2026–27 SAMPLE
SAMPLE FAFSA / SAI estimator
SAMPLE — not a FAFSA and not an official Student Aid Index. This is a projected 2026–27 result for planning. It does not file anything, does not create an ISIR, and must not be used as an award. File the real form at studentaid.gov. Confirm with the Federal Student Aid Estimator.
Round numbers only. Never enter an SSN, FSA ID, or 1040/W-2 line. Use a hypothetical if you are practicing. Maximum Pell for 2026–27 is $7,395; minimum scheduled award is $740.
SAMPLE projected result
Calculated Pell — maximum Pell minus SAMPLE SAI, rounded to $5
- Estimated SAI
- -$1,500
- Calculated SAI (before Max Pell override)
- -$1,500
- 2026–27 full-time Pell (est.)
- $7,395
- Pell at 100% enrollment
- $7,395
- 2024 poverty guideline (this family size)
- $31,200
- Income as % of poverty
- 0%
Reference poverty line for a family of 4 in this state: $31,200. Pell here is a scheduled-award estimate — schools still package against cost of attendance and other aid.
What this SAMPLE does — and does not do
- 2026–27 SAMPLE using published SAI tables and 2024 HHS poverty guidelines (prior-prior year, as FAFSA requires).
- Federal tax, state-tax allowance, and two-earner employment expense are approximated — do not copy 1040 lines.
- Do not include retirement accounts, a primary home, or a family farm in assets. Asset protection allowance is $0 for 2026–27.
- Number-in-college no longer splits the parent contribution (FAFSA Simplification Act).
- Always file the FAFSA even if this SAMPLE shows a high SAI — many schools require it for institutional aid, state grants, and work-study.
Want the same scenario in plain English? Ask Genie. Also: SAMPLE Cost of Attendance · SAMPLE R2T4.