getElementById('parentAssets').value = 0;
} else {
parentFields.forEach(function(field) {
field.style.display = 'block';
});
}
});
// Initial call to set visibility based on default selection
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
document.getElementById('dependencyStatus').dispatchEvent(new Event('change'));
calculateFAFSA(); // Calculate on page load with default values
});
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box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
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margin: 20px auto;
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cursor: pointer;
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margin-top: 20px;
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background-color: #218838;
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background-color: #e9f7ef;
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text-align: center;
}
Understanding the FAFSA and Your Student Aid Index (SAI)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your gateway to federal financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. It's a crucial step for millions of students pursuing higher education in the United States.
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
Starting with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is a number that colleges use to determine how much federal student aid you are eligible to receive. It's not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, but rather an index number used in a formula to calculate your financial need.
A lower SAI generally indicates a higher financial need and potentially more eligibility for need-based aid. The SAI can even be a negative number, down to -1,500, which signifies the highest level of financial need.
Key Factors Influencing Your SAI
The FAFSA collects detailed financial information to calculate your SAI. While the exact formula is complex and subject to change by the Department of Education, the primary factors include:
- Student's Income and Assets: Your own adjusted gross income (AGI) from tax returns and the value of your cash, savings, and investments (excluding certain items like retirement accounts).
- Parents' Income and Assets (for Dependent Students): For dependent students, your parents' AGI and their assessable assets are significant contributors to the SAI. This typically excludes their primary home equity and retirement savings.
- Family Size: The total number of people in your household. A larger family size can lead to a lower SAI.
- Number of Students in College: The number of family members (excluding parents) who will be enrolled in college during the academic year. This factor can significantly reduce the parent contribution portion of the SAI.
- Cost of Attendance (COA): While not directly part of the SAI calculation, the COA of your chosen school is critical for determining your "financial need" (COA – SAI = Financial Need).
Types of Federal Financial Aid
Based on your FAFSA results and SAI, you may be eligible for various forms of federal aid:
- Pell Grants: These are need-based grants that do not need to be repaid. Eligibility is primarily determined by your SAI, with lower SAIs generally qualifying for higher Pell Grant amounts.
- Federal Subsidized Loans: These are low-interest loans where the government pays the interest while you are in school and during grace periods. Eligibility is based on financial need.
- Federal Unsubsidized Loans: These loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of financial need. Interest accrues while you are in school.
- Federal Work-Study: A program that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for educational expenses.
How Our Calculator Works
Our FAFSA Estimated Aid Calculator provides a simplified estimate of your Student Aid Index (SAI) and potential federal aid eligibility. It uses common financial factors and simplified assessment rates to give you a general idea of what to expect. Please remember:
- This calculator is for estimation purposes only.
- The actual FAFSA calculation is more detailed and considers additional factors.
- The results from this calculator are not a guarantee of aid.
- Always complete the official FAFSA form at studentaid.gov for accurate eligibility determination.
Use this tool as a starting point to understand your potential for federal student aid and plan your college finances.