How Financial Aid is Calculated
Need-Based Aid
Our office calculates a student'sneed by subtracting their Student Aid Index (SAI)
from the Cost of Education (or budget) that we have assigned:
Most aid that we award is need-based, which means that a student must have an adequate
amount of need in order to accommodate the aid awarded. For instance, if a student's
need equals $10,000, they may receive no more than $10,000 in need-based aid.
Cost of Attendance (Budget) $15,000
- SAI $5,000
= Need $10,000
Need-based aid includes (but is not limited to):
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan
- Fee Waivers
- State Grants
- Most Scholarships
NOTE: While scholarships and fee remissions are typically not awarded based upon a student's
SAI or need, they are nonetheless included when totaling the amount of aid counted
towards covering a student's need.
Non-Need-Based Aid
Some types of aid (including but not limited to the Federal Stafford Unsubsidized
Loan, the Federal Parent PLUS Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan, and private loans) do not require
a student to have need. A student may receive such awards even if their original need
figure equals zero.
Regardless of the type of aid package a student receives (all need-based, all non-need-based,
or a combination of the two), their total awards may not exceed their cost of attendance.
Student Aid Index
What is the Student Aid Index?
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number used to determine a student's eligibility
for federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study. It is calculated
based on the information provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), including factors such as family income, assets, and household size. A lower
SAI indicates a greater financial need, which can lead to a higher amount of financial
aid.
The SAI replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. A lower SAI indicates greater financial need, which can lead to higher eligibility for financial aid.
How is the SAI Calculated?
Your SAI is calculated using the information you provide on your FAFSA form.
The SAI formula calculates the total financial resources of you and your parents (or spouse in some cases) then deducts the minimum amount needed for your family's normal annual living expenses. The remaining amount may, in part, be allocated for college expenses.
Most of the tax information used to calculate the SAI is transferred directly from the IRS* into the FAFSA form if you provide your consent and approval.
Where your SAI falls within the SAI range (-1500 to 999999) helps your school determine what level of financial support you may need. For example, a lower SAI means the higher your financial need and your higher likelihood of qualifying for need-based aid like a Pell Grant.
Your SAI will be listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary. The calculation uses information from your tax return as well as the net worth of your assets.
*Some FAFSA applicants may need to manually provide their tax information. Learn more about where to find tax information.
(714) 628-4876
finaid@sccollege.edu
E-104
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM