Student Money Lab

FAFSA SAI estimator, refund check optimizer, and work-vs-aid cross-reference — built for students figuring out the money side of college.

Personalize for your level

Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced rewrites are for account holders. Sign in to unlock.

FAFSA SAI Estimator

Student Aid Index replaced Expected Family Contribution starting 2024-25. Lower SAI = more need-based aid. Estimate yours below.

Filing as

Household size

# in college (including you)

Parent AGI ($/yr)from tax return

Parent assets ($)savings + investments, not retirement

Your annual income ($)

Your assets ($)checking, savings, investments

Estimated SAI

$14,146

Estimated Pell Grant

2024-25 max: $7,395

Aid band

Subsidized loan range

Lower SAI = more aid

Likely above Pell threshold but eligible for subsidized federal loans at most schools. Hunt for merit aid and outside scholarships.

Breakdown: Parent contribution ≈ $13,846. Student contribution ≈ $300. Adding a second person in college roughly halves the parent contribution.

Refund Check Optimizer

When aid + loans exceed tuition + housing, the school cuts you a refund check. Don't blow it. Here's a smarter split.

Annual tuition & fees ($)

Housing & meals ($)

Scholarships & grants ($)outside the Pell estimate above

Subsidized federal loans ($)no interest while enrolled

Unsubsidized federal loans ($)interest accrues immediately

Total aid in

$8,500

Pell + scholarships + loans

Cost of attendance

$19,000

tuition + housing

Refund check

No refund this year

Work + Aid Cross-Reference

Earning more next year means less aid the year after. Here's the trade-off in dollars.

Job status

Hourly wage ($)

Hours per week

Monthly take-home

$1,065

after FICA + est. fed tax

Annual take-home

$12,792

Next year's SAI impact

+$2,045

how much your earnings raise SAI

The math: earnings up to $11,510 are protected — they don't count against your SAI. After that, 50¢ of every dollar earned increases SAI by $1. No projected change to your Pell at this earning level. Keep the bag.

Estimator only. Real FAFSA SAI formula has dozens of inputs and state-specific rules. Not financial-aid, tax, or legal advice — confirm with your school's financial aid office.