Number in college
Why the FAFSA stopped splitting the parent contribution.
Under the old EFC, a family's parent contribution was divided by the number of children in college, so two students in school at once roughly halved each one's expected contribution. The Student Aid Index removed that division. For 2026-27, each student's SAI uses the full parent contribution, with no sibling discount. This is one of the biggest changes from EFC to SAI and can raise the index for families with more than one student in college simultaneously.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide. Data as of June 2026.
EFC vs SAI with two students in college
Illustrative example with a $10,000 parent contribution and two children enrolled:
| Old EFC | New SAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent contribution | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Divided by # in college | / 2 | no division |
| Index per student | $5,000 each | $10,000 each |
| Effect on aid | More need-based aid per student | Less need-based aid per student |
What you can still do
- Confirm each child's dependency status - an independent sibling uses their own formula.
- Ask colleges whether they consider sibling enrollment in institutional aid (many private colleges do via the CSS Profile).
- Request a professional judgment review if your circumstances changed.
Frequently asked questions
Does the FAFSA still ask how many are in college?
The FAFSA may still ask the question, but for the SAI calculation it no longer divides the parent contribution by the number of family members in college. Each student's SAI uses the full parent contribution.
Why did this change hurt some families?
Under the old EFC, a family with two students in college roughly split the parent contribution in half per student. The SAI removed that split, so each student now carries the full contribution - raising the index for multi-student families.
Is there any relief for multiple students in college?
There is no automatic federal discount in the SAI formula. Some colleges still consider sibling enrollment in their own institutional aid using the CSS Profile or professional judgment - ask each financial aid office.
Sources
U.S. Dept. of Education, 2026-27 SAI and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide. Data as of June 2026 for 2026-27. General information, not financial-aid advice. Verify at studentaid.gov.
Last updated: 2026-06-22