Expected Family Contribution (EFC) / Student Aid Index (SAI)
A number calculated from FAFSA data that estimates how much a family can afford to pay for college in a given year. Now called the Student Aid Index.
Detailed Explanation
The Expected Family Contribution, renamed the Student Aid Index (SAI) under the FAFSA Simplification Act, is the cornerstone of the federal need analysis system. It is not the amount a family will actually pay, but rather an index number that schools use to determine financial aid eligibility. The SAI considers parental and student income, assets, family size, and the number of family members in college. Under the new formula, the SAI can be negative (as low as -$1,500), meaning the student has exceptional financial need. Schools subtract the SAI from their cost of attendance to determine a student's financial need, then award a combination of grants, loans, and work-study to fill that gap. The SAI does not account for cost-of-living differences between regions or the actual cost of a particular institution. Two students with identical SAIs may receive very different aid packages depending on institutional policies and endowment size. Understanding this number helps families set realistic expectations about out-of-pocket costs.
Related Terms
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The form students must complete to determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans, as well as most state and institutional aid.
Net Price
The actual cost of attending a college after subtracting all grants and scholarships, representing what a student actually pays out of pocket or borrows.
Need-Based Aid
Financial aid awarded based on a student's demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, including grants, subsidized loans, and work-study.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The total estimated cost for a student to attend a school for one academic year, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is expected family contribution (efc) / student aid index (sai)?
A number calculated from FAFSA data that estimates how much a family can afford to pay for college in a given year. Now called the Student Aid Index.
Why does expected family contribution (efc) / student aid index (sai) matter for college ROI?
The Expected Family Contribution, renamed the Student Aid Index (SAI) under the FAFSA Simplification Act, is the cornerstone of the federal need analysis system. It is not the amount a family will actually pay, but rather an index number that schools use to determine financial aid eligibility. The SAI considers parental and student income, assets, family size, and the number of family members in college.
this entity is one of the U.S. college cost, debt, and post-graduation earnings concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.