How is Need for Financial Aid Determined?

The financial information you and your family provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is awarded by the federal need analysis processor using federal methodology. Federal methodology is a standard Student Aid Index (SAI) formula created by the United States Congress. It is used by the federal processor to calculate how much individual students and their families are expected to pay for college higher education costs. Financial need is determined by subcontracting student cost of attendance from SAI. If the SAI is less than "0", the SAI will be adjusted to "0" for federal aid award calculations.

Financial Need Calculation: Cost of Attendance - Student Aid Index = Financial Need