Student Aid Index
The number the FAFSA produces from your family's finances. Schools use it to decide how much need-based aid to offer.
Your Student Aid Index appears on your FAFSA Submission Summary. A lower number means more financial need, and it can even be negative.
Your SAI is not a bill or the amount your family has to pay. Each school compares it with its cost of attendance to build your aid offer, and the school makes the final decision.
Example
A student with an SAI of 0 shows more need than one with an SAI of 12,000, so the first student is more likely to qualify for a Pell Grant.