<p>In looking at the different "promises" of meeting need that depend on being under a certain income level, in general, how do profile colleges treat the income of the noncustodial parent? For instance, with just my own income, we would fall in the under $50,000 category. But adding in my ex husband's income, we move into the less than $100k bracket, (he makes slightly more than me) which would be a totally different ballgame in regard to need based aid.
For those who have been through the financial aid maze, what has been your experience with this? I have not found ANY calculator that brings the income of the ncp into play. I seriously doubt that assets or home equity will play a part in any calculations (assuming he has none. I certainly don't) so it will all be income based. I'm thinking that I can just double what my estimated efc is to get a ballpark figure since our incomes are close. Also, is it likely that his spouse's income would be taken into consideration?
I really feel like I will have no clue as to what financial aid packages might even begin to look like and that's a scary thing.</p>
<p>Yes, it is a scary thing because there are uncertainties.</p>
<p>Different schools use the information in different ways/. Some schools calulate the full equitiy in your home while others cap home equity as a percentage of income. </p>
<p>However, your Ex would receive his OWN EFC (you will not have acess to his financial information). If he has remarried, yes, his wife’s income is going to be taken into consideration.</p>
<p>I do know that he will have his own efc. But our incomes are nearly identical which is why I was asking if doubling MY efc would be a ballpark estimate of what the total parental contribution would be. Or put another way, if I were to enter his income in a financial aid calculator, how accurate (given the assumed inaccuracy) would the resulting institutional efc be? There is no home equity to take into consideration or any considerable assets. Just straight income.</p>
<p>But my bigger question is where would I even fall in the 100% need schools? For instance college x promises no loans for families making less than $50k/y but caps loans at $5000 for families that make between $50k and $100k and caps them at $10000 for families between $100k and $200k. Would I fall into the 1st group based on my income only, the second group based on my and my ex’s income added together, or the third group with my income, my ex’s income, and his wife’s income?</p>
<p>I don’t expect definitive answers but would love some anectdotal data as to how these things have played out for other families just to get some idea. I’d hate to be in the position of not really having any idea of what we will be expected to pay until the award letters start coming in. Trying to come up with a list of colleges is hard enough but when you have no idea of what your actual cost might be makes the task nearly impossible.</p>
<p>It should be based on the total since it’s for one student. So if you bump over $100K total income you would get $5K each for your portion.</p>
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<p>You are going to fall into the third group (you, your ex and his wife).</p>
<p>*
your Ex would receive his OWN EFC </p>
<p>It should be based on the total since it’s for one student. So if you bump over $100K total income you would get $5K each for your portion. *</p>
<p>We don’t know what the new wife’s income is…</p>
<p>and I don’t think the ex (and his wife) will get their own EFC.</p>
<p>When there is a CP family and a NCP family, I don’t think each “family” gets its own EFC (when NCP info is used for CSS Profile). I think the “group” is given one total amount of expected contribution (I’m not talking about the "student contribution). </p>
<p>Others have reported that while the submitted info is confidential (one family doesn’t see the income info of the other family), when the FA package comes out, there is just a combined number of what the family contribution is…and the 2 families are supposed to figure out who pays what (which I think is a bit nutty - especially when incomes are not equal…which will be the case here since there is a new wife’s income as well.).</p>
<p>Others can correct me if I’m wrong, but this has been discussed many times. There have been problems when there have been large differences in incomes (NCP earning more), yet the NCP insisting that the “family contribution” be split evenly down the middle…which is unfair to the lower income CP. Again, the incomes are confidential, but when the CP has a low income, and the total family contribution is large, it really is no “secret” that the NCP has provided info that indicates high income and/or assets. </p>
<p>Yes…mom’s, dad’s, and dad’s new wife’s incomes all come into play.</p>
<p>Just for the record, while I appreciate these answers (knowledge is power and whatnot), they are NOT making me happy :)</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I can imagine. It’s got to be frustrating learning that your child will not likely be falling under those minimum thresholds for 0 family contribution.</p>
<p>Do you know how much the NCP is willing to contribute?</p>
<p>BTW…did your child apply to any schools that meet need, but don’t use NCP info…like Vandy or USC?</p>
<p>I definitely understand your concern. I am a divorced CP and my ex is getting married this year which will affect both of my daughters’ financial aid - but have no idea exactly what the outcome will be. I am sure there are others who have been through this and I am hoping they will chime in. Just a warning when looking for schools that don’t require NCP information - you have to read the fine print. SOMETIMES they have their own forms that **may **request financial info from the NCP that is separate from the CSS NCP. For example Vandy
