Estimate the student aid index from family income, assets and household size.
Income above the protection allowance is assessed at rising rates up to 47 per cent, while assets are assessed far more lightly at around 12 per cent. Dividing by the number in college is why siblings at university simultaneously increases aid. Assets are assessed at a much lower rate than income, which is why the timing of income realisation matters more than asset holdings for aid eligibility.
FAFSA EFC/SAI
Available income after allowances is assessed on a rising scale, then divided by number in college
This is a rough approximation and not an official FAFSA determination. The actual formula is detailed, changes annually and includes many circumstances not modelled here. Use the official federal student aid estimator and consult your institution's financial aid office.
Available income after allowances is assessed on a rising scale, then divided by number in college Income above the protection allowance is assessed at rising rates up to 47 per cent, while assets are assessed far more lightly at around 12 per cent. Dividing by the number in college is why siblings at university simultaneously increases aid.
Assets are assessed at a much lower rate than income, which is why the timing of income realisation matters more than asset holdings for aid eligibility.
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Parent adjusted gross income, Parent countable assets, Student income, Household size, Number in college, Cost of attendance. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.