🏫 College Advising

With the transition from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI) under the FAFSA Simplification Act, what is a notable change regarding the minimum index value?

A The SAI can now be a negative number, indicating a higher level of need.
B The minimum SAI is fixed at zero, similar to the previous EFC.
C The SAI calculation no longer considers parent income for dependent students.
D The SAI automatically grants all students with an index of zero a Pell Grant.

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

A significant change is that the SAI can now be a negative number (down to -1500), which allows financial aid administrators to identify students with greater financial need beyond what a zero EFC indicated.

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