Demystifying the Student Aid Index: What It Means for Your Financial Aid

In this webinar, Juno financial aid expert and former Yale Admissions Officer, Eddy Ciobanu, will explain what the Student Aid Index (SAI) is, how it replaced the old Expected Family Contribution, and how colleges use it to determine need-based aid.

You’ll learn what goes into the SAI calculation—income, assets, family size, and special circumstances—what counts and what doesn’t on the FAFSA, and why the SAI can differ from what colleges using the CSS Profile consider. We’ll walk through estimating your SAI, interpreting aid offers, and understanding how grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans fit together.

We’ll also cover practical steps to avoid common filing mistakes, how to document special circumstances, when and how to appeal an aid decision, and how to compare true net price across colleges. Families will leave with an action plan to file confidently and maximize need-based and merit aid.