[Frequently</a> Asked Questions | Office of Financial Aid | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/faq.php]Frequently”>Frequently Asked Questions | Undergraduate Students | Office of Financial Aid | Vanderbilt University)
See the questions re: noncustodial</p>
<p>Good luck and please report back - we all can use more info regarding financial aid when there are NCP’s and married NCP’s in particular. I will be in the unique position to compare before and after marriage of the NCP which I think will be useful.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>These situations can be very risky when dealing either with an uncooperative NCP or perhaps later, an uncooperative new NCP spouse that puts his/her foot down and refuses to provide info (and/or may insist that the NCP no longer contribute). Or, the NCP may be cooperative for the first year, but then refuse in the later years. These situations can totally disrupt a child college situation if it happens sometime during the 4 years.</p>
<p>Unless an NCP is super cooperative and determined to help with college costs, I would be afraid to ever have my child apply to schools that require NCP info (unless I had the means to pay it all).</p>
<p>there are good schools that meet need and don’t require NCP info…I believe that Vandy and USC are such schools. There may be more.</p>
<p>While USC and Vanderbilt do not require the NCP profile, it does not mean they will totally ignore the NCP income and assets.</p>
<p>USC states</p>
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<p>[USC</a> Financial Aid - Applying & Receiving Financial Aid - Undergraduate - New Students](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/newstudents.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/newstudents.html)</p>
<p>They may end up asking for additional information at a later date.</p>
<p>Vandy states</p>
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<p>[Frequently</a> Asked Questions | Office of Financial Aid | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/faq.php]Frequently”>Frequently Asked Questions | Undergraduate Students | Office of Financial Aid | Vanderbilt University)</p>
<p>And to add to sybbie719’s post concerning USC, some applicants have “claimed” that their lower-earning parent was their custodial parent despite the fact that their high school address lines up more closely with the other parent’s address.</p>
<p>In that case, USC will request complete information from the parent it is clear the student actually lives with for the school year.</p>
<p>Oh I’m just getting an early start on research. My son is still a sophomore in high school. I have asked his father if he planned on contributing anything, to which he responded that he is transferring 3 years of his post 9/11 GI Bill to our son. Right now, the tution part is capped at $17.5k/y. There is also a monthly housing stipend and separate funds to cover fees. I do believe that is the extent of his contribution or at the least, all that I will be willing to count on. And while this was an amazing thing and was happy to hear about this plan, from what I could gather, many schools treat this as an outside scholarship and simply reduce their institutional aid by the same amount. I still haven’t been able to determine if these funds can be applied towards the efc or not however.</p>
<p>But I will definitely look at schools that don’t require NCP information as there is really nothing standing out in my situation that would call out for it. We’ve been divorced for over a decade and he pays a minimal amount of child support.</p>
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<p>If the school requires NCP info, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been divorced OR how much (or not) the child support payments are or have been. You will be required to provide the info.</p>
<p>It sounds like the GI benefits will be a big help. They may actually come close to paying for a public university in your state…especially if you add in the Stafford loan.</p>
<p>I think she meant she would look at schools that do not require NCP info, as she doesnt have much hope of getting any help form NCP (if he hasnt paid much for last 10 years)</p>
<p>I beleive that NYU does not ask for NCP info. While people say they are stingy, I would suggest for divorced people they may be a good alterntive.</p>
<p>That’s why I said schools that “don’t” require NCP information. If they request it, then so be it. But I can’t imagine anything in my case triggering that request. Unless not being full pay is the trigger…lol.
Yes, the GI benefit will be a great help although right now, it just seems to have added another layer of complication.</p>
<p>You don’t report the GI bill benefits on the FAFSA. After the student accepts, the VA benefits coordinator at the school will certify enrollment, etc. I know GI Bill does not preclude getting Pell grants and unsubsidized Stafford loans, but I am not sure how private schools use it for institutional aid. </p>
<p>If the school participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, it & and the VA may match the benefit amount, which is $17,500 starting this fall. Not all schools participate, not all match and some have limited eligibility to students, such as 10 students per year or whatnot.</p>
<p>The GI bill will pay the in-state rate for state schools.</p>
<p>*concerning USC, some applicants have “claimed” that their lower-earning parent was their custodial parent despite the fact that their high school address lines up more closely with the other parent’s address.</p>
<p>In that case, USC will request complete information from the parent it is clear the student actually lives with for the school year. *</p>
<p>Yes, I can see where that would trigger a request for more info. </p>
<p>I wonder what triggers a request from Vandy? Perhaps a low income child who is attending a pricey prep school might suggest that their is an NCP with money?</p>