See What You Qualify For in 2026-27
Estimate your Pell Grant and total aid package in about 90 seconds.
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Your situation determines which parts of the federal formula apply to you.
How the EFC Calculator Works
This calculator uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula from the FAFSA Simplification Act to estimate your financial aid eligibility for the 2026-27 award year. The SAI replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting in 2024-25.
What the SAI Formula Considers
The federal need analysis formula evaluates three main components:
- Income — Your 2024 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), assessed at progressive rates from 22% to 47% after subtracting the Income Protection Allowance
- Assets — Savings, investments, and real estate (excluding primary home and retirement accounts), assessed at up to 5.64% for parents and 20% for students
- Family size — Larger families receive a higher Income Protection Allowance, shielding more income from the formula
Important Limitations
This calculator provides estimates only. Your actual SAI may differ because:
- The FAFSA uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for exact tax figures
- Some income adjustments (child support, untaxed benefits) aren’t captured here
- Schools may use institutional methodology that produces different results
- Professional judgment adjustments can change your SAI significantly
For your official SAI, file the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov.
Understanding Your Results
| SAI Range | What It Means | Estimated Pell Grant |
|---|---|---|
| -$1,500 to $0 | Maximum need — qualifies for full Pell + priority institutional aid | $7,395 (maximum) |
| $1 to $7,395 | High need — qualifies for substantial Pell Grant | $7,395 minus your SAI |
| $7,396 to $14,789 | Moderate need — qualifies for partial Pell Grant | Decreasing amount |
| $14,790+ | Does not qualify for Pell Grant | $0 (may still qualify for loans and institutional aid) |
Beyond the Pell Grant
Even if your SAI is too high for Pell Grant eligibility, the FAFSA unlocks:
- Federal Direct Loans at rates significantly below private lenders
- Federal Work-Study for part-time campus employment
- Institutional aid — many schools require a FAFSA on file for their own scholarships
- State grants — most state programs use FAFSA data for eligibility
The FAFSA is always worth filing. About 72% of adults who complete the FAFSA receive some form of financial aid.
See Programs That Match Your Budget
Use your estimated SAI to find accredited programs where your financial aid covers the most tuition
See Programs That Match Your BudgetSources & Methodology
- Federal Student Aid — How Is the SAI Calculated?
- 2026-27 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide (U.S. Department of Education)
- Federal Student Aid Estimator
- FSA Handbook Chapter 3 — Student Aid Index and Pell Grant Eligibility (2025-2026)
- NASFAA — SAI Inflation Adjustments and Asset Protection Allowance Analysis