SAI

Education & Academia abbreviation · Academic

SAI
Stands forStudent Aid Index
CategoriesEducation & Academia

SAI stands for Student Aid Index, an academic abbreviation also used in government.

Number calculated from FAFSA information that colleges use to determine eligibility for need-based federal aid, replacing the Expected Family Contribution starting with the 2024–25 award year. It can be as low as −1,500, signaling the highest need.

Example: Her SAI of 0 qualified her for the maximum Pell Grant.

Usage notes

Unlike the EFC, the SAI no longer gives a discount for having multiple children in college at the same time, which raised costs for some families. Colleges subtract the SAI from the cost of attendance to determine financial need. Despite its name, it is not a dollar amount a family is expected to pay.

More academic abbreviations

  • RCR – Responsible conduct of research
  • RD – Regular decision
  • REA – Restrictive early action
  • ROTC – Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • RSO – Registered student organization
  • SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • SAP – Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • SAR – Student Aid Report
  • SCEA – Single-choice early action
  • SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
  • SGA – Student Government Association
  • SIS – Student information system

See all 124 academic abbreviations →