Construction Update
The front entrance with parking at the UMKC Administrative Center is closed for construction. Please use the entrances on the east, south and north ends of building. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will remain open for calls and email. UMKC Central will be relocating to its new office in Atterbury Student Success Center from July 27 to August 14. Walk-in services may be limited or not available during that time.
Student Aid Index
Overview
Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is a calculation of the amount of need-based financial aid a student is eligible to receive, will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Your SAI is the amount the federal government calculates that you or your family can contribute toward your COA. It comes from the information that your provide when you submit your FAFSA. SAI is not the amount you or your family will be billed; it is used only to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.
COA - SAI = Financial Need
Students can receive an SAI as low as -$1,500, which more accurately determines an applicant’s financial need by accounting for expenses not included in the COA. The lowest EFC an applicant could receive was $0.
SAI comes from two sources:
- Student and spouse contributor — Based on your income and a percentage of your savings and other assets, this is the estimated amount you and your spouse, if you're married, can contribute toward your college costs for the year.
- Parent contributor — Based on your parents' assets, such as cash, bank accounts, investments and real estate holdings, as well as business equity, this is the estimated amount your parents can contribute toward your college costs for the year. Allowances for living expenses, based on family size, taxes paid and asset protection for retirement, are built into the formula.
Parents of independent students do not have to contribute their information on the FAFSA. However, independent students enrolled in a health professional program are required to provide parental contributor information if they want to be considered for certain types of aid from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Federal Pell Grant Eligibility
You qualify for a Federal Pell Grant if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than a certain threshold determined by the federal government. However, if you don't qualify on AGI alone, you may qualify using your SAI.
File Your FAFSA
Filing your FAFSA is now easier than ever. Don't miss out on receiving the financial aid for which you're eligible.