Direct Answer: The College Board Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was officially replaced by the federal Student Aid Index (SAI) under the FAFSA Simplification Act. Unlike the old EFC which bottomed at $0, the SAI scale ranges from -$1,500 to infinity, directly determining Federal Pell Grant eligibility and demonstrated financial need.
Moderate to Low Need tier. Aid will focus on merit, work-study & direct loans.
Estimated net out-of-pocket tuition & living cost after federal and institutional need grants.
| Formula Component | 2026-2027 Rule | Your Household Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Income Protection Allowance (IPA) | Increased ~20% above inflation to protect family income | $51,200 |
| Assessed Parent Income | Assessed on sliding bracket scale above the IPA threshold | $33,800 |
| Parent Reportable Asset Assessment | Flat 5.64% assessment; primary home & retirement 100% exempt | $1,410 |
| Student Income Allowance | First $11,100 of student earnings 100% exempt from aid penalty | $0 assessed |
| Final Student Aid Index (SAI) | Official FAFSA eligibility figure (sent to all selected schools) | $8,846 |
Now that you know your projected SAI score, inspect exact institutional family income caps ($85k-$100k) and full-ride cutoff benchmarks across Ivy League and 50-state flagship promise programs on UnitFig.
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