Financial Aid EFC Calculator
This simplified estimator approximates your Student Aid Index (SAI), formerly called EFC, using the core income and asset assessment approach from the Higher Education Act as amended. The actual FAFSA calculation is more complex; use this tool as a planning estimate only, then confirm with the official Federal Student Aid Estimator. Financial need = COA minus SAI; need determines your eligibility for subsidized loans and federal grants.
This is a simplified estimate for planning only. File your FAFSA for your official SAI and use the Federal Student Aid Estimator for more detail.
Simplified EFC / SAI methodology
Income Protection Allowance (IPA) = Based on family size (HEA tables)
Available Parental Income = AGI - Taxes Paid - IPA
Parent Income Contribution = Progressive rate applied to Available Income
Parent Asset Contribution = Net Assets x 5.64% (FAFSA asset assessment rate)
Student Contribution = (Student Income - $9,410 allowance) x 50%
SAI = Parent Income Contribution + Parent Asset Contribution + Student Contribution
Progressive income assessment rates (2024-25): 22% on first $16,600; 25% on next $16,600; 29% on next $19,500; 34% on next $25,700; 40% on next $32,200; 47% on amounts above $110,600 (approximate brackets from the HEA formula tables).
Family size income protection allowances (2024-25 approximate)
- Family of 2: $22,300
- Family of 3: $27,800
- Family of 4: $34,300
- Family of 5: $40,500
- Family of 6: $47,300
- Add approximately $3,800 per additional family member beyond 6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EFC / Student Aid Index?
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC), renamed Student Aid Index (SAI) under the FAFSA Simplification Act starting with the 2024-25 award year, is a number derived from the FAFSA that schools use to determine eligibility for federal financial aid. A lower SAI means more need-based aid eligibility. SAI can be negative (down to -1,500), meaning maximum need.
How is the simplified EFC calculated?
The simplified (non-institutional) formula for a dependent student uses adjusted available income (AAI): AAI = Student contribution + Parent income contribution. Parent income contribution is a progressive assessment of parent Adjusted Gross Income minus an income protection allowance and taxes paid. Asset contributions are added on top. The full formula is in the HEA as amended by the FAFSA Simplification Act.
Does EFC equal what I have to pay?
No. The EFC / SAI is an index used to determine eligibility, not a bill. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your school's COA, the specific aid package offered, and whether gaps are filled with grants, scholarships, or loans.
What income is used in the EFC formula?
The FAFSA uses Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from tax returns two years prior (for 2026-27 FAFSA, that is 2024 tax year). It also considers untaxed income, such as certain pension contributions and tax-exempt interest.
What changed with the FAFSA Simplification Act?
Starting 2024-25, the EFC was renamed SAI, the number of FAFSA questions dropped significantly, Pell Grant eligibility was expanded, sibling enrollment in college no longer reduces the parental contribution, and the formula methodology changed substantially. Use the official Federal Student Aid Estimator for the most accurate result.
Official sources
- Federal Student Aid: Federal Student Aid Estimator (official).
- U.S. Dept. of Education, FAFSA Simplification Act: FAFSA Simplification resources.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.