New SAI vs old EFC - what's considered a good number for Pell Grant eligibility?

The SAI (Student Aid Index) replaced the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) but it's not just a name change. The calculation is different in several important ways: 1. The SAI can actually go negative (as low as -1,500) while the EFC couldn't go below zero 2. The SAI no longer includes the number of family members in college 3. The income protection allowance amounts were adjusted 4. Small business and family farm exclusions were removed For Pell Grant eligibility, with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, you'd typically need an SAI below 6,206 to get at least some Pell Grant. Maximum Pell (which is $7,395 for 2024-2025) typically requires an SAI of -1,500 to 0. Your SAI of 8,742 is unfortunately above the Pell threshold, but you might still qualify for other financial aid depending on your school's cost of attendance. Generally, an SAI below 12,000 is still considered relatively good for receiving some form of need-based aid at many institutions.

my cousins sai was like 3500 and she got most of her tuition covered at state school. i think below 3k is good but idk about pell exactly

For 2024-2025, Pell Grant eligibility MAX SAI number is 6,206!!!! Anything below that will get you SOME Pell money. But u need SAI under 3,000 to get the really good Pell money. If your SAI is negative (which it CAN be now, unlike old EFC), u get MAX Pell amount $7,395!!!! The colleges also look at your SAI for other aid, not just federal. So your 8,742 might still get u some money depending on school!!!!

Has anyone actually managed to get through to Federal Student Aid to ask them these questions directly? I've been trying for WEEKS to get clarification on my SAI calculation and keep getting stuck on hold or disconnected. This whole new FAFSA system is a nightmare. I swear they changed more than just the name.

Anyone else notice their SAI is WAY different from what their EFC would have been in previous years? My family's financial situation hasn't changed at all but my number jumped by like 4000 points under this new system! Something seems off...

Ok so looking at all the responses, it sounds like my 8,742 SAI is: - Too high for Pell Grant (need under 6,206) - Might still qualify for some aid depending on the school - Would have potentially been lower under the old EFC system I'm applying to a mix of state schools and one private college, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the financial aid packages look like. Thanks everyone for the specific numbers - this helped a lot more than what my counselor told me!

I work in a university financial aid office, and I want to clarify something important: each institution still has its own methodology for distributing institutional aid. While the federal SAI determines Pell eligibility, many private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA and have their own formulas. So a SAI of 8,742 might get you significant institutional aid at some schools but little at others. Also, some state grants have different SAI cutoffs than the federal Pell program. Check your state's higher education agency website for their specific eligibility requirements.

Pennsylvania has the PA State Grant program, and yes, their eligibility isn't identical to Pell. For 2024-2025, their financial need formula is adjusted from the federal calculation. Check PHEAA's website for specifics, but your 8,742 SAI might still qualify for some state grant aid depending on your school's tuition. As for the CSS Profile, only complete it if your schools require it. It's typically required by private colleges and some competitive public universities. Check each school's financial aid website to see if they require it.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I want to add that the timing of when you submit your FAFSA can also impact your aid beyond just the SAI number. Many state grants and institutional aid programs are first-come, first-served, so even with your 8,742 SAI, submitting early could help you secure whatever aid you do qualify for. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities! These aren't tied to your SAI in the same way grants are, and they can be a great way to help cover expenses while gaining work experience. Most schools list work-study as part of their financial aid packages, and with your SAI, you'd likely be eligible. One last thing - look into scholarships that aren't need-based. Merit scholarships, local community scholarships, and department-specific scholarships often have their own criteria that don't consider your FAFSA results at all.

Just wanted to add my experience as another data point - I had an SAI of around 9,200 last year (so similar to yours) and while I didn't get any Pell Grant money, I was still able to get some decent aid packages. My state school offered me about $3,000 in need-based grants plus subsidized loans, and the private college I applied to gave me over $15,000 in institutional aid (though their tuition was way higher too). So don't get too discouraged by missing the Pell cutoff! Your SAI is still in a range where many schools will consider you for aid. I'd definitely recommend applying to a good mix of schools like you mentioned, because the aid offers can vary wildly even with the same SAI. Also, make sure you're looking at the total cost of attendance vs. just tuition when comparing offers - sometimes the "more expensive" school ends up being cheaper after aid. Good luck with your applications! The waiting for aid packages is definitely stressful but hopefully you'll get some pleasant surprises.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some schools have their own internal appeals process if your family's financial situation has changed since the tax year used for FAFSA (2022 for 2024-25). This is called "Professional Judgment" and can sometimes result in a recalculated SAI that's more favorable. Also, with an SAI of 8,742, you'll definitely qualify for federal subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you're in school - that's still a significant benefit even without grant money. The loan limits are $5,500 for freshman year (with up to $3,500 being subsidized based on need). Don't forget about your state's 529 education savings plans either - if your family has one, those withdrawals for qualified education expenses won't count as income on next year's FAFSA, which could help lower your SAI for sophomore year onwards.